Dolph Lundgren

Dolph Hans Lundgren was born the November 3rd 1959 with Stockholm. Actor with the impressive physique, it plays in action films of second zone. He currently lives with Marbella and London with his wife and his two children.

Biography

Born on November 3rd, 1959 (even if other sources speak about 1957) in Stockholm, Dolph Lundgren (of its true Hans first name) follows off the courses of the prestigious Royal Institute Technology of its birthplace where it obtains a control in chemistry. Junior by a family of four children, it devotes himself in an unconditional way to the studies. “ I spent as well time to mug up the books as I should have a spot of indelible ink at the end of my nose ” smiles it. “ At the time I wanted to imitate my father and to engage me in a career of engineer. Far from me very thought concerning the cinema and the show business in general ”. Thanks to a purse, Dolph leaves its country in 1977 in order to continue its studies with the Washington State University.

To improve its daily newspaper of foreign student living in the United States, it finds an odd job of bouncer in a New Yorkean nightclub, the Limelight Disco . But it remains only one year in the United States. It returns then to Sweden and takes down its diploma of the royal Institute of technology. After its military service in the marine, it follows the courses of the universities of Sydney then of Boston, helped well in that by grants. At the end of this true school marathon, it presents to his parents the highest diplomas available in the field of mathematics, physics and chemistry. Finally to finish this “intellectual” file, Dolph speaks Swedish perfectly (normal), English, German, French and Japanese and his IQ are estimated at 160!!! What does not prevent it, during its spare times, to make theater and to play in an amateur rock group, history to also cultivate its cultural side. In short, Dolph is student very occupied in some nap.

And if it has a head filled well that does not prevent it from also thinking of the potentials of its body. Hardly attracted by the sports of team, it turns to martial arts. Black belt of karate in 1979, Dolph shines at this point in this discipline that it takes down of it the title of champion of Europe in 1980 and 1981 in London. It is victorious international of Australia in 1982. Then trainer and captain of the Swedish team of Full-contact, it contributes to the championships of the world in Japan in 1979. For the needs for the film Pentathlon (see catalog of films) it involves with the American team of modern Pentathlon in 1993. It is what enables him to take part in OJ of Atlanta in 1996 as a captain of the American team. It is also with " Pentathlon" that it creates its own production company, “Thor Pictures”.

Refusing the proposals however enticing of largest the manager of boxing in the United States, he still thinks of devoting himself to the studies when he meets the professor of dramatic art Warren Robertson, disciple of Lee Strasberg, one of the founders of the Actor' S Studio . A decisive turn in the course of its existence. It is decided, the fair giant will be actor. A vocation which passes nevertheless by some food compromises. Dolph is made mannequin thus the time of some photographs for bathing suits. Present on all the walls of Manhattan in light behavior, the Swede arrives on the plate of Dangereusement yours , the last James Bond with Roger Moore, via his flirt of the moment, the singer Grace Jones. Moreover it was more than a flirt because Dolph was also its bodyguard. It is it which pushes it to audition to hold the role of an agent of the KGB. A participation certainly modest, but which marks the cinematographic beginnings of Dolph. Beginnings which could have been made with Rambo 2 considering that it had also auditioned to play there. But Stallone, large decision maker of film, preferred to keep the robust Scandinavian beginner under the elbow to play in Rocky IV and this in spite of the reserves of the teams of casting and a small accident during turning. Especially a wise choice since in the skin of the icy Soviet boxer Ivan Drago, Dolph completely eclipses its famous partner on the boxing ring, at such point to become principal attraction about it and to become day at the following day one of the greatest hopes of the cinema of action. Besides Dolph will hold about all the roles available in this register, of the cop (several time including once with the son of Bruce Lee, Brandon Lee) to the soldier Soviet or American, of the assoiffé dispenser of justice of revenge while passing through old driver on race or furtive plane without forgetting soldier robot creates by the American army or expert in mine clearance… Bref Dolph excels playing the malicious ones. And it easily proves it in its role of GI sadistic and traumatized by the war of Vietnam in Universal Soldier where it magistralement holds the high dragee with Jean-Claude Van Damme, or its performance of illuminated mythical in Johnny Mnemonic at the side of Keanu Reeves. But it can also play the nice ones very well as it proved in Blackjack , telefilm directed by John Woo. In all it are not less than 30 films that it turned and who allows to affirm that it is able to play in all the registers… if one leaves him the possibility of it. Remain that in the life this giant come from the cold speaking about a soft voice shows an extreme kindness and dissimulates his natural timidity badly.

The Swede married in Stockholm the New Year's Day 1994 with the dress designer and creative of jewels Anette Qviberg, it as Swedish, as it had met at the time of the promotional round of the film Universal Soldier . Their honeymoon was held with Marrakech, with the sun thus. Together they had two girls: Ida Sigrid, born the April 29th 1996 in Stockholm, and Greta Eveline. Undoubtedly the greatest happiness of Dolph. “ It is enough that I look at my daughters sleeping so that all my problems of the day fly away or relativize myself. To have children completely my vision of the life changed. Today I know that what counts more for me it is my family. I like them more than all in the world ”.

Studies

Hans began her many studies in a Swedish university, the Royal Institute off Technology . After its military service, it continues its studies in various universities (including one important part in the United States) and will finish, in 1982, by finishing major in chemical engineering of the university of Sydney. In 1983, it is accepted with the Massachusetts Institute off Technology. It is during the same year which will decide to settle with New York and to take courses of theater.

Martial arts

Its first contact was done through the judo at 14 years. That it stopped one year later to pass to karate. It continues to be involved throughout its studies. It is during its military service that it will meet its professor Brian Fitkin, champion of Europe and then 4th Dan.
In 1979, and only girdles green, it is selected to take part in the championships of the world of Kyokushinkai Karate, where it will finish in the first.

Captain of the Swedish team, it gains European titles of karate in 1980 and 1981, and gains the Open of Australia in 1982.

It is at the same time that Hans ensures of the missions of bodyguard to pay her studies and that it will meet Grace Jones, with which it will be put in couple a small moment.

It does not drop themartial ones when it makes cinema. Since it passes its 3rd daN to Stockholm in 1998.

On the sporting level, it will be also selected in 1996 by the United States to be the leader of the team of pentathlon to the Olympic Games of Atlanta.

Cinema

Its first role with the cinema will be in a James Bond, Dangereusement yours (in which also Grace Jones plays) in 1985.
But it will be pointed out in Rocky IV , where it will incarnate Ivan Drago , impressive Russian boxer who must beat Rocky. For the small anecdote, it will charm the place of Ivan Drago among 5000 applicants with the rôle.
The following year it connects on the Masters of the Universe , where it has the role titrates. And thus its career cinématographique.
begins Since 2004, Dolph Lundgren proved reliable as a realizer with The Defender and The Mechanik . It has just finished the turning of Missionary Man , a modern western written, produced and carried out by its care.

Catalog of films

Realizer

2004 : The Defender
2005 : The Mechanik
2007 : Diamond Dogs
2007 : Missionary Man

Actor

1985 : Dangereusement yours /A View To has Kill : Venz
1985 : Rocky IV : Ivan Drago
1987 : Masters of the Universe/Masters Off The Universe : Musclor
1988 : the red Scorpion/Red Scorpion : Nikolai Rachenko
1989 : Punisher/The Punisher : Frank Castle/The Punisher
1990 : Dark Angel : Jack Caine
1990: Rocky V : Ivan Drago (Flashback)
1990: Special correspondent/Cover-Up : Mike Anderson
1991: In the claws of the red Dragon/Showdown in Little Tokyo : Chris Kenner
1992 : Universal Soldier : Andrew Scott/GR13
1993 : Above the law/Joshua Tree : Wellman Santee
1994 : Pentathlon : Eric Brogar
1994: the Man of War/Men off War : Nick Gunar
1995 : Johnny Mnemonic : The Preacher
1995: The Shooter : Michael Dane
1996: Assassin Warrior/Silent Trigger : Waxman
1997 : State of emergency/The Peacekeeper : Frank Cross-country race
1998: the Last Templier/The Minion : Lukas
1998 : Sweepers : Christian Erickson
1998: Blackjack (telefilm): Jack Devlin
1999: the Last of the Dragons/Bridge off Dragons : Warchild
1999 : Storm Catcher : Jack Holloway
1999: Jill The Killer/Jill Rips : Matt Sorenson
1999 : The Last Patrol : Nick Preston
2000 : Destroying Agent/Agent Red : Matt Hendricks
2001 : Pilot In Deferment/Hidden Diary : Jason Price
2003 : Detention : Sam Decker
2004: Direct Action : Frank Gannon
2004 : Conceited Slags : Randy
2004 : Retrogresses : John Foster
2004: The Defender : Launch Rockford
2005: The Mechanik : Nikolai Cherenko
2006 : The Inquiry/Inchiesta : Brixos
2007 : Diamond Dogs : Xander Ronson
2007 : Missionary Man : Ryder

See too

External bonds

Official site
Dolph - The Ultimate Guides
Dolph Lundgren on Allociné
dolphlundgrenfans (French site)

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