Probably, now it is rarely possible to meet an adult who has not seen at least one film with the participation of this actor. A calm, slightly detached look, a cheeky face and a male silhouette with embossed muscles are always directed from the screen to the viewer. This is Dolph Lundgren. The filmography of the actor has 59 films, in many of which he is the embodiment of courage, brute force and cold charm. Although in childhood, Hans (real name) was exactly the opposite.
The story of an ordinary guy
The future actor was born near Stockholm, in a suburb called Spange. A frail, sickly boy, an excellent student and quiet, grew up in a middle-income family. Dolph's mother, Brigitte, was a teacher, father - an economist in the Swedish government. In addition to Hans, the family had three younger children. The relationship between father and son was rather complicated, which subsequently influenced the further course of Dolph's life.
Despite the constant allergies and a lot of chronic diseases, the guy chose a sport. After trying several types of wrestling, Dolph stopped at kekushinkai karate and with stubborn training achieved unprecedented success: in the late 70s of the last century he won many high-profile titles. But this is not the main thing.
It is important that from a notorious teenager, in which even his own father did not believe, Dolph Lundgren turned into a confident person, ready to conquer new horizons. By the way, it is a sports physique that the actor owes his debut in the film industry.
It is generally accepted that one is naturally given to man one thing: either mind or power. But an American actor with Swedish roots completely refutes the prevailing opinion. Hans speaks several languages, a scholarship holder at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a master's degree in chemical engineering. Among other things, he not only brilliantly completed mandatory military service, but was also invited to special training courses for the marines, which he completed perfectly. Life was waiting when it would be possible to give the guy a prepared gift, and now the case presented itself.
Rocky: catch the dream
In Sydney, where Lundgren worked as a nightclub security guard while studying, fate brought him to Grace Jones, a woman who subsequently abruptly changed the Swedish vector of life. The celebrity first hired him as a bodyguard, and later he and Grace became close. But even after moving to New York, Dolph was still nothing more than a “Grace guy.”
The Swede was more and more fascinated by art: he began to attend preparatory acting courses, where he met many venerable personalities.
It was at this time that the cherished door to the cinema opened slowly, although Dolph Lundgren, whose filmography would very soon begin to be created, had not yet realized it ...
Grace arranged a protégé in yet another series about the adventures of James Bond (“A View of the Killing,”) to the familiar role of bodyguard. For the first time in the credits appeared the name: Dolph Lundgren. The filmography of the actor began precisely with this small episode.
Later, when he sent his portfolio to the casting in the film of Sylvester Stallone “Rocky 4”, his candidacy was not accepted because of too impressive anthropometric data. But one photo convinced Sly and made him make a choice: where Dolph poses in boxing gloves.
Full-fledged filmography: bright 80s
Where did Dolph Lundgren act in film? All acting, filmography of this period are described in this section. The very beginning, the formation of a career, the first famous films - this is a characteristic of this life stage of the Swedish legend.
So, 1985 - "Bond", "View of the murder." In the same year, the acclaimed Stallone film “Rocky 4” was released.
There are many stories that have turned into movie stories that are retold from mouth to mouth. For example, on the set of Rocky 4, Stallone demanded a realistic battle, but later regretted it. After the fight, Sly was taken away in an ambulance right from the set: following Sylvester's request, Dolph Lundgren overdid it. Films, the filmography of the actor seriously began precisely with this Russian character, boxer Drago.
Then, in 1987, a film appeared, which many remember, once enthusiastically watching it in organized video shows. We are talking about the fantastic film "Lord of the Universe." Critics did not appreciate the picture, but the audience liked the films. Dolph Lundgren, whose complete filmography from the creation of an alien tale did not suffer at all, continued to act on. And with the filming of "The Lords of the Universe" there are several interesting facts:
• The Nordic Swede independently performed all the risky tricks involved in the frame;
• the buildings that appear in the picture no longer exist - they were destroyed by a wave of earthquakes that shook the region;
• Sylvester Stallone auditioned for the role of the main character.
1989 pleased the audience with two action tapes: The Punisher and The Red Scorpion, where Lundgren again played the Russian hero.
90s: the era of the "Universal Soldier"
As an actor, Dolph Lundgren, whose filmography mainly consists of films with a heroic plot, dreamed of taking part in a film where there is room for creativity and thoughtful dialogues. Such a film for the Swede becomes "Angel of Darkness." Its premiere took place in 1990, and the plot tells about the confrontation between man and alien. But in the future, the actor will remain within the role of an uncompromising winner.
In 1991, as a kind of warm-up, the militants “Black October” and “Showdown in Little Tokyo” appeared on a wide screen.
The next significant film in the career of the actor was the famous "Universal Soldier", which appeared to the world in 1992. In this blockbuster, Lundgren played with the Belgian Van Damme. The project interested the Swede, firstly, in connection with the sci-fi plot, and secondly, due to the presence of Jean-Claude, who had already become a young star. Dolph Lundgren had high hopes for the created tandem and, as it turned out, was not mistaken. In addition, interest in the tape was heated from the outside: the Belgian and the Swede in public, at the festival, tried to arrange a fight, but were disconnected. Subsequently, this turned out to be an invention of PR specialists.
Next is a series of films, probably known to the post-Soviet audience: “Joshua Tree” - 1993, “Champion” and “Soldier of Fortune” - 1994.
1995 was marked by the release of computer fantasies with Keanu Reeves called Johnny Mnemonics and the more trivial film Shooter.
In 1996, the famous film "Under the Sight" was released, in which Lundgren plays a hired sniper, struggling with his own conscience, and at the same time breaking the system.
The film "Peacekeeper", which touches upon the urgent problem of the possibility of a nuclear attack, was released at sunset in 1997.
1998 was creatively fruitful: Blackjack, Cleaner and Mignon. Three paintings telling about different events: adventures in the forests of Angola, the hunt for a cold-blooded killer and even attempts to prevent the arrival of Satan. They are united by one thing: the hero of Dolph Lundgren will definitely win the battle.
Two films, released in 1999, did not bring tangible success to the audience, although, of course, there are people who love “Battle of the Dragons” and “Air Hunter”.
Restless 2000s: repetition - the mother of learning
In 2000, three films appeared at the box office: “Sudden Blow”, “Universal Agent” and the thriller “The Last Frontier”, whose apocalyptic scenario turned out to be more relevant than ever. The shocks that occurred during the years the tape was released were also significant.
From 2001 to 2004, fighters were released: The Secret Plan, Survival Lesson, Naprol, and Retrograde.
Since the beginning of 2005, Dolph Lundgren has been trying himself as a director, and relatively successfully. Films made during this period were: Mechanic, where the hero from Russia, the Missionary and the adventurous Diamond Dogs, released in 2008, again attracted the Swede.
Then follows the thriller “Direct Contact” and another directorial test - the action movie “Dangerous Tour”.
Zero was marked by the return of Lundgren to the favorite hero Andrew Scott, who distinguished himself in the film "Universal Soldier". 2 more blocks of the blockbuster were created: Universal Soldier 3. Revival (pleased 2009) and Universal Soldier 4 (created in 2012). Moreover, Van Damme continued to participate in both parts.
After The Soldier, Lundgren showed the world yet another directorial work - the dramatic thriller The Killing Machine.
The most demanded of recent films that brought significant box office gains were The Expendables and The Expendables 2 (2010 and 2012, respectively), shot according to the script by Sylvester Stallone. In the film, Sly invited the leading figures from the cinema:
Eric Roberts, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mickey Rourke and, of course, his “godson” Dolph Lundgren. The release of these films has revived the fame of the actor, a little forgotten by the audience. But "The Expendables-3", released in 2014, did not find the proper support of the film audience.
“In the Name of King-2” is a 2011 film, the second part of medieval fantasy. It was a genre unusual for the Swedish actor, but nevertheless found his audience.
But 2012 exceeded all expectations. In addition to The Expendables-2 and the Universal Soldier-4, many new action films and thrillers appeared: Vault, Prisoner, and Parcel.
In 2013, four films were released featuring Dolph Lundgren: Legends: Tomb of the Dragon, Battle of the Damned, Race, and Blood of Atonement.
The Expendables 3 is not the only film of 2014. Besides him came out: “A certain justice” and “Slave trade” - a picture that raises the hot topic of organ trafficking.
2015 is the time of the militants. Filmed "War Pigs" with the participation of Mickey Rourke and "Forget", where Lundgren plays in tandem with
Johnny Messner. All these tapes are of varying success, but not forgotten by admirers of the acting abilities of the magnificent Dolph.
You can argue hoarsely about tastes or talents, but you can't like everyone at the same time. One thing is certain: the films in which the famous Swede played found a worthy niche in the vastness of world cinema.