Bruce Campbell, the iconic actor known for his roles in "Evil Dead," "Maniac Cop," and "Burn Notice," has shared a candid update regarding his health. Following an announcement earlier this year about a cancer diagnosis, Campbell revealed in a recent appearance on "The Adam Carolla Show" that doctors have given him approximately five years to live. "I'm in a five-year prognosis," Campbell stated, referring to the type of cancer he has. "This is the current thing is a five-year deal."
Last March, Campbell informed fans that he would be stepping back from his usual acting roles and convention appearances after receiving the diagnosis. He described the illness as "treatable" but not "curable." This news came as he was promoting his latest film, "Ernie and Emma," which he also directed and which grimly explores themes of loss and remembrance.
Campbell, who rose to fame as the chainsaw-wielding Ash Williams in the original "Evil Dead" trilogy and its various video game and television spin-offs, has long embraced his status as a cult film icon. He has made memorable cameos in numerous productions by director Sam Raimi, from "Spider-Man" to "Xena: Warrior Princess," and also appeared in films like "Bubba Ho-Tep" and "The Adventures of Brisco County Jr."
For many, Campbell's career served as an introduction to the world of horror and midnight movies. His presence, even in brief appearances in larger blockbusters, was often a cause for celebration, a sentiment echoed in his 2001 autobiography, "If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor."
Despite the prognosis, Campbell expressed a determination to make the most of his remaining time. "I've decided pretty specifically to live with it," he said. "There's a whole mental component. You start getting all this bad news and you're starting breakfast with a shit sandwich with a side of what the fuck, right? For a couple of months as it all comes in. Then you deal with it and then you have to make this decision of, well, do I have to stop everything that I'm doing because of this..." Campbell added that while cancer itself is frightening, it's often the complications that prove fatal. "Right now, I'm between wax. I feel perfect."