Sly Stallone-Mini Bio

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Many of us know Sylvester Stallone for his performance in the Rocky films as well as Rambo, Cliffhanger and Cop Land (one of my favorites) and many action movies. Stallone has been in the acting business since the 70's when he starred in the soft-core porn film titled The Party at Kitty and Stud's House that was later renamed The Italian Stallion after his nickname. He starred in his first feature film that same year titled No Place To Hide. This film was remade in 1990 as the award-winning film, A Man Named... Rainbo.

Stallone's success skyrocketed in 1975 when he made his first Rocky film. He wrote the script for the film in a matter of three days after attending a boxing match featuring heavyweight champion Muhammed Ali. Producers first suggested actors Burt Reynolds or James Caan for the lead until they agreed that Stallone should have the limelight. Although the two actors suggested for the role are indeed talented, I'm sure that many fans would agree that they couldn't compete with Stallone's unique character. The first Rocky film was nominated for 10 Academy Awards and won Best Picture, Best Film Editing and John G. Avildsen won for Best Director. Stallone was nominated for Best Actor but lost that year to Peter Finch who starred in the hit film Network. The film cost $1.1 million to produce and raked in a gross of $117.2 million. Rocky II followed as another box office smash in 1979, taking in a total of $200 million.

Stallone's next wave of fame rolled in when he played Rambo in First Blood in 1982. He has starred in a total of ten films between the Rocky and Rambo series. Rambo V: The Savage Hunt will be written, directed and possibly starring the Italian Stallion himself. The film is slated for release some time in 2011. StalloneZone.com reported that he said, "I'm letting you know that 'Rambo' has changed course and the story about hunting the man/beast will be done using another character in the lead… Rambo himself will be heading over the border to a violent city where many young women have vanished."

Sylvester Stallone was born in New York City to Frank Stallone Sr. and Jackie Stallone, an astrologer and promoter of women's wrestling, and is of Italian, French and Russian Jewish decent. He had quite a rocky childhood before he discovered his passion for acting. The slur in Stallone's speech and his unique features are actually a result of nerve damage that occurred when he was born as the doctor was using forceps during his delivery. Stallone went to High School in Pennsylvania for children of specific needs and moved on to beauty school. Perhaps this desire stemmed from the fact that his parents owned a chain of beauty salons in Maryland.

He eventually became a beauty school dropout but for good reason. He won a scholarship to the American College of Switzerland where he began to study drama and gained popularity with his friends and professors. He attended the University of Miami for theater arts and dropped out 3 credits shy of graduation! Although Stallone never completely followed through with his higher education, he has grown to become quite a success in the film industry. He may not be the world's best actor, but he is certainly original and seems very personable. I've grown very fond of Stallone over the years and look forward to seeing him on the big screen again soon. At 63-years-old, The Italian Stallion is going strong and doesn't seem to be retiring anywhere in the near future.

Interesting Tibits:

Stallone was offered to star in a beer commercial for $5 million if he cut his hair and he said no!

He is a big fan of Bollywood films.

He is part owner of Planet Hollywood along with Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

He is 5'10" tall.

Stallone is currently married to his third wife Jennifer Flavin.

Stallone Quotes:

"I take rejection as someone blowing a bugle in my ear to wake me up and get going, rather than retreat."

"I was very much into buying contemporary art, but I've just decided I want to get rid of it all. Not that it's not great art, but all of a sudden my mood has changed, and I want to go back to seventeenth- and eighteenth-century masters."

"It would be great to be able to pass on to someone all of the successes, the failures, and the knowledge that one has had. To help someone, avoid all the fire, pain and anxiety would be wonderful."

"I think that gravity sets into everything, including careers, but pendulums do swing and mountains do become valleys after a while... if you keep on walking."