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'80s Horror Icon Reveals Cancer Diagnosis: 'Fear Not, I Am A Tough Old Son-Of-A-Bitch'
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“The Evil Dead” star Bruce Campbell on Monday revealed he has been diagnosed with cancer, announcing the news with both lighthearted humor and solemnity — as only a beloved face of several horror-comedies arguably could. “Hi folks, these days, when someone is having a health issue, it’s referred to as an ‘opportunity,’ so let’s go with that — I’m having one of those,” Campbell wrote in a social media statement. “It’s also called a type of cancer that’s ‘treatable,’ not ‘curable.’” The 67-year-old continued, “I apologize if that’s a shock — it was to me too.” Campbell earned his spot as a horror icon in the pantheon of blood-soaked protagonists after director Sam Raimi cast him as Ash Williams in “The Evil Dead” (1981), a cult classic of the genre and arguable blueprint for its timeless “cabin-in-the-woods” setting. The low-budget indie horror centered on Ash and his girlfriend Linda spending a romantic weekend in a remote cabin, only for them to discover “The Necronomicon” (or “The Book of the Dead”) and a recording of verses that unleash the titular evil. The movie cost less than $400,000 and became one of the highest-grossing independent films of all time, later helping Raimi land directorial duties for “Spider-Man” (2002) and Campbell earn the nickname “The Chin” for his considerable profile silhouette. Campbell proved his comedic chops with the 1987 sequel to “The Evil Dead,” which involved far more slapstick humor. He also starred in the third entry, “Army of Darkness” (1992), and another cult-classic horror-comedy, “Bubba Ho-Tep” (2002), but has never become a true A-lister. Campbell has regularly participated in horror conventions over the past decades, showing appreciation for his fans and helming hilariously candid Q&A sessions, and directly addressed those who have always rooted for him in his bittersweet post Monday. “The good news is, I’m not gonna go into any more detail,” wrote Campbell. “I’m posting this, because professionally, a few things will have to change — appearances and cons and work in general need to take back seat to treatment.” He continued, “My plan is to get as well as I possibly can over the summer so that I can tour with my new movie ‘Ernie & Emma’ this fall. There are several cons this year summer that I have to cancel. Big regrets on my part.” “Ernie & Emma” (2026) revolves around grief and death and was written and directed by Campbell, who also stars in the lead. He recently told The Oregonian that he never used to think about death, even as the young star of “The Evil Dead,” but now frequently does. Campbell has curated an impressive filmography despite his supposed B-movie skillset, starring in The Coen Brothers’ “The Hudsucker Proxy” (1994), David Simon’s “Homicide: Life on the Street” (1996) and John Carpenter’s “Escape From L.A.” (1996). The actor was also later cast in all three “Spider-Man” films his friend Raimi directed. Campbell wrote Monday, “I’m not trying to enlist sympathy — or advice — I just want to get ahead of this information in case false information gets out (which it will). Fear not, I am a tough old son-of-a-bitch and I have great support, so I expect to be around for a while.” He added, “As always, you’re the greatest fans in the world and I hope to see you soon!” By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.