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Quick Facts
- NAME: Sylvester Stallone
- OCCUPATION: Film Actor, Director, Producer, Screenwriter
- BIRTH DATE: July 06, 1946 (Age: 66)
- EDUCATION: American College in Switzerland, University of Miami
- PLACE OF BIRTH: New York City, New York
- ZODIAC SIGN: Cancer
Best Known For
One of the most popular action stars of all time, Sylvester Stallone is best known for portraying boxer Rocky Balboa and Vietnam War veteran John Rambo.
Videos see all videos
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The Rocky Saga: Going the Distance - Theatrical Release (BioChannel Special) (1:19)
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The Rocky Saga: Going the Distance - The Stairs (BioChannel Special) (2:53)
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The Rocky Saga: Going the Distance - Casting Carl Weathers (BioChannel Special) (1:08)
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The Rocky Saga: Going the Distance - Rocky II (BioChannel Special) (1:06)
The Rocky Saga: Going the Distance - Theatrical Release
Studio executives describe the risk of releasing "Rocky" in movie theaters in November, 1976 and some of the brutal reviews from critics.
The Rocky Saga: Going the Distance - The Stairs
Sylvester Stallone and crew members talk about filming the scene where Rocky runs up the stairs.
The Rocky Saga: Going the Distance - Casting Carl Weathers
Sylvester Stallone and Carl Weathers recall their first meeting during a cattle call for the role of Apollo Creed.
The Rocky Saga: Going the Distance - Rocky II
After the success of "Rocky," Sylvester Stallone and his manager immediately started to negotiate deals for a sequel.
Quiz
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Play NowSylvester Stallone. (2013). The Biography Channel website. Retrieved 08:13, May 25, 2013, from http://www.biography.com/people/sylvester-stallone-9491745.
Sylvester Stallone. [Internet]. 2013. The Biography Channel website. Available from: http://www.biography.com/people/sylvester-stallone-9491745 [Accessed 25 May 2013].
"Sylvester Stallone." 2013. The Biography Channel website. May 25 2013, 08:13 http://www.biography.com/people/sylvester-stallone-9491745.
"Sylvester Stallone," The Biography Channel website, 2013, http://www.biography.com/people/sylvester-stallone-9491745 [accessed May 25, 2013].
"Sylvester Stallone," The Biography Channel website, http://www.biography.com/people/sylvester-stallone-9491745 (accessed May 25, 2013).
Sylvester Stallone [Internet]. The Biography Channel website; 2013 [cited 2013 May 25] Available from: http://www.biography.com/people/sylvester-stallone-9491745.
Sylvester Stallone, http://www.biography.com/people/sylvester-stallone-9491745 (last visited May 25, 2013).
Sylvester Stallone. The Biography Channel website. 2013. Available at: http://www.biography.com/people/sylvester-stallone-9491745. Accessed May 25, 2013.
Synopsis
Born on July 6, 1946, in New York City, Sylvester Stallone is one of the most popular Hollywood action stars of all time, playing such iconic characters as John Rambo and Rocky Balboa. Stallone got his start writing and starring in Rocky. The film was a smash, receiving 10 Oscar nods and winning the award for best picture. Stallone's career took off from there, gaining action star icon status. In 2010, Stallone starred alonside Bruce Willis,
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jean-Claude Van Damme in The Expendables. In 2012, he reunited with the film's cast for a follow-up, The Expendables 2. Just one week after it's premiere, the film had climbed to the No. 1 spot at the box office, bringing in nearly $28.6 million.
Early Life
Actor, writer, director, producer. Born on July 6, 1946, in New York City. One of the most popular action stars of all time, Sylvester Stallone is best known for portraying two heroic characters on the big screen—boxer Rocky Balboa and Vietnam War veteran John Rambo. His trademark droopy visage was the result of a forceps accident at the time of his birth. A nerve was severed in the accident, which also left him with slurred speech.
Stallone had a difficult childhood. Both he and younger brother Frank were adversely affected by their parents’ hostile relationship, which later ended in divorce. Sylvester spent some time in foster care. He eventually ended up in Philadelphia, living with his mother and her second husband. There Stallone struggled emotionally and academically. After his expulsion from several schools, he attended a special high school for troubled youth.
After graduation, Stallone eventually went on to college. First, he attended the American College in Switzerland where he studied drama. Stallone then went to the University of Miami, again choosing to focus on the dramatic arts. He left school before completing his degree to go to New York City to pursue an acting career.
Aspiring Actor
While he waited for his acting career to take off, Stallone worked all sorts of jobs to make ends meet. He cleaned up the lions’ cages at the Central Park Zoo, ushered at a movie theater, and even made an appearance in an adult film called A Party at Kitty and Studs (1970). A few uncredited parts in mainstream films, such as Woody Allen’s Bananas (1971) and Klute (1971), soon followed. He had a more substantial role playing a tough guy in the 1974 independent film The Lords of Flatbush with Henry Winkler and Perry King. Around this time, Stallone married Sasha Czack.
In addition to acting, Stallone had an interest in writing. He created a screenplay about a rough-and-tumble thug who struggles for a chance to make it as a professional boxer. According to several reports, Stallone refused to sell the script unless he was allowed to star in it. Despite having a pregnant wife and little money in the bank, he held out until he found two producers, Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff, willing to let him play the lead.
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