Sylvester Stallone
Sylvester Stallone (born Michael Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone, July 6, 1946) is an American actor and filmmaker. After his beginnings as a struggling actor for a number of years upon arriving to New York City in 1969 and later Hollywood in 1974, he won his first critical acclaim as an actor for his co-starring role as Stanley Rosiello in The Lords of Flatbush. He subsequently found gradual work as an extra or side character in films with a sizable budget until he achieved his greatest critical and commercial success as an actor and screenwriter, starting in 1976 with his role as boxer Rocky Balboa, in the first film of the successful Rocky series (1976–present), for which he also wrote the screenplays. In the films, Rocky is portrayed as an underdog boxer who fights numerous brutal opponents, and wins the world heavyweight championship twice. In 1977, he was the third actor in cinema to be nominated for two Academy Awards for Best Original Screenplay and Best Actor. His film Rocky was inducted into the National Film Registry, and had its props placed in the Smithsonian Museum. His use of the front entrance to the Philadelphia Museum of Art in the Rocky series led the area to be nicknamed the Rocky Steps. Philadelphia has a statue of his Rocky placed permanently near the museum, and he was voted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Up until 1982, his films were not big box office successes unless they were Rocky sequels, and none received the critical acclaim achieved with the first Rocky. This changed with the successful action film First Blood in which he portrayed the PTSD-plagued soldier John Rambo. Originally an adaptation of the eponymous novel by David Morell, First Blood’s script was significantly altered by Stallone during the film’s production. He would play the role in a total of five Rambo films (1982–2019). From the mid-1980s through to the late 1990s, he would go on to become one of Hollywood's highest-paid actors of that era by appearing in a slew of commercially successful action films which were however generally panned by critics. These include Cobra, Tango and Cash, Cliffhanger, the better received Demolition Man, and The Specialist. He declined in popularity in the early 2000s but rebounded back to prominence in 2006 with a sixth installment in the Rocky series and 2008 with a fourth in the Rambo series. In the 2010s, he launched The Expendables films series (2010–2014), in which he played the lead as the mercenary Barney Ross. In 2013, he starred in the successful Escape Plan, and acted in its sequels. In 2015, he returned to the Rocky series with Creed, that serve as spin-off films focusing on Adonis "Donnie" Creed played by Michael B. Jordan, the son of the ill-fated boxer Apollo Creed, to whom the long-retired Rocky is a mentor. Reprising the role brought him praise, and his first Golden Globe award for the first Creed, as well as a third Oscar nomination, having been first nominated for the same role 40 years prior.
Known For
Credits
- 2025 · Alarum as Chester
- 2023 · Marvel Studios Assembled: The Making of the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 as Self - 'Stakar Ogord'
- 2023 · The Family Stallone as Kendisi
- 2022 · Il était une fois Champs-Élysées as Self (archive footage)
- 2022 · Stasera c’è Cattelan su Raidue as Self
- 2021 · The Making of 'Rocky vs. Drago' as Self / Rocky Balboa (archive footage)
- 2020 · 40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic as Narrator/Self (archive footage)
- 2019 · I Am Durán as Self
- 2017 · Animal Crackers as Bullet-Man (voice)
- 2016 · Ratchet & Clank as Victor Von Ion (voice)
- 2014 · The Making of The Expendables 3 as Self
- 2014 · Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films as Lincoln Hawk (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 2014 · Reach Me as Gerald
- 2014 · And the Oscar Goes To... as Self (archive footage)
- 2013 · Grudge Match as Henry 'Razor' Sharp
- 2013 · Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon as Self
- 2013 · Milius as Self
- 2012 · Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen as (archive footage)
- 2011 · The Real Rocky as Self
- 2010 · Rambo: To Hell and Back - Director's Production Diary as Self
- 2009 · Kambakkht Ishq as Sylvester Stallone
- 2008 · Bigger Stronger Faster* as Self (archive footage)
- 2005 · Hogan Knows Best as
- 2005 · The Contender as Self - Boxing Mentor
- 2003 · Shade as Dean 'The Dean' Stevens
- 2002 · Liberty's Kids as Paul Revere
- 2002 · Avenging Angelo as Frankie Delano
- 1999 · The Early Show as Self
- 1999 · The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn as Self - Guest
- 1998 · Jackie Chan: My Story as Self - Jackie's Pal
- 1998 · An Alan Smithee Film: Burn, Hollywood, Burn as Sylvester Stallone
- 1996 · Daylight as Kit Latura
- 1996 · E! True Hollywood Story as
- 1992 · Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot as Sgt. Joseph Andrew 'Joe' Bomowski
- 1991 · Oscar as Angelo "Snaps" Provolone
- 1983 · Staying Alive as Man on Street (uncredited)
- 1981 · Nighthawks as Deke DaSilva
- 1978 · Paradise Alley as Cosmo Carboni
- 1978 · F.I.S.T. as John D. 'Johnny' Kovak
- 1977 · Auf los geht's los as Self
- 1976 · Cannonball as Mafioso
- 1975 · Farewell, My Lovely as Jonnie
- 1975 · Mandingo as Lynching Witness (uncredited)
- 1975 · The Prisoner of Second Avenue as Youth in Park
- 1974 · No Place to Hide as Jerry Savage
- 1974 · The Lords of Flatbush as Stanley Rosiello
- 1972 · What's Up, Doc? as Hotel Guest (uncredited)
- 1971 · Klute as Club Patron (uncredited)
- 1971 · Bananas as Subway Thug #1 (uncredited)
- Future · Taming The Beast as Self
- 2025 · The Epiphany as
- 2024 · Armor as Rook
- 2024 · Mr. McMahon as Rocky Balboa (archive footage)
- 2024 · Chuck Zito: An American Story as Self
- 2024 · Arnold & Sly: Rivals, Friends, Icons as Self
- 2023 · Sly as Self
- 2023 · Expend4bles as Barney Ross
- 2023 · Arnold as Self
- 2023 · The Randall Scandal: Love, Loathing, and Vanderpump as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 2023 · Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 as Stakar Ogord
- 2023 · Jean-Claude van Damme: Karate King as Self (archive footage)
- 2022 · Tulsa King as Dwight 'The General' Manfredi
- 2022 · Tulsa King as Self - Executive Producer & 'Dwight Manfredi'
- 2022 · Sherri as Self - Guest
- 2022 · Samaritan as Joe Smith
- 2021 · The Suicide Squad as King Shark (voice)
- 2021 · Stallone: Frank, That Is as Self
- 2021 · Marvel Studios Legends as Stakar Ogord (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 2019 · One Night: Joshua vs. Ruiz as Self
- 2019 · Rallying Cry as Jasper Reese
- 2019 · Rambo: Last Blood as John Rambo
- 2019 · The Kelly Clarkson Show as Self
- 2019 · Escape Plan: The Extractors as Ray Breslin
- 2019 · Stallone, profession héros as Self (archive footage)
- 2018 · Backtrace as Sykes
- 2018 · Creed II as Rocky Balboa
- 2018 · Escape Plan 2: Hades as Ray Breslin
- 2017 · John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs as Self
- 2017 · Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 as Stakar Ogord
- 2017 · John Travolta, le miraculé d'Hollywood as Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)
- 2016 · This Is Us as Sylvester Stallone
- 2015 · Creed as Rocky Balboa
- 2015 · From Rocky to Creed: The Legacy Continues as Self
- 2015 · The Late Show with Stephen Colbert as Self
- 2014 · The Expendables 3 as Barney Ross
- 2014 · The Director's Chair as Self
- 2014 · The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon as Self
- 2014 · The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon as
- 2013 · Escape Plan as Ray Breslin
- 2012 · Bullet to the Head as James Bonomo
- 2012 · Gods of War: Assembling Earth's Mightiest Anti-Heroes as Self
- 2012 · The Expendables 2 as Barney Ross
- 2011 · The Rocky Saga: Going the Distance as Self
- 2011 · Zookeeper as Joe the Lion (voice)
- 2010 · From the Ashes: Post-Production and Release of 'The Expendables' as Self
- 2010 · Inferno: The Making of 'The Expendables' as Self
- 2010 · The Expendables as Barney Ross
- 2009 · 30 for 30 as Self
- 2009 · 30 for 30 as Self (archive footage)
- 2009 · Live from Studio Five as Self
- 2008 · Rambo as John Rambo
- 2007 · Ecki's World as Self
- 2007 · The Graham Norton Show as Self
- 2006 · Rocky Balboa as Robert 'Rocky' Balboa
- 2006 · Ali's Dozen as Self
- 2006 · The Opponents as Self (archive footage) / Rocky Balboa
- 2006 · Tribute To Burgess Meredith as Self
- 2005 · Made in Hollywood as Self
- 2004 · The Tony Danza Show as Self - Guest
- 2003 · Las Vegas as
- 2003 · Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over as Toymaker
- 2003 · Celebrities Uncensored as Self
- 2003 · Taxi 3 as L'espion (caméo non crédité)
- 2003 · Jimmy Kimmel Live! as
- 2003 · Jimmy Kimmel Live! as Self (uncredited)
- 2002 · Iron and Beyond as Self - Actor & Director
- 2002 · Pet Star as Self - Judge
- 2002 · Raw Iron: The Making of 'Pumping Iron' as Self
- 2000 · CyberWorld as Weaver (voice)
- Future · Jackie Chan: Down to Earth as Self
- 2002 · "STARdate" with Ralf Moeller! as Self
- 1999 · The Very Best of the Muppet Show: Volume 2 as Self - Special Guest Star
- 1998 · Junket Whore as Self
- 1996 · A Century of Science Fiction as Self
- 1995 · Your Studio and You as Sylvester Stallone
- 1994 · Inside the Actors Studio as Self
- 1991 · Two Rooms: A Tribute to Elton John & Bernie Taupin as Self - Guest
- 1990 · Night of 100 Stars III as Self
- 1986 · The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years as Self (archive footage)
- 1984 · Electric Blue Special: Nude Celebrity Special as
- 1970 · Lovers and Other Strangers as Groomsman
- Future · The Original Action Hero as Self
- Future · Dolph: Fights Worth Fighting as Self
- 1986 · Mike Tyson vs Trevor Berbick as Self
- Future · Scavenger Hunt as
- 1970 · The Sidelong Glances of a Pigeon Kicker as Party Guest
- Future · Untitled "Rocky" prequel as Narrator
- Future · Hunter as Nathaniel Hunter
- Future · Samaritan 2 as Joe Smith
- Future · Never Too Old to Die as
- Future · The Good Life as Boss
- 2002 · Afganistan: Land in Crisis as Self
- 2002 · E! Live from the Red Carpet as Self - After Party Guest
- 2002 · D-Tox as Jake Malloy
- 2001 · Driven as Joe Tanto
- 2000 · Get Carter as Jack Carter
- 1999 · Beckmann as Self
- 1998 · Antz as Weaver (voice)
- 1998 · AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies as Self
- 1998 · Die Johannes B. Kerner Show as Self
- 1997 · Cop Land as Sheriff Freddy Heflin
- 1997 · The View as Self
- 1997 · Men in Black as Alien on TV Monitor (uncredited)
- 1997 · Taff as self
- 1995 · Assassins as Robert Rath
- 1995 · Judge Dredd as Judge Joseph Dredd
- 1994 · The Specialist as Ray Quick
- 1993 · Demolition Man as John Spartan
- 1993 · Late Night with Conan O'Brien as Self - Guest
- 1993 · Cliffhanger as Gabe Walker
- 1993 · GMTV as Self
- 1992 · HBO First Look as
- 1992 · The Tonight Show with Jay Leno as
- 1990 · Rocky V as Robert 'Rocky' Balboa
- 1990 · Stern TV as Self
- 1989 · Tango & Cash as Raymond 'Ray' Tango
- 1989 · Lock Up as Frank Leone
- 1988 · LIVE with Kelly and Mark as Self - Guest
- 1988 · Rambo III as John Rambo
- 1987 · Over the Top as Lincoln Hawk
- 1986 · Cobra as Lieutenant Marion 'Cobra' Cobretti
- 1985 · Rocky IV as Robert "Rocky" Balboa
- 1985 · Rambo: First Blood Part II as John J. Rambo
- 1984 · Rhinestone as Nick
- 1982 · First Blood as John Rambo
- 1982 · Rocky III as Robert 'Rocky' Balboa
- 1982 · Champs-Elysées as Self
- 1981 · Entertainment Tonight as Self
- 1981 · Escape to Victory as Captain Robert Hatch
- 1981 · Wetten, dass..? as Self
- 1979 · Rocky II as Robert 'Rocky' Balboa
- 1979 · CBS News Sunday Morning as Self
- 1976 · Rocky as Robert 'Rocky' Balboa
- 1976 · The Muppet Show as Sylvester Stallone - Special Guest Star
- 1975 · Saturday Night Live as Self - Host
- 1975 · Saturday Night Live as Self - Cameo (uncredited)
- 1975 · Death Race 2000 as Machine Gun Joe Viterbo
- 1975 · Capone as Frank Nitti
- 1975 · Les Rendez-vous du dimanche as Self
- 1973 · Kojak as Det. Rick Daly
- 1973 · Police Story as
- 1970 · M*A*S*H as Soldier (uncredited)
- 1970 · The Party at Kitty and Stud's as Stud
- 1969 · Downhill Racer as Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
- 1969 · The Square Root as
- 1962 · The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson as Self
- 1961 · The Mike Douglas Show as Self
- 1953 · The Oscars as Self
- Future · Scarpa as Gregory Scarpa