‘Evil Dead’ Star Bruce Campbell Shares Heartbreaking Health Update After Cancer Diagnosis

Evil Dead actor Bruce Campbell shared a heartbreaking health update after announcing his cancer diagnosis.

In the September 2 episode of The Adam Carolla Show, Campbell, 68, revealed he has approximately five years to live. The news came six months after the actor publicly revealed his cancer diagnosis — although he hasn’t specified what type of cancer.

Campbell opened up more about his health journey while discussing the independent film Ernie & Emma, in which he starred and for which he produced, wrote, and directed.

“It’s a very fascinating timing of having a movie about a guy who’s spreading his wife’s ashes who died, made by a guy who’s dying,” he pointed out. “I’m in a five-year prognosis. The type of cancer that I have, which I don’t want to get into, the current thing is a five-year deal.”

“So the prognosis is that you have five years to live?” Carolla clarified, to which Campbell replied, “Give or take.”

In March, Campbell announced his cancer diagnosis and planned decrease in public appearance amid treatment.

“Hi folks, these days, when someone is having a health issue, it’s referred to as an ‘opportunity,’ so let’s go with that — I’m having one of those,” he wrote on X. “It’s also called a type of cancer that’s ‘treatable’ not ‘curable.’ I apologize if that’s a shock — it was to me too.”

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— Bruce Campbell (@GroovyBruce) March 3, 2026

Campbell is best known for co-producing and starring as Ash Williams in The Evil Dead (1981) and its sequels Evil Dead 2 (1987) and Army of Darkness (1992). Additionally, he starred in the TV series Ash vs Evil Dead from 2015 to 2018. Campbell went on to make a post-credits cameo in Evil Dead (2013) in addition to serving as a producer. And for Evil Dead Rise (2023), he executive produced and had his voice included in a vinyl record scratch cameo.

Aside from the Evil Dead franchise, he is known for voicing characters in films like Cars 2, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, The Ant Bully, and more.

The Evil Dead ( 1981), streaming on HBO Max; Ash vs Evil Dead, streaming on Pluto TV, The Roku Channel, Sling TV, Philo, PLEX, and Starz