Latest news with #Krokdal
Fox News
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
‘Rocky' star Dolph Lundgren swears by this secret for strong marriage
Dolph Lundgren has discovered the "secret sauce" to a good marriage. The 67-year-old, who played Russian boxer Ivan Drago in "Rocky IV," said "I do" to Emma Krokdal, 29, in 2023. They became American citizens in 2024 and call California home. They've also partnered to launch the actor's all-American Hard Cut Vodka, which was inspired by a date they had in the early days of their relationship. Lundgren told Fox News Digital he's made "a new vow" in his marriage. "I have this new thing, I have to give her a hug, a nice big hug, 10 times a day," he beamed. "I try to get a few before lunch, so I still have some in the bank [throughout the day]. It sounds simple and a little goofy, but doing that neutralizes a lot of disagreements and misunderstandings. And it makes us both feel good. That's my new recipe now. "When you have disagreements, somebody wants to be right, but the other person also wants to be right," he said. "But you have to make your partner feel good, even when you both have disagreements. That phrase ['happy wife, happy life'] is true. You have to respect each other. You have to compliment each other." Lundgren also avoids what he calls a "recipe for disaster" in any marriage — being apart from your spouse for too long. "I'm in a tough business," he explained. "And in show business, you travel a lot. And I'm a hardworking guy. I think what's helped us is that we work on things together. We work on the vodka together. My wife has also helped me produce and develop movies. So, we have a partnership, not just romantically, but also professionally. That way, we don't have to be apart a lot. And I value her opinions, her ideas." The pair also share a mutual love of fitness. Lundgren met Krokdal, a Norwegian personal trainer, at a Los Angeles Equinox. They began dating in 2019, and Lundgren popped the question in 2020. Krokdal was also by Lundgren's side as he privately battled cancer. In 2024, Lundgren announced he was cancer-free, Entertainment Weekly reported. "My fitness routine these days, well, I think there are three parts to it," said Lundgren. "One is strength. I try to do weights about twice a week. The other one is cardio. I keep the heart rate up either by biking or just walking or climbing stairs. The third one is functionality, because, as you get older, you lose some of your mobility. And I found that floor Pilates, not with the machine, is really good for you. It's a combination of gymnastics and core work. I find it really helpful, especially as you get older. "I sometimes do martial arts for functionality, get some kicks in," he noted. "But a combination of those three is important to me." These days, Lundgren and Krokdal are celebrating life and pursuing new goals together. "Launching my brand has been a challenge," he admitted. "Some days I sit at a computer for eight hours. I was also involved with the fundraising for it, the product, the development, the sales activities — everything. I do feel very satisfied personally. I wanted to do something that challenged me on all levels, not just as an actor, but more as a chemical engineer, which is what I studied. "I know there are a lot of people out there, a lot of celebrities with their own brands. I feel we have a very strong brand. … It's elegant but tough. I can stand behind it, and I think it represents me to some extent. And I want people to enjoy it the way I enjoy it." Lungren previously told Fox News Digital that investing in America was important to him. WATCH: 'ROCKY' STAR DOLPH LUNDGREN LAUNCHES HARD CUT VODKA AFTER BECOMING AN AMERICAN CITIZEN "I'm from Sweden, but I'm an immigrant and … all the good things in my life have come from America," he explained. "I switched from chemical engineering and martial arts to becoming an actor, a movie star in Hollywood. That couldn't have happened in any other country. And, so, I feel really comfortable working in America with Americans. "It just makes it easier because everything is more organized," he said. "People are more on the ball when you're doing business. Yes, it's important to me, and I think Americans will like the fact that it is an American vodka. It's sophisticated. It's tough but smooth, and it has an elegant image. Just because it's all-American doesn't mean it can't be sophisticated and elegant." The star noted he's always felt proud to build a life and career in America. And when it came time to become a citizen, he felt it was "better late than never." "It was about time," he reflected. "I've been here for 40 years. I went to school here when I was in my teens and moved here. I was an American resident for a while. Then I got married [to my previous wife] and I moved to Spain for various reasons. "I lived there, and my kids grew up in Spain, my two daughters. But I always wanted to come back. I moved back here about 15 years ago, and then I got my residency back. And then I decided I wanted to become a citizen." "This country has been my life," said Lundgren. "Everything good in my life has come from America. I love Sweden, but, like I said, I'm very close to this country. And standing there, swearing the oath, [seeing] the flag, it was very emotional. And it's big. It's not easy to become a citizen. It's difficult to become an American citizen, and I think it should be. "I'm proud that I made it."
Fox News
18-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
‘Rocky' star Dolph Lundgren invests in America, proudly embraces citizenship: ‘This country has been my life'
After a date night with his future wife, Dolph Lundgren decided to step into the ring of vodka production. The "Rocky" star, who studied chemical engineering before he became an actor, has unveiled Hard Cut Vodka, a 90-proof all-American spirit that's made with Idaho potatoes and water from the Rocky Mountains. It was a no-brainer for the 67-year-old, who famously played Russian boxer Ivan Drago. "I'm from Sweden originally, and people drink a lot of vodka in Sweden because it's cold and dark there in the winter," he told Fox News Digital. "… But I was taking my future wife at the time to Santa Barbara on a date, and I was trying some of the vodkas [at this] bar. I didn't really like them. I like it straight up over ice and I couldn't find one I really liked. They were all very harsh. And after complaining for a while, she said, 'Why don't you make your own?'" Not willing to back down from a challenge, Lundgren accepted Emma Krokdal's dare. WATCH: 'ROCKY' STAR DOLPH LUNDGREN LAUNCHES HARD CUT VODKA AFTER BECOMING AN AMERICAN CITIZEN "I looked at the vodka space, and it looked kind of boring compared to tequila," he shared. "A lot of people from Hollywood or entertainment have gone into tequila and whiskey. … Vodka was a wide-open field. … I wanted to have some fun and bring a little bit of an action movie pizzazz to it." Lundgren and Krokdal were on a quest to find the best distillery to bring their idea of the perfect vodka to life. In Idaho, a two-hour flight from their California home, they found exactly what they were looking for. Russet potatoes grown in the state, along with "Rocky Mountain snow-melt water" created a concoction that was both strong and smooth. Hard Cut Vodka was born. The final product, which was awarded Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2024, featured "bright notes of fennel, green apple and just a bit of butterscotch," Forbes reported. "The ones my wife and I liked the best were from Idaho, where they have a range of vodkas," he explained. "The one we liked came from a particular distillery … it was potato vodka. It turned out the potato gave it a really nice mouthfeel. … Once we found it, we realized it's an American vodka now, which is cool. … It belongs here. And it's something I can stand behind." "With all the trade wars and everything, it's also an advantage to be an American-made vodka," Lundgren chuckled. Investing in America was important for the star, he said. After living on and off in the United States, Lundgren officially became an American citizen in 2024. Krokdal, who is originally from Norway, also took part in a naturalization ceremony with her husband, where they both swore an oath of allegiance to the U.S., People magazine reported. "It's been very important to invest in America," Lundgren explained. "I'm from Sweden, but I'm an immigrant and … all the good things in my life have come from America. I switched from chemical engineering and martial arts to becoming an actor, a movie star in Hollywood. That couldn't have happened in any other country. And so, I feel really comfortable working in America with Americans." "It just makes it easier because everything is more organized," he said. "People are more on the ball when you're doing business. Yes, it's important to me, and I think Americans will like the fact that it is an American vodka. It's sophisticated. It's tough but smooth and it has an elegant image. Just because it's all-American doesn't mean it can't be sophisticated and elegant." The star noted he's always felt proud to build a life and career in America. And when it came time to become a citizen, he felt it was "better late than never." "It was about time," he reflected. "I've been here for 40 years. I went to school here when I was in my teens and moved here. I was an American resident for a while. Then I got married and I moved to Spain for various reasons. "I lived there and my kids grew up in Spain, my two daughters. But I always wanted to come back. I moved back here about 15 years ago, and then I got my residency back. And then I decided I wanted to become a citizen." "This country has been my life," said Lundgren. "Everything good in my life has come from America. I love Sweden, but like I said, I'm very close to this country. And standing there, swearing the oath, [seeing] the flag, it was very emotional. And it's big. It's not easy to become a citizen. It's difficult to become an American citizen, and I think it should be." "I'm proud that I made it," he added. Lundgren said that whenever he was in Europe, America was on his mind. But he put aside his dreams of staying in the country to be closer to his daughters, who are now 28 and 23 years old. "I felt like it was the one thing missing," said Lundgren. "… I had been pulled back to Europe by my ex-wife for various reasons. And it was maybe not such a smart move, but I did it for the family. … But I … always felt bad giving up my green card at that time. I always felt I wanted to get it back. I felt becoming an American … it just feels so right." It was in America where Lundgren found himself suddenly skyrocketing to fame. Drago was introduced in "Rocky IV," which premiered on Nov. 27, 1985, nearly 40 years ago. "I went in there as a kid," said Lundgren about attending the premiere. "… My girlfriend was a famous singer at the time, Grace Jones. People tried to get me out of the way to take pictures of her. And then I went [inside the theater]. The lights went down, and these two boxing gloves came up, a Soviet glove and an American glove. The movie starts, and I'm sitting there frozen for 90 minutes." "The lights came up, and suddenly everybody was looking at me," Lundgren continued. "I was a bit – I didn't know what to do. I felt really sick to my stomach but excited. We went out and people are taking pictures of me now. It took me a couple of years to get over it." Lundgren admitted that fame was difficult for him to navigate. His relationship with Jones, now 76, eventually came to an end. But over the years, he found himself busy appearing in blockbuster franchises, including "The Expendables," "Creed" and "Aquaman," among others. He's still good friends with Stallone, 78, who now resides in Palm Beach, Florida. Their daughters have also formed a friendship. "It's quite unusual to be close to somebody for 40 years in this business and be in the ring, punching each other," said Lundgren. "Throwing each other around, that creates a certain friendship. We've done six films together now. And he's a very smart, talented guy. Sometimes you play characters that are simplistic and physical, people assume you're not intelligent. But he's a very talented artist. And he's very funny as well. I loved getting to know him over the years. I can't wait to make him a cocktail the next time I see him." "Rocky," Lundgren said, will always hold a special place for the star. "The experience of being part of that kind of iconic film … It was a wonderful experience for a young Swedish kid who just came over here to study engineering," he said.
Fox News
05-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
‘Rocky' star Dolph Lundgren, wife Emma Krokdal soak up Miami sun after actor's years-long health battle
"Rocky" star Dolph Lundgren and wife Emma Krokdal were spotted soaking up the sun in Miami Beach after the actor's lengthy health battle. Lundgren, 67, and Krokdal, 29, were photographed enjoying a day at the beach during a stay at the luxury Faena Hotel. The action star, who revealed in November he was cancer-free after nine years of treatment and surgery, showed off his fit physique as he went shirtless in a pair of blue and white swim trunks. Lundgren sported a black watch and a silver chain. The "Expendables" star wore what appeared to be black kinesiology tape wrapped around his ankles. Krokdal put her trim figure on full display in a lavender-colored string bikini. The personal trainer accessorized with a pair of large tortoiseshell sunglasses, a belly button ring, beaded bracelets and gold hoop earrings. The pair carried white towels as they strolled along the shoreline before lying down to sunbathe. Lundgren was seen rearranging a lounge chair under a red and white umbrella while his wife relaxed in the chair next to him. The actor later wore a white polo shirt before the couple walked back to the hotel where they were seen beaming as they caught more rays. Lundgren and Krokdal, who announced their engagement in June 2020, tied the knot at their villa in Mykonos, Greece, in July 2023. The actor was previously married to jewelry designer Anette Qviberg, from 1994 to 2011. The former couple share daughters Ida, 28, and Greta, 23. In an Instagram post Lundgren posted Thursday, he shared that the couple had traveled to Miami to attend an event supporting the charitable organization Childhelp. "Their mission to prevent child abuse, is a cause very close to my heart and something I've experienced personally," he wrote of the nonprofit in the caption. "Every 10 seconds there's a report of child abused in the United States. Appreciate your help," Lundgren added, sharing a link to Childhelp's website. "Protect our children — our future," he added, tagging Childhelp's Instagram account. Lundgren has previously spoken out about being physically abused by his father while growing up in Sweden. The "Creed II" star's post included a trio of photos taken during their trip. In one image, Lundgren posed in a brown suit with a white dress shirt and white sneakers in the lobby of the Faena. Krokdal, who was wearing a white floral blouse with a sheer white layered skirt, joined him in another snap. The third photo featured Lundgren on stage as he received an award at Chidhelp's "Miracles in Miami" fundraiser. The pair's trip comes after Lundgren announced he had beaten the odds after being given two years to live at one point during his battle with cancer. In a November Instagram post shared from his hospital bed, Lundgren announced he was "finally cancer free with gratefulness and excitement for a bright future." In the video he posted, Lundgren said, "Here I am at UCLA. I'm about to go in and get rid of that last tumor. Since there are no cancer cells in my body anymore, I guess I'll be cancer-free, so I'm looking forward to this procedure." He explained he was undergoing lung ablation, a minimally invasive procedure that uses heating or cooling mechanisms to destroy tumor tissue, according to the Mayo Clinic. "It's been a rough ride and really taught me how to live in the moment and enjoy every moment of life. I mean, it's the only way to go," Lundgren said before heading into surgery. Lundgren was first diagnosed with cancer in 2015, when doctors found a tumor in his kidney. The doctors were able to remove the tumor, and he remained cancer-free for five years. During an interview on "In Depth With Graham Bensinger," he revealed doctors found a "few more tumors around the area" in 2020 and removed six additional tumors, but one had grown into the "size of a lemon" in his liver, and doctors were unable to remove it. "It wasn't looking good," he told Fox News Digital in January 2024. "I mean, there was a doctor in London who basically told me you should stop working and spend more time with your family. Then I realized it was serious." However, the "Universal Solider" star later learned his doctors were "giving me the wrong treatments because they hadn't really checked on all the biopsies." "I got a second opinion from a UCLA doctor, and she went back and looked at all the biopsies, and she said, 'Well, you know, this is a different mutation than what they said,'" Lundgren recalled. "They hadn't checked it. They just assumed. As soon as I got the new medication, I started getting better. And that was all [2022]. "And then last year, I removed all those tumors," Lundgren recalled. "They freeze them out or use radiation. And then, you know, now I'm living a normal life, I would say. Except I gotta go and do a scan every three months. But everything else is kind of back to normal. So, it was scary and magical at the same time."
