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Sylvester Stallone

  • Sylvester Stallone Sylvester Stallone
    An early acting headshot.
Sylvester Gardenzio Stallonewas born on July 6, 1946 is an Academy Award-nominated American actor, director, producer and screenwriter. One of the biggest box office draws in the world from the '70s to the early '90s, Stallone is an international icon of machismo and Hollywood action heroism. He created two characters who have become a part of the American cultural lexicon: Rocky-Balboa.html">Rocky Balboa, the boxer who overcame all odds to become a champion, and John Rambo, a sensitive soldier who specialized in violent rescues and revenge.

During the 1980s, he enjoyed phenomenal popularity and was one of the biggest movie stars in the world with the Rocky and Rambo franchises. Stallone's culturally influential films changed pop culture history and he has largely enjoyed a career on the Hollywood A list for over 30 years.

He is considered by many (including the mayor of Philadelphia) as the one who made the city of Philadelphia an international tourist attraction with the Rocky Steps. His immense popularity there has led to a statue of his Rocky character being placed permanently near the Philadelphia Museum of Art as a cultural landmark. On August 2007, a statue of Rocky was also erected in the Serbian village of Zitiste. Stallone's film Rocky has also been inducted into the National Film Registry as well as having its film props placed in the Smithsonian Museum.

Stallone was born in New York City, the son of Jackie Stallone (née Jacqueline Labofish), an astrologer, former dancer and promoter of women's wrestling, and Frank Stallone, Sr., a hairdresser. Birth complications caused partial paralysis in parts of Stallone's face, resulting in his signature slurred speech and drooping lower lip. Stallone's father was an immigrant from Gioia del Colle (in Bari, Apulia, Italy). Stallone grew up in Northeast Philadelphia and attended Lincoln High School, whose band plays at the dedication of the Rocky statue in Rocky III.

He later attended a private boarding school, The Glenholme School, in Washington, Connecticut. In the 1960s, Stallone attended the American College of Switzerland in Leysin, and the University of Miami for three years. He came within a few credit hours of graduation before he decided to drop out and pursue an acting career. After Stallone's request that his acting and life experiences be accepted in exchange for his remaining credits, he was granted a Bachelors of Fine Arts (BFA) degree by the President of the University of Miami in 1999

Other famous members in Stallone's family are his brother, actor/singer Frank Stallone and his mother, Jackie Stallone, who achieved notoriety in the middle 1990s as an astrologist and as a professional wrestler. Stallone's pet Bullmastiff, Butkus, appeared in both Rocky And Rocky II as an often-teased favorite pet of Balboa's who lived in Adrian's pet shop.

Stallone has been married three times, to Sasha Czack (1974–1985), Brigitte Nielsen (1985–1987), and Jennifer Flavin (1997— ). He has five children, sons Sage Moonblood and Seargeoh, who is autistic (with Czack, born 1976 and 1979 respectively), and daughters Sophia Rose, Sistine Rose and Scarlet Rose (with Flavin, born 1996, 1998, 2002 respectively). He and Flavin, an Irish-American, were married at Winston Churchill's birthplace, Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, England. In addition to these marriages, he has had romantic relationships with models Susan Anton, Angie Everhart, Naomi Campbell, and Janice Dickinson.

Stallone claims to have been able to bench press 385-400 lbs (174.6-181.4 kg) and squat 500 lbs (226.8 kg) in his prime. While in a bench pressing contest with former Mr. Olympia Franco Columbu, he severely tore his pectoral muscle and needed over 160 stitches on it. This is why one half of his chest is more vascular than the other.

On January 14, 2007, Stallone was at Goodison Park to promote Rocky-Balboa.html">Rocky Balboa, and to watch Everton take on Reading in an English Premier League game. The match ended as a 1–1 draw. Stallone paraded on the field at half time adorned in a home team scarf and received a warm reception from the 40,000 fans. Stallone has claimed to be a keen soccer fan since filming Escape To Victory in the 1980s and now claims to be an official Everton fan.

In July 2007, Stallone had a tattoo done by world renowned tattoo artist Mike Devries on his upper right arm of a portrait of his wife, Jennifer Flavin. Incorporated into the tattoo is three roses for their three girls that have Rose for middle names. The tattoo took about 14 hours and isn't finished, it will be expanded onto Stallone's chest a bit.

In a Fox News interview that ran on January 24, 2008, Stallone said he currently supports John McCain for the 2008 Republican US presidential nomination, and he is also friends with the governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger. Stallone recently appeared on Larry King's television show, where he took part in an IQ test, scoring over 130.

On February 16, 2007, Stallone flew into Sydney, Australia as part of his promotional tour for Rocky-Balboa.html">Rocky Balboa. Upon landing he was searched by Australian Customs officials, who found 48 vials of the human growth hormone (HGH) Jintropin in his personal luggage. As a result of this, he was charged one count of importing a prohibited import. The hormones are banned under the Australian Customs Act and are not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. In a court hearing on May 15, 2007, he pleaded guilty to two charges of possessing a controlled substance. On May 21, 2007 he was formally convicted of importing restricted muscle-building hormones into Australia and ordered to pay $9,870 in fines and court costs.

In a typed apology from Stallone, delivered to the court on May 15, Stallone said:

I made a terrible mistake. Not because I was attempting to deceive anyone but I was simply ignorant of your official rules and I wish to sincerely apologize to the court and the Australian community for my breach of Australian customs law. ... I have never supported the use of illegal drugs or engaged in any illegal activities in my entire life. ...I wish to express my deepest remorse and again apologize for my actions.

According to ninemsn.com and other sources, when interviewing officers asked Stallone why he took Jintropin, he said:

"As you get older, the pituitary gland slows and you feel older, your bones narrow. This stuff gives your body a boost and you feel and look good. Doing Rambo is hard work and I am going to be in Burma for a while. Where do you think I am going to get this stuff in Burma?"

In the February 4, 2008 edition of Time, Stallone was interviewed about his use of HGH, which he defended.

"Testosterone to me is so important for a sense of well-being when you get older. Everyone over 40 years old would be wise to investigate it because it increases the quality of your life. Mark my words. In 10 years it will be over the counter.

Stallone had his first starring role in the softcore feature film Party at Kitty and Stud's (1970), which was later re-released as Italian Stallion (the title taken from Stallone's nickname and a line from the film) and Cocky. He was paid US$200 for two days work. An "uncut" version of the film was released in 2007, purporting to show actual hardcore footage of Stallone, but according to trade journal AVN the hardcore scenes were inserts not involving the actor. In 2008, scenes from Party at Kitty and Stud's surfaced in a German version of Roger Colmont's hardcore-film White Fire (1976).

Stallone also starred in the erotic off-Broadway stage play Score which ran for 23 performances at the Martinique Theatre from October 28 - November 15, 1971 and was later made into a film by Radley Metzger.

Film roles, 1971-1975

Stallone's other first few film roles were minor, and included brief uncredited appearances in Woody Allen's Bananas (1971) as a subway thug, in the psychological thriller Klute (1971) as an extra dancing in a club, and in the Jack Lemmon vehicle The Prisoner Of Second Avenue (1975) as a youth. In the Lemmon film, Jack Lemmon chases, tackles and mugs Stallone, thinking that Stallone's character is a pickpocket. He had his second starring role in the cult hit The Lords of Flatbush (1974). In 1975, he played supporting roles in Farewell, My Lovely, Capone and, another cult hit, Death Race 2000. He also made guest appearances on the TV series Police Story and Kojak.

Success with Rocky, 1976

Stallone did not gain world-wide fame until his starring role in the smash hit Rocky (1976). The film was awarded with the 1976 Academy Award for Best Picture. On March 24, 1975, Stallone saw the Ali-Chuck Wepner fight which inspired the foundation idea of Rocky. That night Stallone went home, and in three days he had written the script for Rocky. After that, he tried to sell the script with the intention of playing the lead role. Robert Chartoff and Irwin Winkler in particular liked the script (which was suggested by Stallone after a casting), and planned on courting a star like Burt Reynolds or James Caan for the lead role. The final result was an unequalled success; Rocky was nominated for ten Academy Awards in all, including Best Actor for Stallone himself.

He has signed a contract with Nu Image Films for two action movies (one of which could be another 'Rambo'). The Death Wish remake is still supposed to be his next film, as reported by Empire Magazine, followed by a rumoured fifth Rambo film.

Stallone's début as a director came in 1978 with Paradise Alley, which he also wrote and starred in. In addition, he directed Staying Alive (the sequel to Saturday Night Fever), along with Rocky II, Rocky III, Rocky IV, Rocky-Balboa.html">Rocky Balboa, and Rambo.

In August 2005, Stallone released his book Sly Moves which claimed to be a guide to fitness and nutrition as well as a candid insight into his life and works from his own perspective. The book also contained many photographs of Stallone throughout the years as well as pictures of him performing exercises.

In addition to writing all six Rocky films, Stallone also wrote Cobra, Driven and Rambo. He has co-written several other films, such as F.I.S.T., Rhinestone, Over The Top and the first three Rambo films. His last major success as a co-writer came with 1993's Cliffhanger.

Stallone's work behind the cameras was recently documented in this 2008 article

Stallone owns shares in Planet Hollywood restaurants with Bruce Willis and formerly Arnold Schwarzenegger (who has since sold his part).



Photos | News | What members say | Filmography | Downloads (1)

Sylvester Stallone - photos

  • Sylvester Stallone Sylvester Stallone
    An early acting headshot.
  • Official photo from Rocky Balboa Official photo from Rocky Balboa
    (C) Sony
  • Sylvester Stallone receiving Golden Globe Sylvester Stallone receiving Golden Globe

Sylvester Stallone - news / articles


  • Stallone and Schwarzenegger to appear in Bollywood film - 23 June 2008
    Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger are set to make cameo appearances in a forthcoming Bollywood film.-The movie tough guys are more readily associated with testosterone-fuelled fare such as Rambo and Predator, but they will appear together on screen for the first


  • Stallone renames latest Rambo film - 20 February 2007
    Actor Sylvester Stallone has opted to change the name of the new Rambo film from Rambo IV: Pearl of the Cobra to John Rambo, according to new reports.-The latest instalment in the Rambo sequence was also known as Rambo IV: In the Serpent's Eye, but is now to be known as Joh


  • Stallone's a knockout at Rocky premiere - 17 January 2007
    Sylvester Stallone proved he is still a knockout after arriving at the London premiere of Rocky Balboa to the faithful sound of the famous theme tune.-The crowds chanted the fictional boxer's name and Stallone went on to thank fans for all their support, telling Empire: &qu

Sylvester Stallone - what members say


  • Rambo - First Blood
  • Rambo - First Blood review by gomotogp from Nth Humberside
    Rated - 5 stars Rambo the Masterpiece! 27 March 2005
    ... is an excellent movie very entertaining lots of gore and action good acting by Sylvester Stallone. ...  
  • Antz
  • Antz review by A customer from Swanley
    Rated - 5 stars Excellent acting . . . . 23 October 2006
    ...Very engaging characters, fast-moving plot, and lots of attention to detail. Sylvester Stallone in particular put in a great performance - he's not just a pretty face . . . ...  
  • Escape To Victory
  • Escape To Victory review by A customer from Reading,England
    Rated - 4 stars The All Time Greatest Football Film Ever Made 22 June 2004
    .... Just one small down point though. What was the director thinking when he cast Sylvester Stallone as the allies Goalkeeper. With a cast of football legends making up the allies ...  

Sylvester Stallone - filmography


  • Shade on DVD (2003)
    Starring: Sylvester Stallone,  Melanie Griffith,  Gabriel Byrne
    Director: Damian Nieman
    Certificate: 15
    Set in the underground world of Los Angeles card sharks and gamblers, this slick neo-noir is a gripping ensemble drama that pays homage to hard-boiled heist directors like Mamet and Scorsese. SHADE, a gambling term for deception and trickery, revolves around a ring of small-time hustlers with ..read more »
    Rate this: 2.5 56% from 150 members
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  • Driven on DVD (2001)
    Starring: Burt Reynolds,  Sylvester Stallone,  Stacy Edwards
    Director: Renny Harlin
    Certificate: PG
    DRIVEN takes viewers into the world of automobile racing with Sylvester Stallone playing a retired expert who coaches a young racer. Stallone's Joe Tanto is brought out of retirement to mentor Jimmy Blye (newcomer Kip Pardue), a rising young superstar in the racing circuit. Featuring amazing racing ..read more »
    Rate this: 2.5 59% from 155 members
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  • Antz on DVD (1998)
    Starring: Sharon Stone,  Sylvester Stallone,  Woody Allen
    Director: Eric Darnell,  Tim Johnson
    Certificate: PG
    Central Park ant drone Z longs to be an individual of accomplishment, but Z's colony is a society that puts the value of the colony over personal achievement. Young Z sets his sites on the colony's Queen daughter Bala- who is uninterested until Z successfully mounts a revolution within the colony ..read more »
    Rate this: 3.5 67% from 2,219 members
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  • Cop Land on DVD (1997)
    Starring: Sylvester Stallone,  Robert De Niro,  Harvey Keitel
    Director: James Mangold
    Certificate: 18
    In the idyllic bedroom community of Garrison, New Jersey, a community of NYPD officers takes refuge away from the big city's troubles while still enjoying all the kickbacks, cover-ups, and mob-owned banking privileges from across the river. But the code of silence is tested when an off-duty, drunk ..read more »
    Rate this: 3.5 69% from 1,697 members
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  • Daylight on DVD (1996)
    Starring: Sylvester Stallone,  Amy Brenneman,  Dan Hedaya
    Director: Rob Cohen
    Certificate: 12
    An explosive traffic accident traps hundreds of commuters in a collapsing tunnel beneath the icy waters of the Hudson River. With the river bearing down on them, the panicked survivors struggle to free themselves. Only Kit Latura (Sylvester Stallone), the shamed former head of Emergency Medical ..read more »
    Rate this: 3.0 59% from 3,258 members
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  • The Specialist on DVD (1994)
    Starring: Sharon Stone,  Sylvester Stallone,  James Woods
    Director: Luis Llosa
    Certificate: 18
    A Miami woman whose family has been "erased" by a nefarious crime lord hires an ex-CIA explosives expert to gain revenge. His job is made more difficult when he falls for his beautiful client, and when his target hires his equally skilled ex-partner in this tense action-drama.
    Rate this: 3.0 57% from 3,004 members
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  • Cliffhanger on DVD (1992)
    Starring: Sylvester Stallone,  John Lithgow,  Michael Rooker
    Director: Renny Harlin
    Certificate: 15
    After a ranger (Sylvester Stallone) fails to rescue his partner's girlfriend from a tragic death in the Rocky Mountains, he leaves the rescue team to wrestle with his guilt. When he returns to reconcile his relationship with his own girlfriend (Janine Turner), also a rescue ranger, he is drawn into ..read more »
    Rate this: 3.0 62% from 5,849 members
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  • Oscar on DVD (1991)
    Starring: Sylvester Stallone,  Don Ameche,  Tim Curry
    Director: John Landis
    Certificate: PG
    Sylvester Stallone stars as famed mobster Angelo SnapsProvolone, who promises his dying father (Kirk Douglas) that he will hang up his tommy gun and lead a kinder, gentler life. However, on the day Snaps is to start his legitimate career in banking, he gets derailed by a spate of family emergencies...read more »
    Rate this: 3.0 61% from 171 members
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  • Lock Up on DVD (1989)
    Starring: Sylvester Stallone,  John Amos,  Donald Sutherland
    Director: John Flynn
    Certificate: 18
    An inmate (Sylvester Stallone) with six months left to serve in a prison sentence is moved from a minimum security site to a maximum security facility under the sadistic hand of a warden (Donald Sutherland) with a personal vendetta against him. He must risk it all to stand up to the plot of torture ..read more »
    Rate this: 3.0 62% from 1,273 members
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