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Kjell Nilsson, the Swedish bodybuilder and actor who played the masked bruiser Lord Humungus in George Miller’s 1982 classic “Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior,” died on July 2 after four years of kidney complications. He
was 76.
Nilsson’s passing was announced via a Facebook post from his family. They wrote that Nilsson “passed away peacefully in his sleep” and that the days before his death “were filled with joy, gratitude, peace, and acceptance.”
“As many of you know, Kjell had been battling end-stage kidney disease for the past four and a half years, receiving dialysis three days a week,” read the post. “It was a long and painful journey, filled with countless battles to overcome, including the gradual loss of his bodily autonomy. This past Sunday, after much consideration, Kjell made the decision to take back control over his pain and his body by stopping dialysis.”
“The Road Warrior” was Nilsson’s first major on-screen role. We went on to have small parts in films like “The Pirate Movie,” “Stanley: Every Home Should Have One,” “Man of Letters,” “Hard Knuckle” and “The Edge of Power.” His final role was in “Howlin’ Refrain,” a 2023 indie reimagining of Homer’s “The Odyssey.”
Nilsson was born in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 1949. He moved to Australia in 1980 to work as a weight-lifting trainer and helped Swedish athletes prepare for the Moscow Olympics.
His family’s statement continued, “In his final days, Kjell spoke often of how grateful he was for his bodybuilding and coaching career, for the life he built between the two countries he called home, Sweden and Australia, and for the opportunity to inspire and connect with people around the world through his iconic role as The Lord Humungus. That legacy will never die.”
