Kjell Nilsson, the Swedish-born weightlifter and actor best remembered as Lord Humungus in Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior, died on July 2, 2026, at the age of 76 in Queensland, Australia. His family said he had battled end-stage kidney disease for more than four years and had been receiving dialysis three times a week before his death

Kjell Nilsson in 2016

Before cinema made him a cult figure, Nilsson was known for physical discipline. He was described by multiple outlets as an Olympic-level or Olympic-class weightlifter, but the more precise point is that he was not mainly famous as an Olympic medalist; his connection to the Olympic world came through weightlifting and training athletes. In 1980, he moved to Australia to help train Swedish athletes preparing for the Moscow Olympics. (People.com)

That move changed his life. In Australia, Nilsson met actress Kate Ferguson, whom he later married. According to People, Ferguson encouraged him to return to Australia and look for work in the local film industry. What began as a sporting chapter soon opened the door to one of the most visually unforgettable villain roles in 1980s action cinema.