Stallone, Sylvester (1946-…), is an American motion-picture actor who gained international success by creating two characters, boxer Rocky Balboa and action hero John Rambo. Both characters have been featured in profitable film series. Rocky (1976), the first in the “Rocky Balboa” series, won the 1976 Academy Award as best picture. Stallone’s performance as Rocky made him an immediate star in Hollywood.
Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone was born in New York City on July 6, 1946. He grew up in poverty and spent several years in foster homes. He was expelled from a number of schools and finally took up acting in 1970. He appeared in several low budget films starting that year.
Stallone wrote the first draft of Rocky in only a few days. The inspirational film about a boxer who triumphs over great odds was the surprise hit of 1976. Stallone starred in several other Rocky films, writing and directing Rocky II (1979), Rocky III (1982), and Rocky IV (1985); writing Rocky V (1990); and writing and directing Rocky Balboa (2006), in which the character comes out of retirement to fight in the ring again. Stallone also starred in the sequel Creed (2015) and starred in and co-wrote Creed II (2018), in which he portrayed a trainer to the son of his late friend and formal rival. Stallone co-wrote the book (dialogue) for a 2014 Broadway musical based on the original “Rocky” film.
Stallone’s first Rambo film was First Blood (1982). The popularity of the film’s muscular hero led to the sequels Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985) and Rambo III (1988). Stallone later starred in Rambo (2008), which he wrote and directed, and Rambo: Last Blood (2019), which he co-wrote.
Few of Stallone’s other films matched the commercial success of the Rocky and Rambo movies. His other films include F.I.S.T. (1978), Cobra (1986), Tango & Cash (1989), Cliffhanger (1993), Demolition Man (1993), Daylight (1996), Cop Land (1997), Bullet to the Head (2012), and Escape Plan and Grudge Match (both 2013). Stallone also directed the dramatic musical Staying Alive (1983). He directed, co-wrote, and starred in the action film The Expendables (2010). Stallone also co-wrote and starred in its sequels, The Expendables 2 (2012) and The Expendables 3 (2014).
