Sylvester Stallone facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sylvester Stallone
|
|
|---|---|
Stallone in 2019
|
|
| Special Ambassador to Hollywood | |
| Assumed office January 20, 2025 Serving with Mel Gibson and Jon Voight
|
|
| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone
July 6, 1946 New York City, U.S. |
| Spouses |
Sasha Czack
(m. 1974; div. 1985)Jennifer Flavin
(m. 1997) |
| Children | 5, including Sage and Sistine |
| Parents |
|
| Relatives | Frank Stallone (brother) |
| Alma mater | University of Miami (BFA) |
| Occupation |
|
| Awards | Full list |
| Other names | "Sly" Stallone |
| Works | Filmography |
| Years active | 1968–present |
| Signature |  |
Sylvester Gardenzio "Sly" Stallone (born July 6, 1946) is an American actor and filmmaker. He has worked in movies for over fifty years. Stallone has won many awards, including a Golden Globe Award and a Critics' Choice Movie Award. He was also nominated for three Academy Awards.
Stallone is one of only two actors to have a movie reach number one at the box office in six decades. His films have earned over $7.5 billion worldwide.
He struggled as an actor in New York City in the early years. In 1976, he became famous for playing the boxer Rocky Balboa. He wrote the script for the first Rocky film. In 1977, he was nominated for two Academy Awards for Rocky. He was nominated for Best Original Screenplay and Best Actor.
Stallone also played John Rambo in First Blood (1982). He continued this role in five Rambo movies. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1984. From the mid-1980s to the late 1990s, Stallone was one of Hollywood's highest-paid actors. He starred in action films like Cobra (1986) and Demolition Man (1993).
He returned to his famous roles in Rocky Balboa (2006) and Rambo (2008). Then he started The Expendables film series (2010–present). In 2015, he played Rocky again in Creed. In this film, Rocky mentors Donnie Creed, the son of his old rival. This role earned Stallone a Golden Globe Award and another Academy Award nomination. He also appeared in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023).
Stallone is seen as an icon of action movies. He helped change what a Hollywood action hero looked like. He has also tried other types of movies. He starred in comedies like Oscar (1991). He also acted in the drama Cop Land (1997). On television, he stars in the crime series Tulsa King (2022–present). Besides acting, Stallone collects and paints art. He has also written books about fitness.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone was born in New York City on July 6, 1946. His mother was Jacqueline "Jackie" Stallone, an astrologer. His father was Francesco "Frank" Stallone Sr., a hairdresser. His mother was American with French and Ukrainian Jewish roots. His father was an Italian immigrant. His younger brother is actor and musician Frank Stallone.
During his birth, doctors used tools that accidentally hurt a nerve in his face. This caused the lower left side of his face to be partly paralyzed. This gave him his unique look and way of speaking. Because of this, he was bullied as a child. He coped by getting into bodybuilding and acting.
Stallone lived in foster care and boarding schools for a while. He moved back with his family to Maryland when he was five. His parents divorced when he was 11. He lived with his father first, then joined his remarried mother in Philadelphia at age 15.
He attended several high schools. He then went to Miami Dade College. He studied at the American College of Switzerland for two years. From 1967 to 1969, he studied drama at the University of Miami. He did not finish his degree at that time. In 1998, the University of Miami gave him a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. They accepted his acting and life experiences for his remaining credits.
Film and Stage Career
Early Roles and First Success
.jpg)
Stallone used the name Mike Stallone on stage until 1969. In 1970, he started using Sylvester E. Stallone. While at the University of Miami, he acted in a drama called That Nice Boy (1968). He also worked on a low-budget film called "Horses" in 1969.
Stallone had his first main role in an early film in 1970. He later said he took the role out of desperation. He had been evicted from his apartment and was homeless. He even slept at a bus terminal. This film was later re-released with a new title.
He took odd jobs like cleaning at a zoo and being a theater usher. He was fired from being an usher for selling tickets illegally. He improved his writing skills by visiting a local library. He became interested in the works of Edgar Allan Poe.
In 1972, Stallone almost gave up acting. He tried to get a job as an extra in The Godfather but failed. He got a small background role in What's Up, Doc? (1972).
He got his first proper starring role in the independent film No Place to Hide around 1973. His other early film roles were small. He appeared in M*A*S*H (1970) and Bananas (1971). In 1974, he had his second starring role in The Lords of Flatbush. In 1975, he had supporting roles in Farewell, My Lovely and Death Race 2000. He also appeared on TV shows like Kojak.
Stallone became famous worldwide with Rocky (1976). This sports drama was about a struggling boxer, Rocky Balboa. He takes on heavyweight champion Apollo Creed. Stallone wrote the first draft of Rocky in three days after watching a boxing match. He wanted to play the lead role himself. Producers offered him a lot of money for the script. But Stallone refused to sell unless he could star in the movie. They finally agreed after cutting the budget.
When Rocky was released, critics praised it. In 1977, Rocky was nominated for ten Oscars. Stallone was nominated for Best Actor and Best Original Screenplay. The film won Best Picture, Best Directing, and Best Film Editing. Rocky is now part of the National Film Registry. Its props are in the Smithsonian Museum. The steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art are now called the Rocky Steps. There is also a statue of Rocky near the museum.
Continued Success in Films
Stallone directed his first film, Paradise Alley, in 1978. He also starred in it. That same year, he starred in F.I.S.T., a drama about a warehouse worker. In 1979, he wrote, directed, and starred in Rocky II. This sequel was a big success, earning $200 million.
In 1981, he starred in Escape to Victory with Michael Caine and Pelé. He played a prisoner of war in a soccer game. That year, he also starred in the thriller Nighthawks.
In 1982, Stallone played John Rambo, a Vietnam veteran, in First Blood. He changed the script from the original novel. The film was a success with critics and at the box office. It started the Rambo film series. That year, Rocky III was also released. Stallone wrote, directed, and starred in it. He trained very hard for these roles. He claimed his body fat percentage was very low for Rocky III.
In 1983, he directed Staying Alive, a sequel to Saturday Night Fever. This was the only film he directed but did not star in. It was a commercial success, earning $127 million worldwide.
During the 1980s, Stallone was one of the biggest action film stars. He had a friendly rivalry with Arnold Schwarzenegger. They often tried to outdo each other in movies.
Stallone tried other types of roles sometimes. In 1984, he starred with Dolly Parton in the comedy Rhinestone. He played a country music singer. He even sang a song for the soundtrack. He later regretted turning down a role in Romancing the Stone for Rhinestone.
In 1985, he continued his success with Rocky IV and Rambo: First Blood Part II. Both films were very successful financially.
In 1986, he starred in the action film Cobra, which was a box-office success. In 1987, he starred in Over the Top. He played a trucker who enters an arm wrestling competition. This film was not well-received. In 1989, he starred with Kurt Russell in Tango & Cash. This film earned over $120 million worldwide. Stallone also became a boxing promoter in the 1980s.
Stallone started the 1990s with Rocky V. This film brought back the first film's director. It was meant to be the last Rocky movie. It did not do well at the box office and got negative reviews.
In 1993, he made a comeback with Cliffhanger. This action thriller was a success, earning $171 million worldwide. Later that year, he starred in the futuristic action film Demolition Man. It co-starred Wesley Snipes and Sandra Bullock. Critics gave it good reviews, and it was a box office hit.
His success continued with The Specialist (1994), co-starring Sharon Stone. Despite negative reviews, it was a commercial success. It earned over $170 million worldwide.
In 1995, he played Judge Dredd in the science fiction action film Judge Dredd. The film did not do well in the US but was saved by overseas earnings. That year, he also appeared in the thriller Assassins with Julianne Moore and Antonio Banderas.
In 1996, he starred in the disaster film Daylight. He played a former emergency services chief. The film earned $158 million worldwide. In 1997, Stallone played an overweight sheriff in the crime drama Cop Land. He starred with Robert De Niro. Critics liked the film, and Stallone won a Best Actor award. In 1998, he did voice work for the animated film Antz, which was a success.
Later Career and Franchise Films
In the early 2000s, some of Stallone's films did not do well. These included Get Carter (2000) and Driven (2001).
In 2003, he played a villain in Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over. This film was a huge box-office success, earning almost $200 million. Stallone also had a small role in the French film Taxi 3. That year, he gained attention for his role in the crime drama Shade.
In 2005, he co-hosted the boxing competition series The Contender on NBC. He also appeared in two episodes of the TV series Las Vegas. That year, Stallone inducted Hulk Hogan into the WWE Hall of Fame. Hogan had appeared in Rocky III. In August, Stallone released his book Sly Moves. It was a guide to fitness and nutrition.
After a break from films, Stallone returned in 2006 with Rocky Balboa. This was the sixth film in the Rocky series. It was a success with critics and at the box office. The film earned $155.7 million worldwide on a $24 million budget. His performance was praised.
Stallone partnered with a company to produce a bottled water brand called Sly Water.
In 2008, Stallone played John Rambo again in Rambo. The film earned $113.2 million worldwide.
In July 2009, Stallone had a small role in the Bollywood film Kambakkht Ishq.
_-_Sylvester_Stallone_(26).jpg)
On December 7, 2010, Stallone was voted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
That year, Stallone wrote, directed, and starred in The Expendables. This action film featured many action stars. These included Jason Statham, Jet Li, and Dolph Lundgren. It also had cameos by Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger. The film was number one at the US box office on its opening weekend. This was the biggest opening weekend in Stallone's career. In 2011, Stallone voiced a lion in the comedy Zookeeper.
The Expendables 2 was released on August 17, 2012. It received good reviews. The cast included Jean-Claude Van Damme and Chuck Norris. That year, Stallone helped write the book for the Rocky musical on Broadway.
In 2013, Stallone starred in the action film Bullet to the Head. He also starred in Escape Plan with Arnold Schwarzenegger. He appeared in the sports comedy drama Grudge Match with Robert De Niro. This film reminded people of the Rocky series. Stallone was also credited as a writer for the film Homefront.
The Expendables 3 was released on August 15, 2014. New cast members included Wesley Snipes and Harrison Ford. This film received negative reviews and was the lowest-grossing film in the series.
In 2015, Stallone played Rocky Balboa again in Creed. The film focused on Donnie Creed, the son of Apollo Creed. It received great reviews. Stallone's performance earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture. He also received his third Academy Award nomination.
In 2017, Stallone appeared in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 as Stakar Ogord. In 2018, he co-starred in Escape Plan 2: Hades. He also announced work on a third movie, Escape Plan: The Extractors. In July, Stallone said he finished a script for a Creed sequel. This sequel would bring back Ivan Drago from Rocky IV. That year, Stallone was in a documentary about director John G. Avildsen.
Creed II was released on November 21, 2018. It received positive reviews. It had the biggest opening weekend for a live-action film over Thanksgiving.
In July 2019, Stallone said a Rocky sequel and prequel were being developed. He said the film would be about Rocky befriending a young immigrant fighter. Stallone also mentioned talks about a Rocky prequel TV series. That year, Stallone chose Derek Wayne Johnson to direct a documentary about the making of the original Rocky. It is called 40 Years of Rocky (2020).
Stallone started a film studio called Balboa Productions in March 2018. In May 2018, a fifth Rambo film was announced. Rambo: Last Blood began filming in September 2018. Stallone co-wrote the script and played John Rambo again. The film was released on September 20, 2019. It earned $91 million worldwide.
In late 2020, Stallone voiced Rambo in the video game Mortal Kombat 11. In 2021, he voiced King Shark in The Suicide Squad. In 2022, Stallone starred in Samaritan, a superhero film. In November 2022, Stallone made his streaming television debut in Tulsa King. He plays a Mafia boss in the series. A second season has continued.
In May 2023, Stallone and his family starred in a reality TV series called The Family Stallone. It was renewed for a second season. That same month, Stallone played Stakar Ogord again in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Sly, a documentary about Stallone, premiered in October 2023. He also played Barney Ross in Expend4bles, which was not a success.
Future Projects
Balboa Productions has many projects planned. A film about Jack "Galveston Giant" Johnson, the first African-American boxing heavyweight champion, is being developed. Stallone helped get Johnson a pardon from US President Donald Trump.
Stallone is also set to star in the film Hunter. This story was originally planned for Rambo V: Last Blood. He also wants to direct a film about Edgar Allan Poe's life.
Personal Life
Marriages and Children
.jpg)
Stallone has been married three times. He has two sons from his first marriage and three daughters from his third marriage.
He married Sasha Czack on December 28, 1974. They had two sons: Sage Moonblood Stallone (1976–2012) and Seargeoh (born 1979). Seargeoh was diagnosed with autism at a young age. They divorced in 1985.
Stallone married model and actress Brigitte Nielsen in 1985. Their marriage lasted two years and was often in the news.
In 1988, Stallone met model Jennifer Flavin. They were in a relationship until 1994. After a brief engagement with another model, he and Flavin got back together.
Stallone and Jennifer Flavin married in May 1997. They have three daughters: Sophia, Sistine, and Scarlet. His daughters were chosen to be Golden Globe Ambassadors in 2017. In August 2022, Jennifer Flavin filed for divorce. However, they reconciled in September 2022.
Family and Friends
Stallone has a close relationship with his brother Frank. Frank contributed theme songs to some of Sylvester's films. Frank also appears in small roles in many of Sylvester's movies. Stallone's half-sister, Toni Ann Filiti, passed away in 2012.
Injuries
Stallone is known for doing many of his own stunts. He has had several injuries during his career. He broke a finger while filming Escape to Victory trying to save a penalty kick. For a scene in Rocky IV, he asked Dolph Lundgren to punch him hard. He ended up in intensive care for four days. While filming The Expendables, he broke his neck. He needed a metal plate inserted.
Politics
Stallone has supported some Republican politicians. However, he does not identify as a member of the Republican Party. He has also donated to the Democratic National Committee and to Democrats. He supports gun control. In 2008, Stallone supported John McCain for president.
In 2015, Stallone performed a Hindu ritual for his son Sage. This was done for those who died by accident.
Before the 2016 presidential election, Stallone described Donald Trump as a "larger than life" character. He did not endorse anyone in the primaries. In 2016, he declined an offer to become Chair of the National Endowment for the Arts. He wanted to work on issues related to veterans instead. In 2023, Stallone donated to Senator Kyrsten Sinema's re-election campaign. Later that year, he and his family met Pope Francis at the Vatican. After Trump's win in the 2024 election, Stallone attended an event at Mar-a-Lago. He praised Trump as a "mythical character."
On January 16, 2025, Trump announced that Stallone would be a Special Ambassador to Hollywood. He shares this role with Jon Voight and Mel Gibson. Trump said he wants them to make Hollywood "stronger than ever before."
Acting Credits and Awards
Throughout his career, Stallone has won a Golden Globe Award. He also won a Critics' Choice Movie Award and a People's Choice Award. He has received international awards from the César Awards and the Venice International Film Festival. He has been nominated for three Academy Awards and two BAFTA Awards.
- Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (1984)
- International Boxing Hall of Fame (Class of 2010)
- Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture for Creed (2016)
- Heart of Hollywood Award from the Board of Governors of the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (2016)
See also
In Spanish: Sylvester Stallone para niños
