'Evil Dead' star Bruce Campbell reveals he has 'five years to live' after cancer diagnosis
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: ‘Evil Dead’ actor Bruce Campbell revealed that his doctor has given him a five-year prognosis following his cancer diagnosis in March.
Campbell shared the update on 'The Adam Carolla Show' on Wednesday, September 3, while making it clear that he does not plan to let his illness overshadow the years he has left. He had earlier said that his cancer was "treatable" but not "curable," but he had not shared how long he was expected to live.
Bruce Campbell says he has decided to live with cancer, 'not die from it'
Campbell said he has chosen to live with his illness rather than allow it to define his remaining years. “I’ve decided pretty specifically though to live with it, not die from it,” the actor-director said. “Because you can go down a massive rabbit hole, the cancer rabbit hole is enormous... I won’t touch it with a 10- foot pole.”
“So, the prognosis is you have five years to live?” Adam Carolla clarified. During the interview, Campbell also opened up about the mental impact of his cancer diagnosis.
“It’s really, aside from the medical c**p, it’s a fascinating thing that takes place because it messes with your head too,” he said. “Cancer creeps me out because of the ancillary stuff that it does. It’s not just - you don’t die from cancer. You die from what cancer does to you.”
“It’s a whack-a-mole life, literally,” he continued. "Cancer compromises inside your body. So then you go, ‘Deal with that,’ so then you deal with that. And then you sort of wait for it to then compromise something else. Meanwhile, you’re trying to put out the whole fire."
Campbell shared a similar perspective with The Wrap, explaining how the illness has changed the way he thinks about his health and daily life: “My phrase is ‘It’s a whack-a-mole-life.’ Cancer’s kind of weird. It invades your world, does stuff to you, and then you address it."
"So, half the time you’re not even dealing with cancer, per se. You’re dealing with... how it mugged you in an alley. And then, you have to deal with being mugged in an alley.” He also reflected on the unexpected emotions that have emerged since his diagnosis. “Appreciation and gratitude has come out of nowhere; it’s very hard to describe," he added.
Bruce Campbell and his iconic role in 'Evil Dead' franchise
Campbell has built a lasting legacy in horror through his portrayal of Ash Williams in the 'Evil Dead' franchise. He first took on the role in Sam Raimi’s 1981 horror film The 'Evil Dead', which became a cult classic despite its modest budget.
Campbell went on to reprise Ash in 'Evil Dead II', 'Army of Darkness', and the TV series 'Ash vs Evil Dead', making the character one of his most recognizable performances.
