Action icon Dolph Lundgren has a clear message for anyone criticizing the significant age difference in his marriage: he doesn't care. The 68-year-old Rocky IV star, married to 29-year-old Emma Krokdal, is brushing off the commentary and focusing on his happiness and health.
Lundgren addressed the topic while promoting his new vodka brand, Hard Cut Vodka. He told Fox News that being in the public eye inevitably attracts negative opinions, but he chooses to ignore them. "To me, age is just a number. It doesn't really matter," Lundgren stated. "I mean we're all gonna be dead a hundred years from now — most of us anyway — and nothing will matter."
A Partnership Forged in Adversity
For Lundgren, the foundation of his relationship with Krokdal is what counts. He emphasized that the choice of a life partner is crucial and that he has found his ideal match. "All that matters is that you enjoy your life, you enjoy your partner. And I think the choice of partner is one of the most important choices you can make in life. I've realized that. And I think Emma is the best choice for me, and I don't care what people say," the father of two explained.
Krokdal, in a separate interview, noted their strong connection stems from shared backgrounds and similar upbringings. The couple's story began in 2019 with a chance meeting at a West Hollywood gym. Lundgren recalled asking her for directions to the boxing room, experiencing an immediate "uh-oh" moment of attraction. Their relationship developed from a friendship, with Lundgren humorously admitting he initially didn't understand why she was interested in him, especially as she was unfamiliar with his film career.
Krokdal's Role in Lundgren's Health Journey
Beyond companionship, Lundgren credits his wife with playing a pivotal role during his nearly decade-long battle with cancer. He married Krokdal in 2023 and has said she helped "save my life with the cancer journey and turn my life around."
The Swedish actor first revealed his cancer diagnosis in 2023, explaining that a tumour was found on his kidney in 2015. After five years in remission, more tumours were discovered during a check-up in Sweden. The prognosis was dire at one point, with a doctor in London advising him to stop working and spend time with his family. "Then I realized it was serious," Lundgren said.
A turning point came with a second opinion from a doctor at UCLA, who identified a different mutation in the cancer than previously diagnosed. Lundgren persevered, undergoing treatment while continuing to film major projects like The Expendables 4 and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. He believes staying active and creative aided his recovery. By November 2025, he was able to announce he was finally cancer-free.
Reflecting on his marriage, Lundgren told Fox News, "It was a good choice. I really enjoy it. Emma is a great support. She's very clever." His story is one of personal resilience, a defiant embrace of love on his own terms, and a hard-won victory over illness.
