Kjell Nilsson, known for playing gang leader Lord Humungus in the 1981 Mad Max film “The Road Warrior,” has died. He was 76.
Nilsson battled end-stage kidney disease for more than four years and received dialysis three days a week, according to a family post on his Facebook page.
“It was a long and painful journey, filled with countless battles to overcome, including the gradual loss of his bodily autonomy,” the family wrote in announcing his July 2 death in Queensland, Australia.
Nilsson “passed away peacefully in his sleep, surrounded by his sons. The days leading up to his passing were filled with joy, gratitude, peace and acceptance. He did it his way,” the statement continued.
USA TODAY has reached out to Nilsson’s reps for more information.
Nilsson, an Olympic-class weight lifter, was born in Sweden in 1949 and moved to Australia in 1980 to train Swedish athletes for the Moscow Olympics. His work in the country led to an interest in the Australian film industry and he was cast as the masked leader of a marauding gang in the sequel to 1979’s dystopian action film, “Mad Max.”
In 1982, Time magazine movie critic Richard Corliss wrote of Nilsson’s Lord Humungus, “malevolence courses through his huge pectorals, pulses visibly under his bald, sutured scalp.”
Following his turn in “The Road Warrior,” Nilsson appeared with Kristy McNichol and Christopher Atkins in the musical comedy, “The Pirate Movie.” Later in the ’80s, Nilsson had a role in the TV movie “Man of Letters” and in 1987, played a nurse in “The Edge of Power.”
Nilsson’s family also wrote of his “colorful life” lived with “unwavering conviction.”
“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,” the statement said. “That legacy will never die.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kjell Nilsson, iconic ‘Mad Max’ actor, dies at 76
Reporting by Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY / USA TODAY
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect