Dolph Lundgren Toasts to America: ‘Rocky’ Star Goes All-In On Citizenship and Vodka

Dolph Lundgren isn’t just the muscle behind Ivan Drago in "Rocky IV"—he’s now flexing his entrepreneurial side as a proud new American citizen. After a casual date night with his now-wife, Emma Krokdal, Lundgren found himself unimpressed by the vodka offerings at a Santa Barbara bar. Instead of shrugging it off, he took her challenge to heart: why not make his own?

Fast forward, and Lundgren is the brains (yes, he’s got a chemical engineering degree—who knew?) behind Hard Cut Vodka, a 90-proof spirit made from Idaho potatoes and Rocky Mountain water. The vodka’s already scooped up Double Gold at the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, earning praise for its smoothness and notes of fennel, green apple, and butterscotch. Not your average action hero move, but then again, Lundgren’s never been your average action hero.

Lundgren and Krokdal took their vodka quest seriously, landing in Idaho to find the perfect distillery. The result? A bold, American-made vodka that he says stands out in a market crowded with celebrity tequilas and whiskeys. "I wanted to have some fun and bring a little bit of an action movie pizzazz to it," he said, and honestly, who wouldn’t want their drink with a side of movie magic?

But this isn’t just about launching another celebrity liquor. Lundgren, after decades in the U.S., officially became an American citizen in 2024—alongside his wife, who hails from Norway. Standing with his hand over his heart and reciting the oath, Lundgren admitted the experience was deeply emotional. "This country has been my life," he said, crediting America for everything from his Hollywood break to his family life.

"Just because it’s all-American doesn’t mean it can’t be sophisticated and elegant," Lundgren insists about his vodka. And he’s right—potatoes and panache are not mutually exclusive.

Lundgren’s journey hasn’t been the smoothest. After starting in chemical engineering, he moved to the States, became a Hollywood star, relocated to Spain for family, and then ultimately returned, craving that American energy and opportunity. "It just feels so right," he reflects on finally making citizenship official.

Of course, it’s impossible to separate Lundgren from his iconic "Rocky" moment. He vividly remembers the first premiere, overwhelmed by the attention that came out of nowhere. Fame hit hard—like a Drago punch—but he weathered it, starring in hits from "The Expendables" to "Creed" and "Aquaman." Through it all, his friendship with Sylvester Stallone has lasted four decades—a rare feat in Hollywood. "Throwing each other around, that creates a certain friendship," he joked. (Honestly, brawling your way into lifelong friendship feels pretty on-brand for these two.)

As he raises a glass of his own vodka, Lundgren is happy to call America home—a place that, for him, has been about second chances, big dreams, and, now, really good drinks.