Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone, is a renowned American actor and filmmaker. His accomplishments include a Golden Globe Award, a Critics' Choice Award, and nominations for three Academy Awards and two BAFTA Awards. Remarkably, Stallone, along with Harrison Ford, is one of the only two actors to have featured in a top-grossing film in six successive decades.
Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone, who was born in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City, on July 6, 1946. He is the eldest son of professional wrestling promoter Jacqueline "Jackie" Stallone and hairdresser Francesco "Frank" Stallone Sr. Complications during his birth led to the use of two pairs of forceps, which accidentally cut a nerve, resulting in the paralysis of the lower left side of his face, including parts of his lip, tongue, and chin. This gave him his unique snarling appearance and slurred speech. As a consequence, he was a target for bullying during his childhood, which he dealt with by pursuing bodybuilding and acting. He spent some of his early years in foster and boarding care before reuniting with his family and moving to Maryland at the age of five.
Stallone's first leading role was in the softcore porn film "The Party at Kitty and Stud's" in 1970, for which he earned $200 for two days of work. He took the role out of desperation after being evicted from his apartment and experiencing homelessness for several days. He also revealed that he spent three weeks sleeping in the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City before spotting a casting call for the film. As Stallone put it, it was a choice between making the movie or resorting to robbery, as he was at his wits' end.
In his early days in New York City, Sylvester Stallone lived with Sasha Czack, his girlfriend at the time and an aspiring actress who supported them through her job as a waitress. During this period, Stallone worked various jobs, including a zoo cleaner and a theater usher. He improved his writing skills by spending time at a local library, developing a particular interest in the works of Edgar Allan Poe. By 1972, Stallone was close to abandoning his dreams of an acting career. His low point came when he attempted, unsuccessfully, to secure a role as an extra in The Godfather.
Stallone achieved international recognition with his lead role in the highly successful film "Rocky" (1976), a sports drama featuring Rocky Balboa, a struggling boxer, who fights against the heavyweight champion, Apollo Creed. On March 24, 1975, Stallone watched the Muhammad Ali vs. Chuck Wepner fight. That evening, Stallone returned home and finished the first draft of "Rocky" within three days.
In 1977, Rocky was recognized at the 49th Academy Awards with ten nominations, including Best Actor and Best Original Screenplay for Stallone. The film won Best Picture, Best Directing, and Best Film Editing. Since then, Rocky has been added to the National Film Registry, and its memorabilia displayed in the Smithsonian Museum. Stallone's iconic use of the Philadelphia Museum of Art's entrance in the Rocky series led to the location being known as the Rocky Steps, and a statue of Rocky remains near the museum. Rocky was also inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
Stallone is also well-known for his portrayal of the PTSD-stricken soldier, John Rambo, starting with "First Blood" in 1982. This was a role he reprised in five subsequent "Rambo" movies from 1982 to 2019. Stallone ascended to become one of the highest-earning actors in Hollywood from the mid-1980s to the late 1990s, featuring in action films such as "Cobra", "Tango and Cash", "Cliffhanger", "Demolition Man", and "The Specialist". He was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1984.
Stallone reprised his iconic roles in "Rocky Balboa" (2006) and "Rambo" (2008) before initiating "The Expendables" film series from 2010 onwards, where he played the character Barney Ross. In 2013, he starred in the successful movie "Escape Plan" and its subsequent sequels.
In 2015, Stallone returned to his role as Rocky in "Creed", where he plays the mentor to Donnie Creed, the son of his former rival Apollo Creed. His performance in "Creed" earned him widespread acclaim, his first Golden Globe Award, and his third Academy Award nomination, a full 40 years after his first nomination for the same role. From 2022, he has been appearing in the crime series "Tulsa King" on Paramount+.
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