Dolph Lundgren, 67, Shares The Heartfelt 'Secret' Behind His Marriage To 29-Year-Old Wife Emma

Dolph Lundgren has opened up about what he believes is his 'secret' to making a marriage work and keeping the bond strong over time.

The actor, originally from Sweden, is most famous for his roles in action-packed hits like Rocky IV, Creed II, and The Expendables. Last year, he officially became a U.S. citizen, celebrating the moment alongside his wife, Emma Krokdal.

Krokdal, who is 38 years younger than Lundgren, married the Hollywood veteran in 2023. This is Lundgren’s second marriage. He was previously married to Anette Qviberg, a relationship that lasted nearly two decades.

Although their relationship is still fairly new, Lundgren says he already has a personal ‘secret’ that helps him stay close with Krokdal and keep the love going strong.

"I have this new thing, I have to give her a hug, a nice big hug, 10 times a day," he shared during an interview with Fox News.

"I try to get a few before lunch," Lundgren continued, clearly fond of the habit. "So I still have some in the bank [throughout the day]. It sounds simple and a little goofy, but doing that neutralizes a lot of disagreements and misunderstandings. And it makes us both feel good. That's my new recipe now."

Emma Krokdal and Dolph Lundgren pictured in February 2025 Olivia Wong/Getty Images

The star of the Rocky franchise went on to explain more about how he approaches disagreements in a relationship: "When you have disagreements, somebody wants to be right, but the other person also wants to be right. But you have to make your partner feel good, even when you both have disagreements."

"That phrase ['happy wife, happy life'] is true. You have to respect each other. You have to compliment each other."

The couple have been married since 2023 MEGA/GC Images

Meanwhile, actor Robert Downey Jr. and his wife, Susan Downey, who have been married for over two decades, also follow a rule that helps them stay connected, even with busy schedules.

Downey Jr., known for his role as Iron Man, has been married to Susan since 2003. Together, they have two children: their son Exton, who was born in 2012, and their daughter Avri, who came along in 2014.

He also has an older son named Indio, who is 31 years old, from his previous relationship with Deborah Falconer.

Talking to PEOPLE magazine, Susan revealed the rule that keeps their relationship going strong: "We do have a two-week rule, which often feels too long, but we don't go more than two weeks without seeing each other and the family being together."

Robert Downey Jr. and his wife have been married for more than 20 years Chelsea Guglielmino/FilmMagic

"Fortunately, we prefer to be a traveling circus when we can be," she added, describing how their lifestyle often involves being on the move as a family unit.

She also pointed out that her role behind the scenes as a producer gives her more freedom in where she works. That flexibility, she said, helps maintain the balance in their relationship.

"The good news is I'm not in front of the camera, and so as a producer I end up with a little bit more flexibility in terms of location, of where I would need to be," she explained, talking about how her career supports their way of living.