Bruce Campbell is opening up about his ongoing cancer battle, revealing that doctors have given him roughly five years to live. The 68-year-old actor, widely recognized for his iconic role as Ash Williams in the “Evil Dead” franchise, shared his prognosis during a recent appearance on “The Adam Carolla Show.”
Campbell, who has not publicly disclosed the specific type of cancer he is battling, said his current life expectancy is five years, “give or take.” Rather than dwelling on the diagnosis, the actor has adopted a clear mindset about how he wants to move forward.
“I’ve decided though, pretty specifically, to live with it, not die from it,” Campbell told Carolla.
Staying Away from the Diagnosis
The actor explained that he is deliberately avoiding spending too much time researching his condition or reading about the experiences of others facing the same disease. He described the online landscape around this type of illness as overwhelming.
“The cancer rabbit hole is enormous,” Campbell said, adding that he could find groups filled with thousands of people facing the same diagnosis but has chosen not to do so. “I won’t touch it with a 10-foot pole.”
Focusing on Work
Instead, Campbell said he is channeling his energy into his career and promoting his upcoming independent film, “Ernie & Emma,” which he wrote, directed, produced and stars in. He made it clear that he has no intention of putting his life on hold.
“I’m moving on. I got a movie to promote,” Campbell said. “You have to make this decision of, ‘Well, okay, but do I have to stop everything that I’m doing because of this?’ Well, no.”
Campbell added that he currently feels “perfect” physically, even as he acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding his illness. He also spoke candidly about the broader realities of living with the disease.
“The cancer, it creeps me out because of the ancillary stuff that it does,” he said. “You don’t die from cancer. You die from what cancer does to you.”
A spokesperson for Campbell declined to offer additional comment when contacted by ABC News.
Earlier Announcement
Campbell first publicly revealed his cancer diagnosis in March through a post on X, explaining at the time that the disease was “treatable, not curable.” He acknowledged that the news could be surprising for fans and supporters.
“I apologize if that’s a shock – it was to me,” Campbell wrote in a statement shared on social media.
He said he did not plan to disclose additional details about the diagnosis but wanted fans to understand why his professional schedule would change. His priorities, he explained, needed to shift.
“Appearances and cons and work in general need to take back seat to treatment,” he said at the time.