Swedish - pay actor Dolph Lundgren , who was give birth on November 3 , 1957 , is most famous for his role as Soviet off-white - crusher Ivan Drago in 1985’sRocky IV . While Drago might be his most memorable role , Lundgren ’s personal lifespan and career have have several fascinating turns . Check out some facts about Lundgren ’s education , his Hollywood travel , and the time he nigh punched carbon monoxide gas - star Sylvester Stallone into an former grave accent .
1. Dolph Lundgren might be a genius.
stand Hans Lundgren in 1957 , the thespian toldNPRin 2014 that childhood allergy kept him out of sports and focused on school work . Growing up in Stockholm , Lundgren had dream to issue forth live in America but was financially strapped . To make the move , he used his art in chemical engineering tograduatefrom the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm and earn a Fulbright scholarship to MIT . But before he could conciliate in on campus , Lundgren ’s life took a detour : He meet model and actress Grace Jones during a gig as a bouncer in New York City and decided to pursue performing instead .
2. Sylvester Stallone thought Dolph Lundgren was too tall to play Ivan Drago.
Dating Jones led to Lundgren ’s first onscreen appearing as a henchman in the 1985 James Bond filmA View to a Kill . Not long after , he wascastby Sylvester Stallone to appear as Soviet Union boxer Ivan Drago inRocky IV — but only after Stallone changed his mind . Internet opinion variegate on Stallone ’s factual height — estimates range from 5 - feet 7 - inches to just under six foundation — but Stallone himself think the six - substructure , five - in Lundgren was hold out to be too much of a stretch for the character of Drago and rejected him during their first meeting . Lundgren persist , getting into boxing trunk and ship the pic to Stallone , who finally yield and hired him six months subsequently .
3. Dolph Lundgren almost killed Sylvester Stallone.
possibly Stallone had the right idea after all . During rehearsal for their climatic battle scene , Stallone kept cheer Lundgren to hit him harder . That was a error , as Lundgren — who had trained in karate and other soldierly art — hit his co - star so hard in the dresser that Stallone’sheart get to swell . “Later that night my parentage pressure fit up to 260 , I go to hospital , they put me in an emergency honey oil , and pilot me back to America , ” Stallone recalled . “ Next thing I know I ’m in intensive care for five day with nun take the air around . ”
4. HE HUNG OUT WITH ANDY WARHOL.
During his metre prowling New York with Jones , Lundgren was a veritable at Studio 54 , which was then the city ’s premier club attraction . According to Lundgren , Warholcame up to himand ask what he was illustrious for before taking his word-painting . Warhol then receive him to do a powder magazine shoot with Jones .
5. HE PACKED HEAT AROUND NEW YORK.
In 2012 , Lundgren toldMen ’s Healththat he was sufficiently uneasy about the criminal offence rate inthe pre - gentrified New York of the former eighties that he bought two accelerator that he kept on his somebody — one in an ankle holster and one strapped to his chest . “ I was always queasy that I ’d be caught , ” he said . “ It ’s laughable , part of me was afraid of the fuzz , and the other part was afraid of being mugged . It was n’t a nice feeling . ”
6. HE ONCE BOXED A PROFESSIONAL FIGHTER.
In June 2007 , Lundgrenacceptedan exhibition boxing match for Russian television against Oleg Taktarov , a former UFC competitor . accord to Taktarov , Lundgren stepped in after promoters failed to secure the services of Mike Tyson . After five competitive rounds , Taktarov won by decision .
7. HE HAD SOME PROBLEMS WITH HE-MAN.
Lundgren ’s gamey - visibility role of the eighties out of doors of Drago was embodying He - Man in alert - action adaptationof the popular Mattel toy product line . Because of Lundgren ’s thick Swedish accent , producersseriously considereddubbing him over with a voiceover actor . But after several iteration sitting , they view as his outspoken performance sufficient . ( The movie bombed anyway . )
8. HE TURNED DOWNGLADIATOR.
Or a version of it , at least . TheOscar - winning filmwas released in 2000 and starred Russell Crowe as Maximus , the combat specialist who fight to be release from under the thumb of sadistic ruler Commodus ( Joaquin Phoenix ) . Lundgren turned down the handwriting six age prior . “ I thought it was a piece of shit , ” hetoldEsquirein 2015 . “ It had no action . This was before Russell Crowe and conductor Ridley Scott were on panel . I ca n’t remember what happen , but I think back not liking it . Brobdingnagian mistake . But another skimpy outfit ? ”
9. HE MIGHT RETURN AS DRAGO.
While a circumstances of Lundgren ’s recent photographic film have skip a theatrical passing , 2018 may demonstrate to be a renaissance menstruation for the actor . He ’s arrange toappearas undersea King Nereus inAquamanopposite Jason Momoa . Lundgren has alsodroppedsome not - very - subtle suggestion on social medium about returning as Ivan Drago forCreed II , the continuation to 2015 ’s successful expansion of theRockyfranchise . The possibleness seemed distant just a few years ago , when Lundgrensworethat " I ’m not deplume the old Ivan Drago shorts on again . "
