Bruce Campbell, the star of the Evil Dead franchise, has given a heartbreaking update on his cancer prognosis, revealing doctors have given him five years to live, "give or take."
The actor, best known for playing Ash Williams in the horror series, made a radio appearance on The Adam Carolla Show in early September, sharing that "the current thing is a five-year deal."
"So the prognosis is you have five years to live?" asked Adam, and in response Bruce replied: "Give or take."
© Getty Images"I've decided, pretty specifically, to live with it, not die from it," Bruce added, sharing that he had decided not to spend time on online cancer forums or speaking to others who were also going through treatment.
The 68-year-old found fame in Sam Raimi's horror franchise, which has six feature films and a television series and follows various characters as they battle demonic forces.
Bruce starred in the first trilogy, released between 1981 and 1992.
He reprised his role for the Starz series Ash vs. Evil Dead which ran between 2015 and 2018, and he also starred in Xena: Warrior Princess, and Burn Notice.
Bruce first shared the news of his diagnosis in March 2026, writing on X that it was "a type of cancer that’s 'treatable' not 'curable.'"
© © 2015 Starz Entertainment, LLC"I apologize if that’s a shock – it was to me too," he continued, sharing that he would not be going "into any more detail" but adding that work commitments, including convention appearances, would be canceled.
He added: "Treatment needs and professional obligations don’t always go hand-in-hand. That’s about it. 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).
"Fear not, I am a tough old son-of-a-b***h, and I have great support, so I expect to be around a while. As always, you’re the greatest fans in the world, and I hope to see you soon."
© PEACOCK via Getty ImagesBruce is also known for his voice work, and most recently starred in Peacock's horror-comedy series Hysteria! He has maintained a close friendship with Sam Raimi, and the two worked together on the 2013 remake of The Evil Dead, with Bruce appearing in a post-credit scene.
He is also an executive producer alongside Sam on the recent Evil Dead spin-off films, Evil Dead Rise (2023), the upcoming Evil Dead Burn (2026), and Evil Dead Wrath, set for release in 2028.
