More than four decades have passed since Dolph Lundgren towered over Sylvester Stallone as Ivan Drago in Rocky IV. The Swedish actor was just 28 when the 1985 blockbuster turned him into one of the most recognizable action stars of the era, and naturally, he looks very different today.
According to Parade, now 68, Lundgren recently stepped out in Philadelphia during the book tour for his new memoir, Fights Worth Fighting: Finding Strength in Struggle. With slicked-back gray hair, sunglasses, and a fitted white T-shirt, the longtime action star showed that while the years have changed his appearance, they certainly have not erased the physique that helped make him famous.
Dolph Lundgren Is Still Putting in the Work at 68
Lundgren visited Philadelphia on Sept. 19 for an event celebrating the release of his memoir. Photos from the outing showed him smiling and waving in a casual white shirt and light-colored pants. The simple outfit also made one thing obvious: more than 40 years after playing Drago, he still keeps himself in impressive shape.
That fitness did not happen by accident. Lundgren has said he continues to train about three times a week, combining weightlifting with karate. He has also spoken about the importance of maintaining muscle as he grows older, especially after the serious health battle that changed his perspective on strength and survival.
His Real-Life Fight Became More Dramatic Than Any Movie
Doctors discovered a cancerous tumor in Lundgren’s kidney in 2015, and the disease later spread. At one point, his outlook appeared grim, but a second medical opinion uncovered a mutation that opened the door to a different treatment. The new approach dramatically reduced his tumors, and Lundgren announced in late 2024 that he was cancer-free. His memoir now explores that experience alongside stories from his childhood, martial arts background, and decades in Hollywood.
His career remains closely tied to the larger-than-life action roles that made him a familiar face throughout the 1980s and beyond. After Rocky IV, he starred in films including Masters of the Universe, The Punisher, and Universal Soldier, later reunited with Stallone for The Expendables movies, and returned as Drago in Creed II. Lundgren is still moving forward, too, with the documentary Dolph: Unbreakable set to begin streaming Oct. 6. At 68, his appearance may have changed since those early action-movie days, but the toughness that defined his screen career appears very much intact.