Before the world knew his name, Sylvester Stallone was surviving on almost nothing: not “struggling artist” nothing, but
actual nothing. By the early 1970s, Stallone had spent nearly a decade trying to break into Hollywood. He had the ambition. He had the discipline. What he didn’t have was money, connections, or the kind of face casting directors were looking for. His partially paralyzed face and slurred speech - caused by nerve damage at birth - made him an easy rejection. He auditioned constantly. He was turned away constantly.

Roles went to men who looked smoother, sounded cleaner, and fit neatly into Hollywood’s idea of what a leading man should be. Stallone was told - directly - that he “looked funny” and “talked funny.” Sometimes it was said kindly. Sometimes it wasn’t. He did bit parts where he barely spoke. He acted in low-budget films that went nowhere. He worked odd jobs. He sold whatever he could to keep going. At one point, he sold personal belongings just to eat. He fell behind on rent. Eventually, there was nowhere left to stay.

For a brief period, Stallone was homeless. He slept where he could - including a New York bus station - because he couldn’t afford even the cheapest room. He went days without proper meals. The future didn’t look uncertain. It looked closed. And then there was his dog. Stallone had a bullmastiff named Butkus. The dog was his constant companion, his emotional anchor in a life that offered very little stability. But when Stallone couldn’t afford food for himself, he certainly couldn’t afford food for a large dog. That decision - the one he never forgot - came outside a liquor store. Stallone stood there with Butkus and tried to sell him to a stranger; not because he wanted to, but because he had no other option. He ended up letting the dog go for just $25 - and walked away crying. Years later, Stallone would say that moment hurt more than the hunger, more than the rejection - because it felt like giving up the last thing that loved him unconditionally.

Not long after that, something happened that changed everything. On March 24, 1975, Stallone watched a boxing match between Muhammad Ali and Chuck Wepner. Wepner wasn’t supposed to last; he wasn’t supposed to compete; he wasn’t supposed to matter - but he did. He went the distance, he knocked Ali down. He lost - but he didn’t collapse: he endured. He kept standing long after logic said he shouldn’t.

Stallone saw himself in that fight. That same night, fueled by desperation and clarity, he went home and began writing. He didn’t outline, he didn’t polish. He poured everything he had onto the page. The character wasn’t Ali; it was Wepner, it was Stallone, it was every man told he didn’t belong.

He wrote "Rocky" in roughly 20 hours: not because he was disciplined, but because he was out of time. When the script was finished, Stallone believed - fully - that this was it - this was his shot. He took it to studios, and for the first time in his life, doors opened. Executives loved the story. They loved the underdog. They loved the grit. They loved the heart. They just didn’t love him. Studio after studio made the same offer: they would buy the script - but only if Stallone stepped aside. They wanted a “real star”: someone recognizable, someone bankable, someone safe. The money went up with each rejection: $125,000. then more, then more again. For a man who had been sleeping in a bus station, these were life-changing numbers: enough to eat, enough to live, enough to never worry again.

But Stallone refused - not out of arrogance, but out of certainty. He knew that if he gave up the role, the story would no longer be true. Rocky Balboa wasn’t supposed to look perfect. He wasn’t supposed to sound polished. He wasn’t supposed to be chosen. That was the point. Stallone walked away from every offer that excluded him. Eventually, the studio relented. They agreed to let Stallone star - but they slashed the payment. He would receive around $35,000 for the script and the role. A fraction of what he had already turned down. He said "Yes".

Production was rough. The budget was small. The crew was skeptical. Stallone wasn’t treated like a star - because he wasn’t one yet - but the film worked. When "Rocky" was released in 1976, audiences responded instantly. The movie didn’t just entertain people: it moved them, it reminded them of themselves, it captured something honest about struggle, dignity, and persistence. At the Academy Awards, "Rocky" won Best Picture. Stallone was nominated for Best Actor. The underdog story had become real - not just on screen, but off it.

And then Stallone did something that mattered more to him than the trophies.: he went looking for his dog. He tracked down the man who had bought Butkus. The man knew exactly who Stallone was now, and Stallone didn’t negotiate from power: he begged, he offered money - a lot of it. The man eventually agreed. Stallone paid thousands - far more than he had ever imagined spending - to bring Butkus home. The dog later appeared in "Rocky II", standing beside Stallone as if he had never left. The symbolism wasn’t lost on anyone.

Stallone didn’t forget where he came from. He didn’t rewrite his own struggle. He didn’t pretend it had been easy or romantic or destined. It had been brutal. This is why the story endures: not because it’s about fame, not because it’s about money, but because it’s about refusal: refusal to accept the role others assign you, refusal to trade identity for comfort, refusal to let your lowest moment define your ending. Stallone’s life didn’t turn around because someone rescued him. It turned around because, when given one narrow opening, he chose risk over relief.

He could have taken the money and disappeared. Instead, he stayed, and everything that came after - success, legacy, cultural impact - was built on that one decision. The lesson isn’t that success is guaranteed if you hold out long enough. The lesson is harder. Sometimes the only way forward is to bet on yourself when no one else will. Sometimes that bet costs you sleep, comfort, pride, and even the things you love most. And sometimes - if you’re relentless enough - it gives them back to you. Stallone’s story isn’t about never falling: it’s about standing back up when you have every reason not to believe there’s a point anymore.

And that’s why "Rocky" still works - because it wasn’t fiction: it was a confession.



Year Title Role
1969 The Square Root Unknown
1969 Downhill Racer Restaurant Patron
1970 M*A*S*H Soldier Sitting at Camp Table
1970 The Party at Kitty and Stud's Stud
1970 Lovers and Other Strangers Groomsman
1970 The Sidelong Glances of a Pigeon Kicker Party Guest
1971 Bananas Subway Thug #1
1971 Klute Club Patron
1972 What's Up, Doc? Hotel Guest
1973 No Place to Hide Jerry Savage
1974 The Lords of Flatbush Stanley Rosiello
1975 The Prisoner of Second Avenue Youth in Park
1975 Capone Frank Ralph "The Enforcer" Nitti
1975 Death Race 2000 Joe "Machine Gun" Viterbo
1975 Mandingo Lynching Witness
1975 Farewell, My Lovely Jonnie
1976 Cannonball Mafioso #2
1976 Rocky Robert "Rocky" Balboa
1978 F.I.S.T. Johnny Kovak
1978 Paradise Alley Cosmo Carboni
1979 Rocky II Robert "Rocky" Balboa
1981 Nighthawks Sergeant Deke DaSilva
1981 Escape to Victory Captain Robert Hatch
1982 Rocky III Robert "Rocky" Balboa
1982 First Blood John J. Rambo
1983 Staying Alive Man on Street
1984 Rhinestone Nick Martinelli
1985 Rambo: First Blood Part II John J. Rambo
1985 Rocky IV Robert "Rocky" Balboa
1986 Cobra Lieutenant Marion "Cobra" Cobretti
1987 Over the Top Lincoln "Linc" Hawk
1988 Rambo III John J. Rambo
1989 Lock Up Frank Leone
1989 Tango & Cash Lieutenant Raymond "Ray" Tango
1990 Rocky V Robert "Rocky" Balboa
1991 Oscar Angelo "Snaps" Provolone
1992 Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot Sergeant Joseph Andrew "Joe" Bomowski
1993 Cliffhanger Ranger Gabriel "Gabe" Walker
1993 Demolition Man Sergeant John Spartan
1994 The Specialist Captain Ray Quick
1995 Your Studio and You Himself
1995 Judge Dredd Judge Joseph Dredd
1995 Assassins Robert Rath / Joseph Rath
1996 Daylight Chief Kit Latura
1997 Cop Land Sheriff Freddy Heflin
1997 An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn Himself
1997 The Good Life Boss
1998 Antz Corporal Weaver
2000 Get Carter Jack Carter
2001 Driven Joe "The Hummer" Tanto
2002 D-Tox Agent Jake Malloy
2002 Avenging Angelo Frankie Delano
2003 Taxi 3 Passenger to Airport
2003 Shade Dean "The Dean" Stevens
2003 Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over Agent Sebastian "The Toymaker"
2006 Rocky Balboa Robert "Rocky" Balboa
2008 Rambo John J. Rambo
2009 Kambakkht Ishq Himself
2010 The Expendables Barney Ross
2011 Zookeeper Joe the Lion
2012 The Expendables 2 Barney Ross
2012 Bullet to the Head James "Jimmy Bobo" Bonomo
2013 Escape Plan Ray Breslin / Anthony Portos
2013 Homefront None
2013 Grudge Match Henry "Razor" Sharp
2014 The Expendables 3 Barney Ross
2014 Reach Me Chief Gerald Cavallo
2015 Creed Robert "Rocky" Balboa
2016 Ratchet & Clank Lieutenant Victor Von Ion
2017 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Stakar Ogord
2017 Animal Crackers Bulletman
2018 Escape Plan 2: Hades Ray Breslin
2018 Creed II Robert "Rocky" Balboa
2018 Backtrace Detective Sykes
2019 Escape Plan: The Extractors Ray Breslin
2019 Rallying Cry Jasper Reese
2019 Rambo: Last Blood John J. Rambo
2019 One Night: Joshua vs. Ruiz Himself
2021 The Suicide Squad Nanaue / King Shark
2021 The Making of Rocky vs. Drago by Sylvester Stallone Himself
2022 Samaritan Joe Smith / Samaritan / Nemesis
2022 MVP None
2023 Creed III None
2023 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Stakar Ogord
2023 Expend4bles Barney Ross
2023 Sly Himself
2024 Lost on a Mountain in Maine None
2024 Armor Rook
2025 Alarum Agent Chester
2025 A Working Man None
2025 Giant None
Television
Year Title Role
1973 The Evil Touch None
1975 Police Story Elmore "Rocky" Caddo
1975 Kojak Detective Rick Daly
1979 The Muppet Show Himself
1985 Heart of a Champion: The Ray Mancini Story None
1991 Dream On Himself
1997 Saturday Night Live Himself - Host
2002 Father Lefty None
2002 Liberty's Kids Paul Revere
2005 Las Vegas Frank "The Repairman"
2005 The Contender Rematch: Mora vs. Manfredo None
2006–2009 The Contender Himself - Host
2010 Inferno: The making of 'The Expendables' Himself
2013 Saturday Night Live Three Wise Guys
2016 Strong None
2017 Ultimate Beastmaster None
2017 This Is Us Himself
2022–present Tulsa King Dwight "The General" Manfredi
2023–present The Family Stallone Himself
2025 Extracted None
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1969 The Square Root Unknown Uncredited extra [1]
1969 Downhill Racer Restaurant Patron Uncredited extra [1]
1970 M*A*S*H Soldier Sitting at Camp Table Uncredited extra [2]
1970 The Party at Kitty and Stud's Stud
1970 Lovers and Other Strangers Groomsman Uncredited extra [1]
1970 The Sidelong Glances of a Pigeon Kicker Party Guest Uncredited extra [1]
1971 Bananas Subway Thug #1 Uncredited cameo [1]
1971 Klute Club Patron Uncredited extra [1]
1972 What's Up, Doc? Hotel Guest Uncredited extra [3]
1973 No Place to Hide Jerry Savage
1974 The Lords of Flatbush Stanley Rosiello Also additional dialogue
1975 The Prisoner of Second Avenue Youth in Park Cameo [4]
1975 Capone Frank Ralph "The Enforcer" Nitti
1975 Death Race 2000 Joe "Machine Gun" Viterbo
1975 Mandingo Lynching Witness Uncredited extra [5]
1975 Farewell, My Lovely Jonnie Cameo [6]
1976 Cannonball Mafioso #2 Uncredited cameo [7]
1976 Rocky Robert "Rocky" Balboa Also writer and boxing choreographer
1978 F.I.S.T. Johnny Kovak Also writer
1978 Paradise Alley Cosmo Carboni Also director and writer
1979 Rocky II Robert "Rocky" Balboa Also director, writer and boxing choreographer
1981 Nighthawks Sergeant Deke DaSilva Also uncredited director
1981 Escape to Victory Captain Robert Hatch
1982 Rocky III Robert "Rocky" Balboa Also director, writer and boxing choreographer
1982 First Blood John J. Rambo Also writer
1983 Staying Alive Man on Street Also director, writer and producer; uncredited cameo [8]
1984 Rhinestone Nick Martinelli Also writer
1985 Rambo: First Blood Part II John J. Rambo Also writer
1985 Rocky IV Robert "Rocky" Balboa Also director, writer and boxing choreographer
1986 Cobra Lieutenant Marion "Cobra" Cobretti Also writer
1987 Over the Top Lincoln "Linc" Hawk Also writer
1988 Rambo III John J. Rambo Also writer
1989 Lock Up Frank Leone
1989 Tango & Cash Lieutenant Raymond "Ray" Tango
1990 Rocky V Robert "Rocky" Balboa Also writer
1991 Oscar Angelo "Snaps" Provolone
1992 Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot Sergeant Joseph Andrew "Joe" Bomowski
1993 Cliffhanger Ranger Gabriel "Gabe" Walker Also writer
1993 Demolition Man Sergeant John Spartan
1994 The Specialist Captain Ray Quick
1995 Your Studio and You Himself Short film; uncredited cameo [9]
1995 Judge Dredd Judge Joseph Dredd
1995 Assassins Robert Rath / Joseph Rath
1996 Daylight Chief Kit Latura
1997 Cop Land Sheriff Freddy Heflin
1997 An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn Himself Limited release; cameo [10]
1997 The Good Life Boss Unreleased; cameo [11]
1998 Antz Corporal Weaver Voice role
2000 Get Carter Jack Carter
2001 Driven Joe "The Hummer" Tanto Also writer and producer
2002 D-Tox Agent Jake Malloy Limited release
2002 Avenging Angelo Frankie Delano Direct-to-video
2003 Taxi 3 Passenger to Airport Uncredited cameo [12]
2003 Shade Dean "The Dean" Stevens Limited release
2003 Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over Agent Sebastian "The Toymaker" Dual role
2006 Rocky Balboa Robert "Rocky" Balboa Also director, writer and boxing choreographer
2008 Rambo John J. Rambo Also director and writer
2009 Kambakkht Ishq Himself Cameo [13]
2010 The Expendables Barney Ross Also director and writer
2011 Zookeeper Joe the Lion Voice role
2012 The Expendables 2 Barney Ross Also writer
2012 Bullet to the Head James "Jimmy Bobo" Bonomo
2013 Escape Plan Ray Breslin / Anthony Portos
2013 Homefront None Writer and producer only
2013 Grudge Match Henry "Razor" Sharp Also boxing choreographer
2014 The Expendables 3 Barney Ross Also writer/story
2014 Reach Me Chief Gerald Cavallo Streaming release
2015 Creed Robert "Rocky" Balboa Also producer [14]
2016 Ratchet & Clank Lieutenant Victor Von Ion Voice role
2017 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Stakar Ogord Cameo [15]
2017 Animal Crackers Bulletman Voice role
2018 Escape Plan 2: Hades Ray Breslin Direct-to-video
2018 Creed II Robert "Rocky" Balboa Also writer and producer [14]
2018 Backtrace Detective Sykes Limited release
2019 Escape Plan: The Extractors Ray Breslin Direct-to-video
2019 Rallying Cry Jasper Reese Short film
2019 Rambo: Last Blood John J. Rambo Also writer/story
2019 One Night: Joshua vs. Ruiz Himself Documentary film; also executive producer
2021 The Suicide Squad Nanaue / King Shark Voice role
2021 The Making of Rocky vs. Drago by Sylvester Stallone Himself Documentary film; also producer
2022 Samaritan Joe Smith / Samaritan / Nemesis Streaming release; also producer
2022 MVP None Limited release; executive producer only
2023 Creed III None Producer only
2023 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Stakar Ogord Cameo [16]
2023 Expend4bles Barney Ross
2023 Sly Himself Documentary film; also executive producer
2024 Lost on a Mountain in Maine None Limited release; producer only
2024 Armor Rook Limited release
2025 Alarum Agent Chester Limited release
2025 A Working Man None Writer and producer only
2025 Giant None Executive producer only

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1973 The Evil Touch None Episode: "Heart to Heart"; writer only
1975 Police Story Elmore "Rocky" Caddo Episode: "The Cutting Edge"
1975 Kojak Detective Rick Daly Episode: "My Brother, My Enemy"
1979 The Muppet Show Himself Episode: "Sylvester Stallone"
1985 Heart of a Champion: The Ray Mancini Story None Television film; executive producer only
1991 Dream On Himself Episode: "The Second Greatest Story Ever Told: Parts 1 & 2"
1997 Saturday Night Live Himself - Host Episode: "Sylvester Stallone/Jamiroquai"
2002 Father Lefty None Unsold television pilot for an unproduced TV series; writer and executive producer only
2002 Liberty's Kids Paul Revere Episode: "Midnight Ride"; voice role
2005 Las Vegas Frank "The Repairman" 2 episodes
2005 The Contender Rematch: Mora vs. Manfredo None Television special; executive producer only
2006–2009 The Contender Himself - Host 16 episodes; also executive producer for 21 episodes
2010 Inferno: The Making of 'The Expendables' Himself Television documentary film; also producer
2013 Saturday Night Live Three Wise Guys Episode: "John Goodman/Kings of Leon"; uncredited cameo [17]
2016 Strong None 3 episodes; executive producer only
2017 Ultimate Beastmaster None 24 episodes; creator also producer for 1 episode and executive producer for 1 episode only
2017 This Is Us Himself Episode: "Déjà Vu"
2022–present Tulsa King Dwight "The General" Manfredi 29 episodes; also executive producer for 24 episodes and writer for 6 episodes
2023–present The Family Stallone Himself Reality series; also executive producer
2025 Extracted None 10 episodes; executive producer only

Theatre

Year Title Role Venue Notes Ref.
1970 Score Telephone Repairman Mike Martinique Theater [1]

Commercial

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2020 Facebook: Groups - Ready to Rock? - 2020 Super Bowl Commercial Robert "Rocky" Balboa Cameo

Music video

Year Title Role Performer Notes Ref.
1987 "Winner Takes It All" Lincoln "Linc" Hawk Sammy Hagar Uncredited cameo [18]

Soundtrack appearances

Year Title Song Notes Ref.
1978 Paradise Alley "Too Close to Paradise"
1979 The Muppet Show "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off", "A Bird in a Gilded Cage" Episode: "Sylvester Stallone"; uncredited [19]
1982 Rocky III "Take You Back" Uncredited
1984 Rhinestone "Stay Out of My Bedroom", "Woke Up in Love", "Drinkinstein", "Sweet Lovin' Friends", "Be There"
2013 Grudge Match "The Star-Spangled Banner"

Video games

Year Title Voice role Notes Ref.
1994 Demolition Man Sergeant John Spartan Live action full-motion video; 3DO version only
2020 Mortal Kombat 11 John J. Rambo Downloadable content [20]

See also

References

  1. @noobde (October 8, 2020). "Yes, it's Stallone's voice ����" (Tweet) – via Twitter.