← All stories
pop-culture

Bruce Campbell Says Doctors Have Given Him a Five-Year Prognosis

2 outlets9/6/2026

The short version

Evil Dead star Bruce Campbell revealed on The Adam Carolla Show that he has been given roughly five years to live following his cancer diagnosis, while saying he has decided to keep living rather than stop everything.

via IGN

Bruce Campbell, known for Evil Dead, Maniac Cop and Burn Notice, gave fans an update on his health during an appearance on The Adam Carolla Show. Campbell said doctors have given him a five-year prognosis tied to his cancer diagnosis, though he declined to specify the type of cancer.

Earlier this year, Campbell announced he would step back as an actor following the diagnosis. In an Instagram post at the time, he described the illness as "treatable" but not "curable." That announcement came around the promotion of his latest film, Ernie and Emma, which he also directed and which centers on a husband spreading his wife's ashes.

On the podcast, Campbell said he has chosen not to spend his remaining time focused on dying. He described going through a period of processing difficult news before deciding how to move forward, saying he has "decided pretty specifically to live with it." He also noted that cancer itself isn't what kills people, but rather the effects it has on the body, and said that right now he feels "perfect."

Campbell rose to fame playing Ash Williams in the original Evil Dead trilogy, a role that extended into numerous video game and TV spinoffs. He has also made frequent cameo appearances in Sam Raimi productions, including Spider-Man and Xena: Warrior Princess, as well as appearances in Coen brothers films. Other notable roles include Bubba Ho-Tep, Maniac Cop and The Adventures of Brisco County Jr.

Campbell also documented his career in the 2001 autobiography If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor. While he will no longer be a regular presence in film going forward, his recent comments indicate he intends to continue engaging with life and his work despite the diagnosis.

Every angle

2 outlets · 2 takes

How each outlet is covering this story. Go straight to the one with the angle you want — we send you to the source.

All sources

Follow this story’s topics

Storyline

Bruce Campbell Cancer Diagnosis and Prognosis

1 story →
Replies

No replies yet.

Sign in to reply.

Get the weekly digest

The week's stories in the categories you pick — in your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.