Kjell Nilsson, Mad Max 2 actor, dies at 76

Kjell Nilsson, the Swedish actor and weightlifter who portrayed the iconic villain Lord Humungus in the 1981 film "Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior," died on Thursday, July 2, 2026, at his home in Queensland, Australia. He was 76. His death followed a long battle with kidney disease.

According to a statement from his family posted on his official Facebook page, Nilsson died peacefully in his sleep, surrounded by his five sons. The family said that after four and a half years of receiving dialysis three times a week for end-stage kidney disease, Nilsson made the decision to stop treatment the previous Sunday to "take back control over his pain and his body." The statement described his final days as filled with "joy, gratitude, peace, and acceptance."

Nilsson had defied medical expectations for years. In 2022, doctors told him his kidney failure meant he likely would not survive to that year's Christmas. He went on to celebrate four more Christmases. His family noted that doctors, unable to fully explain his resilience, had referred to him as a "walking miracle."

His determination was a hallmark of his life. Four decades ago, Nilsson faced severe blood clotting in his legs. Medical...