His family announced that Nilsson died peacefully in his sleep in Australia on Thursday, July 2, after a four-year battle with kidney disease. They said he chose to stop dialysis after his condition worsened and was surrounded by his sons in his final moments.
Born in Sweden in 1949, Nilsson was a professional weightlifter before moving to Australia in 1980 to train athletes. He made his acting debut in 1981 as Lord Humungus, the masked leader of a motorcycle gang in George Miller's The Road Warrior. He later appeared in The Pirate Movie (1982) and returned to acting in 2023 for Howlin' Refrain after a 34-year break.
His family said Nilsson overcame major health challenges for decades, including severe circulation problems that ruled out a kidney transplant. They praised his determination and resilience, saying he consistently exceeded doctors' expectations.
Nilsson is survived by his five sons.
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Celebrity Death
