Dolph Lundgren has spoken about the shock he felt after being catapulted to fame following the success of Rocky IV in 1985. As a Swedish actor who got his big break playing the villainous Soviet fighter Ivan Drago, Lundgren was one of the most iconic antagonists in the entire Rocky franchise and remains among the fiercest foes Sylvester Stallone’s underdog hero has ever faced off against. Rocky’s fight against Drago was about far more than just professional boxing and acted as a microcosm for the entire Cold War, with Rocky representing the United States and Drago as the Soviet Union.
Even four decades after Rocky IV first premiered, Lundgren can still remember the stresses and responsibilities of his newfound fame, as he revealed at Fan Expo Philadelphia, attended by Screen Rant, that it took him “about five years to recover.” Lundgren’s role was immediately one of the most memorable in the entire Rocky series, and, as the fighter who brutally killed Apollo Creed in the ring, it’s understandable he might have rubbed some fans the wrong way. However, Lundgren’s comments reveal that Drago’s role came with political baggage that took him some time to get used to.
Dolph Lundgren’s Newfound Rocky IV Fame Had Political Connotations
Ivan Drago Embodied Just About Every Negative Russian Stereotype There Is
While there was a personal dimension to Rocky’s fight against Ivan Drago in Rocky IV, the truth was that their fraught relationship was essentially a metaphor for the Cold War, with Lundgren’s character leaning into negative stereotypes of aggressive Russians. As an emotionally bereft, almost robotic enemy, Drago’s character was stripped of his humanity, even coldly stating, “If he dies, he dies,” after delivering a fatal blow to Apollo Creed in the ring. This negative characterization meant that Lundgren was consistently asked his opinions on the Cold War during Rocky IV’s worldwide press tour.
“It kind of took me by surprise, you know, getting famous. The movie was a big hit, and it did a worldwide press tour, and this is during the Cold War. So, you know, I came to Germany, did a big press conference, and they were saying ‘Mr. Lundgren, what do you think of the Cold War situation?’ And I don’t know, you know? ‘I don’t know; sorry.’ And it took me about five years to recover from that.”
Even though Lundgren was a Swedish actor, having gained his big break playing a ruthless Russian, he was immediately cast into the spotlight and forced to comment on complex political topics. While Lundgren would use the success of Rocky IV to gain the leading role of He-Man in the Masters of the Universe movie or continue playing villains in cult favorite films like Universal Soldier, behind the scenes, he was still getting used to his newfound fame.
Our Take On Dolph Lundgren’s Rocky IV Comments
Ivan Drago’s Character Was Not A Hero Like Rocky
Dolph Lundgren now stands as one of the most iconic action stars ever, yet it’s understandable that he would have had difficulty adapting to the fame that Rocky IV afforded him. While the Best Picture-winning success of Rocky in 1976 also turned Sylvester Stallone into a global star, that was for playing a beloved hero and not a dehumanized athlete carrying out the whims of a totalitarian state. Rocky IV was released four years before the fall of the Berlin Wall, and Lundgren’s role was so highly politicized that it would have been impossible for him not to feel uncomfortable.
As a chemical engineering student-turned actor, Lundgren was just 28 when he gained his big break as Ivan Drago, having previously had a small role in the James Bond movie A View to a Kill. At this time, Lundgren was just a young actor hoping to carve out a career, and the idea of being asked to comment on a topic as serious as the Cold War must have been daunting. Yet, for all his fear, Dolph Lundgren remained as calm and confident as Drago himself, and despite taking about five years to recover, he turned that challenge into long-lasting success.
