Dolph Lundgren Reflects on Rocky IV
Dolph Lundgren recently shared thoughts on a well-known incident from the filming of Rocky IV. During an appearance on FOX & Friends, he admitted to feeling guilty about breaking a rib of his co-star, Sylvester Stallone, in one of the film’s most intense scenes.
When asked about the moment, Lundgren was open about his feelings of responsibility. “I didn’t know that happened. We were both getting beat up in that game,” he recalled. After two weeks of shooting in Vancouver, he learned that Stallone was hospitalized, which took him by surprise.
“I felt a little bit guilty. You know, he hit me too. He was the boss; I did what he said, which was fine. You know, use your body and go really hard, that Russian uppercut. I’m not sure if it was my body or fatigue or the punch, but yeah, he got hurt. I feel bad about that,” he explained.
Interestingly, before landing the role of Ivan Drago, Lundgren’s journey was quite different. He was studying at MIT as a Fulbright Scholar when a chance encounter in New York changed everything. He met notable figures like Andy Warhol and Michael Jackson, which led to suggestions for him to try acting, since he was already the European karate champion.
Reflecting on his career’s beginnings, Lundgren shared, “I was in New York and went out with this singer. Someone said, ‘You should try acting.’ So I did, and it turned out to be Rocky IV. I moved to Hollywood, met Sly, got the part, and the rest is history. It’s been an amazing journey, with 95 movies since then.”
Despite a vast filmography, Lundgren noted that his favorite role remains his return as Ivan Drago in “Creed II.” The film allowed him to explore new dimensions of his character, emphasizing a father-son dynamic with Adonis Creed. “I had a chance to play that character again. It’s an older version, and I like that aspect,” he said.
In addition to his acting, Lundgren recently ventured into entrepreneurship, launching his own vodka brand, Hard Cut Vodka. He shared how dissatisfaction with existing products prompted him to create something new. “Five years ago, I couldn’t find a vodka that I liked. My wife suggested making my own. I’m a chemical engineer and from Sweden, so I started that journey,” he explained.
