Dolph Lundgren has found the “secret sauce” to marriage.
The 67-year-old, who performed Russian boxer Ivan Drago in “Rocky IV,” stated “I do” to Emma Krokdal, 29, in 2023. They grew to become Americans in 2024 and name California house.
They’ve additionally partnered to launch the actor’s all-American Exhausting Reduce Vodka, which was impressed by a date they’d within the early days of their relationship.
Lundgren informed Fox Information 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 attempt to get a number of earlier than lunch, so I nonetheless have some within the financial institution [throughout the day]. It sounds easy and a little bit goofy, however doing that neutralizes lots of disagreements and misunderstandings. And it makes us each really 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 stated. “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 additionally avoids what he calls a “recipe for disaster” in any marriage — being aside out of your partner for too lengthy.
“I’m in a tough business,” he defined. “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 additionally share a mutual love of health.
Lundgren met Krokdal, a Norwegian private coach, at a Los Angeles Equinox. They started courting in 2019, and Lundgren popped the query in 2020.
Krokdal was additionally by Lundgren’s aspect as he privately battled most cancers. In 2024, Lundgren introduced he was cancer-free, Leisure Weekly reported.
“My fitness routine these days, well, I think there are three parts to it,” stated Lundgren. “One is power. I attempt to do weights about twice every week. The opposite one is cardio. I maintain the guts price up both by biking or simply strolling or climbing stairs. The third one is performance, as a result of, as you become older, you lose a few of your mobility. And I discovered that flooring Pilates, not with the machine, is basically good for you. It’s a mixture of gymnastics and core work. I discover it actually useful, particularly as you become older.
“I sometimes do martial arts for functionality, get some kicks in,” he famous. “But a combination of those three is important to me.”
As of late, Lundgren and Krokdal are celebrating life and pursuing new objectives collectively.
“Launching my brand has been a challenge,” he admitted. “Some days I sit at a pc for eight hours. I used to be additionally concerned with the fundraising for it, the product, the event, the gross sales actions — every part. I do really feel very happy personally. I wished to do one thing that challenged me on all ranges, not simply as an actor, however extra 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 beforehand informed Fox Information Digital that investing in America was necessary to him.
“I’m from Sweden, but I’m an immigrant and … all the good things in my life have come from America,” he defined. “I switched from chemical engineering and martial arts to changing into an actor, a film star in Hollywood. That couldn’t have occurred in some other nation. And, so, I really feel actually snug working in America with Individuals.
“It just makes it easier because everything is more organized,” he stated. “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 famous he’s at all times felt proud to construct a life and profession in America. And when it got here time to turn into a citizen, he felt it was “better late than never.”
“It was about time,” he mirrored. “I’ve been right here for 40 years. I went to high school right here once I was in my teenagers and moved right here. I used to be an American resident for some time. Then I obtained married [to my previous wife] and I moved to Spain for numerous causes.
“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,” stated Lundgren. “Every thing good in my life has come from America. I like Sweden, however, like I stated, I’m very near this nation. And standing there, swearing the oath, [seeing] the flag, it was very emotional. And it’s large. It’s not straightforward to turn into a citizen. It’s troublesome to turn into an American citizen, and I believe it needs to be.
“I’m proud that I made it.”
