Los Angeles – Bruce Campbell, the American actor best known for his role in the 1981 horror classic The Evil Dead, has announced he has been diagnosed with cancer. The 67-year-old actor revealed the diagnosis on social media Monday, describing it as a treatable, but not curable, form of the disease.
Campbell stated he is sharing the information because of necessary adjustments to his professional commitments. He has canceled planned appearances at film festivals this summer to focus on treatment. “I’m going to take a step back and focus on getting as healthy as possible over the summer,” he wrote, according to reports. He expressed optimism about returning to work in the fall with his new film, Ernie & Emma.
The actor, who rose to prominence playing Ash Williams in Sam Raimi’s The Evil Dead and its sequels, Evil Dead 2 (1987) and Army of Darkness (1992), also appeared in Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Campbell starred in the television series Burn Notice from 2007 to 2013.
Raimi first cast Campbell in The Evil Dead in 1981. Campbell’s recent work includes a smaller role in the film Send Help, also directed by Raimi.
Campbell requested privacy, stating he does not want “pity or advice,” but felt it important to be transparent with his fans. He expressed confidence in his support system and his ability to “be around for a while.”
