Who Is Sylvester Stallone?
Sylvester Stallone is best known for playing boxer Rocky Balboa and Vietnam War veteran John Rambo. He rose to fame as the writer and lead of the Academy Award-winning boxing film Rocky (1976). Stallone became one of the world’s biggest action stars by reprising his roles from Rocky and First Blood (1982) in several sequels. After a mid-career decline, he found success again with The Expendables (2010) and earned critical acclaim for Creed (2015). This role earned him his first Golden Globe win and another Oscar nomination.
Early Life
Stallone was born on July 6, 1946, in New York City. His distinctive facial droop was caused by a forceps accident at birth, which also left him with slurred speech. Stallone had a tough childhood. He and his younger brother, Frank, were affected by their parents’ hostile relationship, which ended in divorce. Stallone spent some early years in foster care. Around age five, his father moved the family to the Washington, D.C. area to start a beauty parlor chain. After his parents’ divorce in 1957, Stallone lived with his father in Maryland. He struggled emotionally and academically, getting expelled from several schools.
Later, Stallone lived with his mother and her second husband in Philadelphia. He attended a special high school for troubled youth. After graduating, he went to college, first studying drama at the American College in Switzerland, then at the University of Miami. He left school before graduating to pursue an acting career in New York City.
Aspiring Actor
Before his acting career took off, Stallone worked various jobs to make ends meet. He cleaned lions’ cages at the Central Park Zoo, ushered at a movie theater, and appeared in an adult film called The Party at Kitty and Stud’s(1970). He also had uncredited roles in mainstream films like Woody Allen’s Bananas(1971) and Klute (1971). His first substantial role was in the 1974 independent film The Lords of Flatbush, alongside Henry Winkler and Perry King. Around this time, Stallone married Sasha Czack.
Stallone was also interested in writing. He created a screenplay about a tough thug trying to make it as a professional boxer. He refused to sell the script unless he could star in it. Despite having a pregnant wife and little money, he held out until producers Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff agreed to let him play the lead.
Action Hero: ‘Rocky’ and ‘Rambo’
Released in 1976 and directed by John G. Avildsen, Rocky became a critical and commercial hit. The film earned 10 Academy Award nominations, including best actor, director, and picture. Rocky faced tough competition but won the Oscar for best picture. The story of Rocky Balboa resonated with audiences, earning over $117 million at the box office.
Stallone next starred as a labor organizer in F.I.S.T. (1978), receiving some favorable reviews. However, the film did not attract much of an audience. Returning to the role that made him famous, Stallone wrote, directed, and starred in Rocky II (1979) and continued the franchise with Rocky III (1982).
In 1982, Stallone introduced John Rambo, a troubled Vietnam vet, in First Blood. The film was a box-office success. He wrote and directed Staying Alive (1983), featuring John Travolta reprising his role from Saturday Night Fever (1977). However, it did not fare as well as the original.
Stallone tried to branch out as an actor, starring opposite Dolly Parton in the comedy Rhinestone (1984), which was a commercial and critical failure. Fans preferred to see Stallone in his trademark roles in Rocky IV(1985), Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985), Rambo III (1988), and Rocky V (1990). He also starred in the comedy Oscar (1991) and the action film Demolition Man (1993), co-starring Wesley Snipes and Sandra Bullock.
Career Decline
By the mid-1990s, Stallone’s star power began to fade. He made a series of forgettable films, including Judge Dredd (1995) and Daylight(1996). Taking a break from big-budget action films, he played a supporting role in the independent drama Cop Land (1997), earning strong reviews for his portrayal of a small-town sheriff.
Returning to leading roles, Stallone starred in the crime thriller Get Carter (2000), which received mixed reviews. He wrote, co-produced, and starred in the car-racing drama Driven (2001), which earned over $32 million at the box office. Another effort, Shade (2004), came and went without much notice.
Stallone returned to familiar territory, writing another chapter of Rocky. The plot of Rocky Balboa (2006) mirrored Stallone’s own career. Fans turned out to see Rocky’s final fight, which earned more than $70 million domestically and $85 million in foreign sales.
Stallone then reprised his role as John Rambo, writing and directing Rambo(2008). The film lived up to its predecessors’ gory legacy, attracting enough moviegoers to bring in $42.7 million at the box office.
In 2010, Stallone starred alongside Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger in The Expendables. The ensemble cast included Jason Statham, Randy Couture, and Jet Li. Stallone also directed and wrote the film.
Globe Win an Oscar Nod for ‘Creed’
Stallone reunited with the cast of The Expendables for a sequel. The Expendables 2 premiered in August 2012, reaching the No. 1 spot at the box office. The Expendables 3 followed in 2014, with new cast additions like Harrison Ford and Mel Gibson. Though it had modest domestic returns, it did well in foreign markets.
In 2013, Stallone starred in Escape Plan with Schwarzenegger and the boxing comedy Grudge Match with De Niro. He added another chapter to the Rocky saga in 2015 with Creed, where he trains Apollo Creed’s son, played by Michael B. Jordan. Stallone won a Golden Globe for his role and received an Academy Award nomination.
In 2017, Stallone did voice work for Animal Crackers and appeared in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Early in 2018, he announced Creed 2 via Instagram, featuring Rocky’s protégé and Ivan Drago. Creed 2 did well commercially, topping $200 million globally.
Stallone tried to revive another franchise with Rambo: Last Blood(2019). However, unlike Creed, it did not impress critics.
Personal Life
Stallone began to receive appreciation for his life’s work, earning awards like the honorary Cesar Award in 1992 and the Golden Icon Award in 2008. In 2012, he received lifetime achievement honors at the Hollywood Film Awards.
Stallone has been married three times and is currently wed to former model Jennifer Flavin. They have three daughters: Sophia, Sistine, and Scarlet. He previously had two sons, Sage and Seth, with Sasha Czack.
On July 13, 2012, Stallone’s eldest son, Sage, was found dead in his Los Angeles home. Sage co-starred with Stallone in Rocky V and Daylight. Stallone publicly addressed Sage’s death in August 2012, emphasizing the importance of moving forward.
In November 2017, reports surfaced accusing Stallone of rape in the 1990s. In June 2018, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office confirmed the case was under review. Stallone’s attorney, Martin Singer, insisted the alleged victim had a consensual relationship with Stallone. He criticized the DA’s office and PD for making the case public, suggesting it misled the public.
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