Evil Dead star Bruce Campbell discloses cancer diagnosis, assures fans he’s ‘a tough old son-of-a-bitch’
Campbell, 67, said he will be taking time away from conventions for his treatment.
Evil Dead icon Bruce Campbell revealed that he has been diagnosed with a treatable form of cancer, sharing the news directly with fans in a candid social media post. Known for his humor and resilience, the actor approached the announcement with honesty — and unmistakable strength.
Campbell did not reveal his exact diagnosis, and he joked that he was sparing his fans.
“The good news is, I’m not gonna go into any more detail,” he wrote. “I’m posting this, because professionally, a few things will have to change — appearances and cons and work in general need to take a back seat to treatment. 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.”
He continued, “There are several cons this summer that I have to cancel. Big regrets on my part. Treatment needs and professional obligations don’t always go hand-in-hand. That’s about it. 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).”
He ended his message on a positive note.
“Fear not, I am a tough old son-of-a-bitch and I have great support, so I expect to be around a while,” he concluded. “As always, you’re the greatest fans in the world and I hope to see you soon!” He sent “much love.”
Campbell, who earned his first professional acting credits in ’70s, played the part of Ash Williams in 1981 horror movie The Evil Dead, which has a cult following.
He’s also reprised the role for projects including the TV series Ash vs Evil Dead, which aired for three seasons, from 2015 to 2018, on Starz.
In addition to his famous franchise, Campbell’s decades of work also includes TV’s Burn Notice, from 2007 to 2013, and voicing a character of in Disney and Pixar’s movie Cars 2 in 2011.
The actor has previously been outspoken about why his franchise endures, including in July 2024 when he explained to Entertainment Weekly just what’s wrong with action classic Die Hard.
“The premise of Die Hard is wrong,” Campbell said. “The guy in the air vent shouldn’t be Bruce Willis. He’s an ex-L.A. cop. The writers just took the easy train. They took the freight train to easy town. You put an accountant in the air vent who’s never fired a gun in his life, but ‘Oh my God, he’s smart!’ Now I’m interested.”
He cited Ash from Evil Dead as someone who could and does create memorable onscreen moments.
“He has no formal training whatsoever,” Campbell said. “He’s not military, he’s not CIA; he’s like a garage mechanic that’s out to save the world. That interests me!”
His upcoming movie Ernie & Emma is also directed and cowritten by him.
