Evil Dead II star Danny Hicks reveals he has stage 4 cancer: ‘I have approximately 1 to 3 years to live’

Danny Hicks, best known for appearing in the horror–comedy cult classic Evil Dead II, announced Friday that he has been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.

To all of the people that I never got to meet, and the 6,018 die hard fans that enjoyed my work. I have some bad news,’ he began his post on Facebook.

‘I have been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer,’ he wrote, adding, ‘I have approximately 1 to 3 years to live.’

‘I gotta tell ya, I sure as hell packed a whole bunch of living into my 68 years. I got no change coming back that’s for sure. And not too many regrets,’ he continued.

‘Ok, gotta go. I’m gunna find out just what in the hell is going on down in that fruit cellar,’ he joked at the end, referencing the grisly end his character met in Evil Dead II.

The actor also included a close-up photo of himself with a hint of a smile.

Hicks’ post directed his followers to the booking agency run by his friend Dominic Mancini, who created a GoFundMe to cover the actor’s medical expenses, which exceeded its goal within 24 hours.

Whether you admire Danny on screen, were lucky enough to meet him in person at a convention, or just talked to him on social media — we can all agree that Danny is one of the most humble, down to earth, funny, talented, and generous people you will ever meet,’ Mancini wrote. ‘

He always gives 100% to his fans and friends, on screen and off screen. Now, I am kindly asking that we return that favor and help Danny and his family get through some tough times.’

Mancini also wrote that his company would be setting up an online store for fans to buy autographs and signed memorabilia from Hicks, which would be open until July 6.

Hicks is best known for his long association with director Sam Raimi, going back to his early low-budget horror films and continuing with bigger budget fare years later.

He played Jake, a local hillbilly who meets a bad end, in Evil Dead II, a reboot and sequel to the horror classic which added a dash of humor to the proceedings and became a touchstone of the genre in its own right.

He also appeared in the Raimi-produced slasher film Intruder, as well as Raimi’s thriller Darkman, starring Liam Neeson.

Later, he’d play small roles for the director in Spider-Man 2 (2004) and Oz The Great And Powerful (2013).