After launching vodka label Hard Cut and promoting documentary Unbreakable at festivals, Dolph 2026 punches on as the big Swede is now releasing new memoir, Fights Worth Fighting: Finding Strength in Struggle, with an assist from Robert Greenfield. A quick and candid read detailing the once awkward youth turned karate champion who became a movie star, family man, author and now CEO. The book dives quickly into Dolph’s battle with cancer and the surprising misdiagnoses that lead him to believe he only had a few years left to live. Coupled with seemingly unsympathetic responses from the best doctors in Europe in America, Dolph fought depression and suicidal thoughts. It’s also intense looking back at young Lundgren’s bouts of abuse at the hands of his father and a troubled family life. Feeling useless gave him anxiety for decades and a reason for his acting out later in life via sex, drugs and rock n’ roll.
The future physical specimen was also brilliant, earning Chemical Engineering degrees and scholarships before segueing into modeling and acting thanks in part to his singer ladyfriend Grace Jones and later Sylvester Stallone who cast him in Rocky IV. Enjoying his 20’s to the max, Dolph recalls tales of parties, pop culture personalities, sexual encounters, drugs, training and landing the breakout role of Ivan Drago. The book does a nice job bouncing between his personal and professional life with insights from friends, karate instructor, wives and children. On the film side, Dolph spends most of the text discussing 80’s and 90’s hits like Rocky IV, Masters of the Universe and Universal Soldier then mainly skipping ahead to his 2010’s resurgence with The Expendables, Aquaman and Creed II.
Being cast by Stallone then training weights and boxing choreography with the super star was quite a window into success as Dolph felt the wrath of Sly’s pressure filled life as a writer, director and star in the midst of a divorce. After a rough first introduction to Jean-Claude Van Damme, the two co-starred in many films together and remained friendly. There’s a funny bit about Dolph showing up to Unisol press interviews very hungover but JC sharing he hadn’t even gone to sleep yet. Arnold Schwarzenegger only gets a passing mention surprisingly.
Back on the personal side you get up front honesty regarding relationships and infidelity as well as a faltering career. Oh and that Dolph loved to party, hitting the Hollywood haunts every Friday and Saturday in a limo and eventually partnering with Stallone to open a club on Sunset Boulevard for a few years. After divorce, COVID-19, cancer and coming to terms with his trauma, Dolph expounds on the benefits of meditation, positivity, training and loving oneself to take advantage of his new lease on life.
As part of his book tour, Dolph showed up at the famed Gold’s Gym in Venice where modern bodybuilding was born from the likes of Arnold, Franco Columbu, Frank Zane, Robby Robinson and Dave Draper. Taking time with each attendee to chat and sign, we talked briefly about his documentary and upcoming screening at Beyond Fest. Given I’d seen Dolph a couple times this year already, I suggested we do a bit of book karate and held the memoir like a board about to be broken. Dolph was game and remains the consummate Hollywood pro, skol!