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An American director, screenwriter, and actor Sylvester Stallone is best known for his award-winning portrayal of Italian-American boxer Rocky Balboa and tortured ex-special forces member John Rambo. Although his popularity as an actor peaked by the mid-80s Stallone remains as one of the action genre's most enduring icons.
Sylvester "Sly" Stallone was born July 6, 1946 in New York's infamous Hell's Kitchen district to Italian immigrant Frank Stallone, Sr. and Jackie Labofish Stallone, an American born Russian-Jewish French woman. He spent years 2 and 5 of his life in a boarding house in Queens before moving back in with his parents in Silver Lake, Maryland. He enrolled in a screenwriting course at the University of Miami and nearly graduated before he dropped out to unsuccessfully write screenplays under a pair of pseudonyms (Q. Moonblood and J.J. Deadlock, if you can believe it). It was during this period he took several bit parts in different movies.
His first major role came in the softcore porno Party at Kitty and Stud's (in which he played Stud). He was paid two hundred dollars for two day's work and would later say that he only took the role because he'd been homeless for a few days and it was either "do that or rob someone." After the tremendous success of Rocky, the title was changed to "The Italian Stallion," a reference to Rocky Balboa's nickname. He also starred in the Off-Broadway show "Score," which also featured erotic overtones. He received bit parts in legitimate films, including Bananas alongside Woody Allen and No Place to Hide, which was later recut and re-released as Rebel, a version which had a greater emphasis on Stallone after he'd become a much bigger star. Several other bit parts followed, most notably a somewhat significant role in Death Race 2000. In 1976, Stallone's would not only achieve his first starring role in a major motion picture, but would be catapulted to fame.
Stallone wrote the screenplay about a hard luck palooka who turns to boxing to make ends meet. The screenplay was completed in three days and shopped around to several studios, apparently establishing a legend that many of them liked what they saw but wanted someone other than Stallone to star in it. Stallone apparently held out, insisting he play the titular boxer until the studio relented, paying him very little and demanding it be made on a shoestring budget. This story was apparently invented to capitalize on the underdog tale that was espoused in the film. Regardless of how it was made, the film did remarkably well, even getting nominated for ten Oscars, three of which it won (Best Picture, Best Director and Best Editing). Three years later, Rocky II was released, this time with Stallone in the director's chair as well as onscreen. The film won great acclaim (though fell short of the first) and was extremely successful at the box office. Sylvester Stallone was on the tip of the tongue of the American filmgoing public.
Following the success of both Rocky films, Stallone toned it down a bit, starring in a series of smaller, and unfortunately less successful, films such as Escape to Victory alongside the legendary Michael Caine and Nighthawks with '80s stable Rutger Hauer. Many of these roles did, at the very least, win him high critical praise. In 1982, he had another break-out role as troubled Vietnam-war veteran John Rambo in the movie First Blood, based on the book of the same name. Again the film was a huge hit both at the box office and with critics. Of especial note are the movies vast departures from the book, most of which were initiated by Stallone himself such as Rambo's unwillingness to kill anyone, as opposed to the book in which he kills almost every character he comes across. Stallone's haunting performance also humanized the character, helping to make the movie popular among the American public as well as winning accolades from veteran's rights organizations for portraying the horrors of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder not only accurately but sympathetically. The '80s would conclude with sequels to both First Blood and Rocky, most of which did well at the box office, but weren't well received by critics, particularly the more violent, action movie-style Rambo follow-ups. Sylvester Stallone was quickly becoming a household name, surely his career could only continue its ascent.
Stallone's career descent began in the late-80s with films such as the musical-comedy Rhinestone or the action-drama Over the Top, in which he stars as Lincoln Hawke (or occasionally Hawkes), a professional trucker who must arm-wrestle for his child's love as well as custody. There were a couple of bright spots such as Cobra and Tango & Cash, both of which were moderately successful domestically but incredible hits internationally. Both films were widely reviled by critics. Stallone greeted the '90s with Rocky V, a regrettable entry in the series that fans, and even Stallone himself, all but disowned. The trend of blockbuster roles would continue well into the '90s, though the box office numbers would plummet, with fare like Judge Dredd, Oscar and Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot. His schizophrenic box-office draw would continue with Cliffhanger and Demolition Man, both moderate successes. Taking another break from high-octane action, he starred in the drama Cop Land alongside Robert De Niro and Ray Liotta. The film was a moderate success, and once again he earned critic's favor with his powerful performance and commanding screen presence.
The new millennium would see Sly star in Get Carter, a remake of an early-'70s gangster movie which originally starred Micheal Caine. The film underperformed at the box office and Stallone did little better with the three follow-ups Driven, Avenging Angelo and D-Tox, all of which were incredible bombs both critically and monetarily. Stallone even received a Razzie, an award that is essentially an anti-Oscar, for "95% of the Films He's Starred In." 2003 saw a slight upswing when he starred as the villain in Spy Kids 3D, a kid's movie that did extremely well. The first half of the decade would be less kind and Stallone began a three year hiatus in 2003.
2006 brought one of the biggest shocks of Stallone's career: not only the declaration he was bringing back the Rocky character, but that the film would be incredibly well received by critics and be a box-office success. Rocky Balboa closed out the Rocky franchise by telling the story of a grieving, aged Rocky going back in the ring one final time against a young, hotshot boxing champion who has yet to prove himself. The character's age is capitalized upon, making him into an unusual underdog/veteran character. It was followed two years later by the ultra-violent Rambo. This film takes the titular protagonist to Malaysia, where he's been living peacefully as a boatman. When a team of Christian aid workers are captured by a ruthless dictator, he's recruited to murder-death-kill them back with a team of mercenaries. The film was not well-liked by critics, but fans were enamored by the new direction and over-the-top violence.
In 2010, Stallone released the action-movie extravaganza The Expendables. The film was a loving farewell letter to the wild, violent movies of the 1980s, many of which account for Sly's success and icon status. The movie was originally going to star several icons of '80s action movies including Kurt Russell, Jean-Claude Van Damme and Steven Seagal, but they all turned it down. He was able to get living mountain Dolph Lungren as well as more contemporary stars like Jason Statham, Jet Li and Terry Crews. Like Rambo, the movie was disregarded by critics, but embraced by fans as a loving tribute to a bygone era of film making. He shelved a fifth Rambo movie (and unofficially retired the character) to focus on an Expendables sequel as well as remake of the Charles Bronson classic Death Wish which would focus on white-collar criminals.
If only we could all look so good desperate and homeless.
Stallone wrote the screenplay about a hard luck palooka who turns to boxing to make ends meet. The screenplay was completed in three days and shopped around to several studios, apparently establishing a legend that many of them liked what they saw but wanted someone other than Stallone to star in it. Stallone apparently held out, insisting he play the titular boxer until the studio relented, paying him very little and demanding it be made on a shoestring budget. This story was apparently invented to capitalize on the underdog tale that was espoused in the film. Regardless of how it was made, the film did remarkably well, even getting nominated for ten Oscars, three of which it won (Best Picture, Best Director and Best Editing). Three years later, Rocky II was released, this time with Stallone in the director's chair as well as onscreen. The film won great acclaim (though fell short of the first) and was extremely successful at the box office. Sylvester Stallone was on the tip of the tongue of the American filmgoing public.
This humble man would go on to kill the ENTIRE Burmese army.
Stallone's career descent began in the late-80s with films such as the musical-comedy Rhinestone or the action-drama Over the Top, in which he stars as Lincoln Hawke (or occasionally Hawkes), a professional trucker who must arm-wrestle for his child's love as well as custody. There were a couple of bright spots such as Cobra and Tango & Cash, both of which were moderately successful domestically but incredible hits internationally. Both films were widely reviled by critics. Stallone greeted the '90s with Rocky V, a regrettable entry in the series that fans, and even Stallone himself, all but disowned. The trend of blockbuster roles would continue well into the '90s, though the box office numbers would plummet, with fare like Judge Dredd, Oscar and Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot. His schizophrenic box-office draw would continue with Cliffhanger and Demolition Man, both moderate successes. Taking another break from high-octane action, he starred in the drama Cop Land alongside Robert De Niro and Ray Liotta. The film was a moderate success, and once again he earned critic's favor with his powerful performance and commanding screen presence.
The most prophetic of action movies.
2006 brought one of the biggest shocks of Stallone's career: not only the declaration he was bringing back the Rocky character, but that the film would be incredibly well received by critics and be a box-office success. Rocky Balboa closed out the Rocky franchise by telling the story of a grieving, aged Rocky going back in the ring one final time against a young, hotshot boxing champion who has yet to prove himself. The character's age is capitalized upon, making him into an unusual underdog/veteran character. It was followed two years later by the ultra-violent Rambo. This film takes the titular protagonist to Malaysia, where he's been living peacefully as a boatman. When a team of Christian aid workers are captured by a ruthless dictator, he's recruited to murder-death-kill them back with a team of mercenaries. The film was not well-liked by critics, but fans were enamored by the new direction and over-the-top violence.
In 2010, Stallone released the action-movie extravaganza The Expendables. The film was a loving farewell letter to the wild, violent movies of the 1980s, many of which account for Sly's success and icon status. The movie was originally going to star several icons of '80s action movies including Kurt Russell, Jean-Claude Van Damme and Steven Seagal, but they all turned it down. He was able to get living mountain Dolph Lungren as well as more contemporary stars like Jason Statham, Jet Li and Terry Crews. Like Rambo, the movie was disregarded by critics, but embraced by fans as a loving tribute to a bygone era of film making. He shelved a fifth Rambo movie (and unofficially retired the character) to focus on an Expendables sequel as well as remake of the Charles Bronson classic Death Wish which would focus on white-collar criminals.
General Information
Edit
| Credited Name | Sylvester Stallone |
| Gender | Male |
| Birthday | July 6, 1946 |
| Death | |
| Primary Role | Actor |
| Hometown | New York City, New York |
| Country | United States |
| Website | |
| Email Address | |
| Alias(es) | Sly Stallone |
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