We often forget that life is fickle, and you never know what may happen tomorrow. This quote for the day from Dolph Lundgren, who originally played 'He-Man' in 1987, reminds us that we are mortal and that taking chances and living our fullest life are the only way to deal with things and to get where we want to be.
Quote of the day by Dolph Lundgren
"I think mortality makes you live a fuller existence. When I was a kid, I was scared of death, and maybe that's what made me desperate to get the most out of life."
The veteran actor said these words during a 2013 interview for Men's Health magazine. He was interviewed by Brittany Kennedy, and his feature was titled 'MH Grill: Dolph Lundgren.' During the interview, the actor opened up about his childhood, how things had been for him in Sweden as a child, and how he had evolved as a person over the years.
What does the quote mean?
In the quote, the veteran actor is talking about mortality and the urgency that comes with it. When we are young, we often disregard the fact that life is not endless. We often tend to procrastinate on things and wonder about how things can be put off for the next day, week, or month.
However, the actor notes that once we start thinking about the mortality of our existence and how everything is fickle, we begin living our full potential. He adds that changing our perspective matters the most, for when we remember that there is not much time left, we will do everything we can to make every moment count. Whether it is taking a leap of faith with another person or taking a chance with a dream job, this applies to almost all aspects of life. The actor had a simple childhood, which he often attributes as one of the reasons why he pushed himself to the extreme.
His own life serves as an example, as he came from nowhere in Sweden but ended up becoming one of the biggest actors of his time. Not only that, but to this day he is remembered by many for some of his most iconic roles.
Some of Dolph Lundgren's biggest achievements
In his life, the veteran actor has achieved a lot, which goes well beyond his career as an actor. He excelled in academia and earned his chemical engineering degree from Sydney University. Following this, he was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Not only that, but he is also a karate black belt holder. The actor trained in a dojo for around five years and earned his Kyokushin belt in the late 1970s.
His breakthrough role came when he starred as the Soviet boxer Ivan Drago in the 'Rocky' franchise opposite Sylvester Stallone. Some of his other notable works include 'Masters of the Universe,' 'The Expendables,' 'Universal Soldier,' and 'The Punisher,' to name a few.
Dolph Lundgren's struggle with cancer
The actor battled cancer for almost a decade before being declared cancer-free in 2024. His prognosis started when doctors found a cancerous tumor in his kidney back in 2015. Since then, the actor has undergone many procedures and treatments to fight the cancer.
In 2020, after developing complications, doctors found more tumors in his body after rigorous testing. Over the years, after changing doctors and medications, the star continued to work through the treatment, working on projects such as 'Expendables 4' and 'Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom' alongside his cancer medication.
In November 2024, he shared a post on his account stating that he was undergoing one last surgical operation to remove the dead tumor from his body and that he was officially cancer-free.
Lundgren's journey in life is nothing short of an inspiration, as it shows that the actor persevered despite all odds stacked against him. Not only that, but he also came through and survived, having found a new outlook on life and everything around him.
