Sylvester Stallone
Slept in a bus station and sold his dog; refused six figures for Rocky unless he starred in it.
Sylvester Stallone was born in 1946 in New York City, US. Sylvester Stallone's background is described as Italian-American father, French-Canadian descent mother. Growing up, the family was working class — a forceps accident at birth paralyzed part of his face, leaving the slur and snarl; a turbulent household and foster stints followed. Slept in a bus station and sold his dog; refused six figures for Rocky unless he starred in it.
- Born
- 1946 · New York City, US
- Roots
- Italian-American father, French-Canadian descent mother
- Family
- Working class
- A forceps accident at birth paralyzed part of his face, leaving the slur and snarl; a turbulent household and foster stints followed.
- Education
- Expelled from several schools; drama at the University of Miami, left short of credits
- Started with
- $106 and a script
- By his account, his bank balance when he turned down six-figure offers for the Rocky screenplay unless he played the lead.
- Affiliations & societies
- None documented.
- Information only — claims like these are often unverifiable and may be wrong.
The pathway
- 1970 · age 24Rock bottom$200
Sleeps three weeks in the Port Authority bus station; takes a $200 role in a softcore film he later called the alternative to crime.
- 1975 · age 28Sells his dog
By his telling, $40 outside a liquor store when he can't feed him — bought back at a premium after the script sells.
- 1975 · age 29Rocky in three days
Written after watching the Wepner–Ali fight; studios offer up to $360K for the script alone, wanting a star in the role.
- 1976 · age 30Rocky wins Best Picture$35K + points
Made for about $1M with Stallone at $35K plus points; he becomes the third person Oscar-nominated for writing and acting in the same film.
- 1982 · age 36Rambo
The second franchise; he writes or co-writes nearly everything he stars in.
- 2015 · age 69Creed
An Oscar nomination for playing Rocky as an old man — forty years after the first.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Sylvester Stallone from?
Sylvester Stallone was born in 1946 in New York City, US. Their background is described as Italian-American father, French-Canadian descent mother.
When was Sylvester Stallone born?
Sylvester Stallone was born in 1946, in New York City, US.
What is Sylvester Stallone's background or ethnicity?
Sylvester Stallone's roots are described as Italian-American father, French-Canadian descent mother. These are broad categories drawn from public sources, not statements about how the person identifies.
Where did Sylvester Stallone go to school?
Sylvester Stallone's education: Expelled from several schools; drama at the University of Miami, left short of credits.
What was Sylvester Stallone's family background growing up?
At birth the family was working class. A forceps accident at birth paralyzed part of his face, leaving the slur and snarl; a turbulent household and foster stints followed.
How did Sylvester Stallone get started?
Sylvester Stallone started with $106 and a script. By his account, his bank balance when he turned down six-figure offers for the Rocky screenplay unless he played the lead.
Sources
Compiled from these references and contemporaneous press reporting. Figures are approximate; verify before relying on them.