Bruce Campbell, the actor best known for his role as Ash Williams in the Evil Dead franchise, announced Monday he has been diagnosed with a cancer described as “treatable, not curable.” The 67-year-old shared the news via a post on social media, explaining the diagnosis will necessitate a pause in his public appearances and professional commitments.
“I’m posting this, because professionally, a few things will have to change – appearances and cons and work in general demand to take a back seat to treatment,” Campbell wrote. He added, “I apologize if that’s a shock – it was to me too.”
Campbell expressed hope to resume work on his upcoming comedy film, Ernie & Emma, which he wrote, directed, and stars in, by the summer, with plans to tour the film in the fall. However, he acknowledged the need to cancel several scheduled appearances this year due to treatment requirements. “You’ll see several cons this year summer that I have to cancel. Big regrets on my part,” he stated.
The actor, who originated the role of Ash Williams in Sam Raimi’s 1981 horror classic The Evil Dead, has appeared in every installment of the franchise, most recently providing a voice role in 2023’s Evil Dead Rise. He also served as an executive producer on the recently completed sequel, Evil Dead Burn, which is slated for release later this year.
In his statement, Campbell preemptively addressed the potential for misinformation, stating, “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 concluded with a message of resilience, declaring, “Fear not, I am a tough old son-of-a-bitch and I have great support, so I expect to be around a even as.”