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Dolph Lundgren

Dolph Lundgren Biography

Actor

Dolph Lundgren, born on November 3, 1957, is an internationally renowned actor. Known for his outstanding performances in action films, he is particularly famous for his roles in the 'Rocky' and 'First Blood' franchises. Lundgren has a significant presence in both the film and martial arts industries, with a career that spans various fields, including film, television, and stage.

Dolph Lundgren, born on November 3, 1957, is an internationally renowned actor. Known for his outstanding performances in action films, he is particularly famous for his roles in the 'Rocky' and 'First Blood' franchises. Lundgren has a significant presence in both the film and martial arts industries, with a career that spans various fields, including film, television, and stage.

Related Quotes

“I think by planning an exercise regime, your diet follows to some extent.”

Thinking Exercise Planning Diets Regimes

Author:Dolph Lundgren

“I try to keep the martial arts up. It's a good thing, not just physically but also for your mind.”

Trying Mind Art Good Things Martial Arts

Author:Dolph Lundgren

“Hollywood is great for entertaining people, it's a wonderful business but it's make-believe, you must remember that. That's one of the most important things to remember and the distinction in your own life, otherwise people get lost in their own fame, and it makes them unhappy.”

People Believe Important Remember Lost Wonderful Fame Hollywood Important Things Unhappy Distinction Entertaining Make Believe Wise People

Author:Dolph Lundgren

“I wanted to become an engineer, or get a masters in business. But I had the opportunity to do films when I was about 25 and it was a great way to express myself.”

Way Wanted Film Opportunity Masters Engineers

Author:Dolph Lundgren

“When I started studying acting in New York, I didn't plan to be an action hero. I just wanted to learn acting because I felt it was something I needed to try to do for myself, to express something, my inner pain, or something I couldn't get out.”

Trying Action Wanted Pain Felt Acting Study Plans New York Hero Needed Action Heroes

Author:Dolph Lundgren

“When I was a teenager, my dad used to put a lot of pressure on me to be successful, and I'd really beat myself up about things like losing martial arts competitions.”

Art Used Successful Dad Losing Beats Pressure Competition My Dad Teenager Being Successful Martial Arts

Author:Dolph Lundgren

“I never came with a conscious plan to replace anyone else. Stallone does feel that way. He is a real tough guy in real life, and he gets to act that out. If you meet him and work with him, he is what he is. He is a guy that works out every day.”

Ifs Way Feels Doe Real Guy Plans Conscious Tough Work Out Real Life Tough Guy

Author:Dolph Lundgren

“I like the old school heavy metal bands like AC/DC and Aeromith. I like that type of music. As the director, I tried to influence the type of music the bands in the movie would play.”

Play School Influence Type Band Directors Heavy Metals Old School Heavy Metal Metal Band

Author:Dolph Lundgren

“I would think that the drumstick is probably pretty good. Because you can put that anywhere. If you are a strong guy, you can put it in the throat, the nose, the mouth, the ear. It's also easily concealed. The guitar is pretty good, but you have to break it. And that's pretty difficult.”

Ifs Thinking Guy Strong Difficult Break Mouths Ears Guitar Noses Throat Concealed Drumsticks

Author:Dolph Lundgren

“Stallone is a pretty tough director. You don't mess with him.”

Directors Tough Mess

Author:Dolph Lundgren

“Karate has helped me lots, otherwise I might have got lost in substance abuse or something like the things a lot of other people do.”

People Might Lost Abuse Substance Karate Substance Abuse

Author:Dolph Lundgren

“I think the violence is important. It all depends on the genre. Rambo was ultra-violent, and I think it worked. You have to give Stallone credit. You have to respect him for taking that shot, and taking the violence all the way. He was the first one to do that in a long time. It fricking worked.”

Thinking Way Giving Firsts Long Important Violence Depends Long Time Shots Credit Violent Genre Ultras Rambo

Author:Dolph Lundgren

“I was very sickly as a kid and had a lot of allergies, so martial arts gave me the chance to feel strong.”

Feels Art Kids Strong Chance Martial Arts Allergies

Author:Dolph Lundgren

“I like Stallone, because he writes. He sits down with a blank page and comes up with another Rambo movie. That isn't very easy for anybody. He's made it successful on top of that.”

Writing Made Easy Successful Pages Come Up Made It Blank Blank Pages Rambo

Author:Dolph Lundgren

“As you get older, it's important to have goals. When you're a kid you have them, but other people can set them for you, such as your parents, your school... so, as you get older it's nice to have your own goals, which don't have to do with being more famous, or being in bigger movies, or making more money. Those things kind of corrupt your soul.”

People Kind Important Soul Kids School Parent Goal Nice Bigger Your Soul More Money

Author:Dolph Lundgren

“On the one hand, you have these huge budget films that cost millions of dollars. They are effects driven, they don't have well known actors in them, and they are making money. Well, some of them are. One the other hand, you have Stallone and Statham, and guys like DeNiro and Pacino, and Costner, who are all trying to make movies about real people. They are interested in character driven projects.”

People Trying Wells Real Character Hands Film Guy Actors Known Millions Effects Huge Cost Projects Dollars Driven Making Money Budgets Well Known

Author:Dolph Lundgren

“I think that people are going to find more interest in the human condition, especially with them being weaned on so much reality television. They want character driven stuff along with real violence. Cage fighting is very popular with the kids right now. They see and know what one punch can do to someone's face. You can't give someone five hundred punches in a film anymore.”

“I prefer to channel my problems and inner demons through a character. Another persona. That protects me and my family. I can get my frustrations out that way.”

Way I Can Character Problem Protect My Family Demon Frustration Persona Inner Demons

Author:Dolph Lundgren

“Stallone is a great writer. He wrote one of the best screenplays ever written. Rocky. It is one of the biggest classics of all time. I think in the past, he was shying away from writing his own stuff, because there is a lot of pressure when you star in something that you write.”

Thinking Writing Past Stars Stuff Written Pressure All Time Screenplays Great Writers

Author:Dolph Lundgren

“I used to be a chemical-engineering student, but I started studying acting, and I went for a cattle call, up against hundreds of people. They tore me down because I was too tall. They said "How tall are you?" "6'5"." "Next."”

People Said Used Next Acting Study Students Used To Be Tall Chemicals Engineering They Said Cattle Chemical Engineering

Author:Dolph Lundgren

“When I was a kid, I was like everyone else: afraid of getting nuked. We had drills in school - Sweden was very close to the Soviet Union. There was definitely a lot of tension.”

Kids School Unions Tension Soviet Soviet Union Drills Sweden

Author:Dolph Lundgren

“My dad was in the Swedish armed forces, he was always reading up on different weapons from the Americans and Soviets. When I was a kid, I was in bed looking at his books, reading about the Red Army. So I was very aware of it. I had an interest in military matters ever since.”

Book Different Matter Kids Reading Force Interest Military Dad Bed Weapons Red Army My Dad Book Reading Armed Forces Swedish Red Army

Author:Dolph Lundgren

“First the movie, the actual playing of the role and trying to deliver what everybody wanted. Then, when the film came out, there was instant fame. I was just a kid from Sweden, I didn't know what was going on.”

Knows Trying Firsts Kids Wanted Film Roles Fame Instant Sweden

Author:Dolph Lundgren

“I train about four or five times a week. I guess I am addicted to it. I also do a lot of martial arts. More than I have done in awhile. I like to go back to martial arts because it makes me feel good.”

Feels Art Done Five Four Week Art Is Train Feel Good Martial Arts

Author:Dolph Lundgren

“I do weights a few times a week. Not a lot of heavy weights. I do it just to keep my muscle toned. With the martial arts, I am doing pretty basic stuff. I do some sparring. If I get a chance, I will go swimming or running in-between. I keep in pretty good shape between films.”

Ifs Running Film Chance Week Shapes Weight Heavy Muscles Swimming Sparring Heavy Weights

Author:Dolph Lundgren

“If I need to bulk up for a role, I will do more weights. If I need to slim down for something, I will do more cardio. That's usually how it goes.”

Ifs Needs Roles Weight Slim Cardio

Author:Dolph Lundgren

“Film is about what you are thinking. It's about what's inside.”

Author:Dolph Lundgren

“Working with Jean-Claude is a lot of fun. Because he's a great actor who also happens to be a fighter. That combination doesn't usually come together anymore. Usually, you have to fight the stunt double and then act against the actor. In his case, you are fighting with a real guy. It takes a minute to get used to that. Because it doesn't happen any more.”

Real Happens Together Used Guy Fighting Actors Fun Cases Minutes Fighter Combination Great Actors

Author:Dolph Lundgren

“I suppose I will try to enjoy my life now while I have it. Who knows what's going to happen in the future?”

Knows Trying Happens Enjoy

Author:Dolph Lundgren

“I'm not going to freeze my body. One life is enough for me. Some people take this gamble. That someone will be able to bring them back in the future. I'm not going to do it.”

People Enough Body Able Life Is Gamble Freeze

Author:Dolph Lundgren

“I know what its like to direct. You become a more considerate actor. After you have directed, you understand what is going on. You can't help but think of the material as a director. You do come up with suggestions. You come up with shortcuts that you weren't aware of before. You try to be helpful to the director if he has a lot on his hands.”

Ifs Thinking Knows Trying Helping Hands Actors Materials Directors Direct Come Up Helpful Suggestions Shortcuts Considerate

Author:Dolph Lundgren

“You realize as a director that when you are cutting a film, you want to have alternatives. You need color and choices. You don't want four takes that are identical.”

Want Needs Film Choices Realizing Four Cutting Color Directors Alternatives Identical

Author:Dolph Lundgren

“When you are acting in a film, you have no idea what scene the editor is going to choose. For instance, after you have directed, you feel more comfortable delivering a performance. Because you know the real performance is put together in the editing room.”

Knows Feels Ideas Real Together Film Rooms Acting Scene Comfortable Performances Instance No Idea Editors Editing Delivering

Author:Dolph Lundgren

“People like to lay their whole life, and all of their own secrets out in front of the world. They make money off of it, and find satisfaction that way. I personally don't believe in that. I think it can be hurtful to yourself and those around you.”

People Thinking World Way Believe Whole Secret Fronts Lays Don't Believe Satisfaction Whole Life Making Money Hurtful

Author:Dolph Lundgren

“I like being the villian. I don't know if it has to do with my personality. You get to have a lot more fun as a villian. You don't have to stick to the rules. You can be a lot crazier. You can go off the rails.”

Ifs Knows Fun Personality Sticks Rail

Author:Dolph Lundgren

“You get a bigger paycheck if you are the hero. There is something good about it.”

Ifs Hero Bigger Paychecks

Author:Dolph Lundgren

“As a hero, you have to play it straight. The audience is going to live through you, so you have to be more neutral. They will be projecting their thoughts and their actions onto the main character.”

Play Character Action Audience Hero Main Characters

Author:Dolph Lundgren

“The acting style that has emerged from HD, because of the contrast and how sharp the picture is, it's more neutrally played. The main character is very minamalistic. That's what works in this digital age.”

Character Age Acting Style Digital Contrast Digital Age Main Characters

Author:Dolph Lundgren

“You can't give someone five hundred punches in a film anymore. You beat on them, and they continue to stand there staring at you. That doesn't work. People just don't buy that anymore.”

People Giving Film Five Beats Hundred Staring Staring At You

Author:Dolph Lundgren

“I've never had a good line. Well, maybe 'I must break you'.”

Wells Lines Break

Author:Dolph Lundgren

“The interesting thing about TV drama that's kind of nice is, I'm just an actor. I'm doing my role.”

Kind Actors Interesting Roles Nice Tvs Drama Interesting Things

Author:Dolph Lundgren

“Unless you're playing a real character based on a real person, if someone else has done it before, you're probably better off not watching it as an actor. Otherwise you end up trying to copy someone else.”

Ifs Trying Persons Real Ends Done Character Actors Copies Better Off Real Person Real Character

Author:Dolph Lundgren

“I found out about it probably 9 - 10 months before we shot the film [Don't Kill It] because it was postponed a couple of times, which was actually a good thing because once it all finally came together, I had to get in there and roll off different pages of dialogue and monologues pretty quickly.”

Different Together Film Found Months Couple Pages Shots Good Things Dialogue Monologues

Author:Dolph Lundgren

“I'd already rehearsed it [ Don't Kill It script ] for the first time it was supposed to happen and the second time. That was a blessing in disguise because the character [Jebediah Woodley] grew a little bit in me.”

Firsts Littles Character Happens Bits Grew Blessing Little Bit First Time Scripts Disguise Blessings In Disguise

Author:Dolph Lundgren

“It was fun to talk too much [as Jebediah Woodley], to keep running your mouth whether the other characters want to hear it or not. That's part of what made this guy fun.”

Want Made Character Running Guy Fun Too Much Mouths This Guy Keep Running Running Your Mouth

Author:Dolph Lundgren

“It takes nine months for a baby to develop, it takes nine months to develop a character.”

Character Baby Months Nine Nine Months

Author:Dolph Lundgren

“In my career, whether it's a big or a small movie, when I've worked on something for a long time, like [Ivan] Drago in Rocky IV, they start to take on a life of their own.”

Long Bigs Careers Long Time Rocky Iv

Author:Dolph Lundgren

“Jebediah Woodley is one of those guys that when I'm sitting in my rocking chair one day, thinking back, I'll remember that guy. He was a fun guy to play.”

Thinking Play Remember Guy Fun One Day Sitting Chairs That Guy Rocking Chairs

Author:Dolph Lundgren

“Kristina [Klebe] plays her character [in Don't Kill It] pretty straight, and because my character's so crazy and colorful, it works quite well. Kristina really loved the part, so she was very accommodating and willing to explore it and work hard.”

Wells Hard Play Character Crazy Willing Hard Work Colorful

Author:Dolph Lundgren

“You know which guys are doing steroids and which ones aren't. I don't judge anybody. Everybody has their own life and people do what they want. It's like smoking pot. If you experiment with it, it doesn't mean you're the devil, and it doesn't mean you've ruined your body. It just means you tried it.”

People Ifs Knows Want Mean Body Guy Judging Devil Your Body Experiments Smoking Pot Ruined Steroid Smoking Pot

Author:Dolph Lundgren

About the Author

Born: November 3, 1957
Known for: Actor
Quotes: 84

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