Sylvester Stallone is an athletically built, dark-haired American actor, screenwriter, director, and producer. He has been a movie fan favorite for over 40 years, making him one of Hollywood's biggest box office draws.
Born on July 6, 1946, in New York's Hell's Kitchen, Stallone's father was an Italian immigrant, and his mother's heritage is half French and half German. He attended the American College of Switzerland and the University of Miami, obtaining a B.A. degree. Initially, he struggled in small parts in films such as The Party at Kitty and Stud's, Klute, and Bananas. He got a crucial career break alongside Henry Winkler in the teen gang film The Lords of Flatbush.
Stallone wrote a film script about a nobody fighter given the "million to one opportunity" to challenge for the heavyweight title, which became the stuff of cinematic legends, scoring ten Academy Award nominations and winning the Best Picture Award of 1976. The film, Rocky, triggered one of the most financially successful movie series in history.
Stallone followed Rocky with F.I.S.T., Paradise Alley, and Rocky II. He then pulled on the boxing gloves again to resurrect Rocky Balboa in Rocky III and Rocky IV. The character of Green Beret "John Rambo" was the creation of Canadian-born writer David Morrell, and his novel was adapted to the screen with Stallone in the lead role in First Blood.
The movie was a surprise hit that polarized audiences because of its commentary about the Vietnam war. Political viewpoints aside, the film was a worldwide smash, and a sequel soon followed with Rambo: First Blood Part II. Riding a wave of amazing popularity, Stallone called on old sparring partner Rocky Balboa to climb back into the ring to defend American pride against a Soviet threat in Rocky IV.
Stallone continued forward with a slew of macho character-themed films that met with a mixed reception from his fans. He then took a departure from the gung-ho steely characters he had been portraying to stack on a few extra pounds and tackle a more dramatically challenging role in Cop Land.
Stallone has most recently brought back never-say-die boxer Rocky Balboa to star in Rocky Balboa and Vietnam veteran Rambo to reappear after a 20-year hiatus to once again right wrongs in the jungles of Thailand. Love him or loathe him, Sylvester Stallone has built an enviable and highly respected career in Hollywood, plus, he has considerably influenced modern popular culture through several of his iconic film characters.
