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Sylvester Stallone once created and played a macho maniac named Rambo, which in turn took the whole world by storm and birthed a multi-million-dollar franchise. As it turns out, the actor was indeed born to play the role, requiring only minimal research as Stallone jumped in headfirst. His tough childhood played a crucial role in shaping and understanding the character. In his latest Netflix documentary,Sly, he explained how it all contributed to making him the star he is today.
Also Read:77-Year-Old Sylvester Stallone’s Physique and Looks Throughout the Years: Italian Stallion’s Highest Grossing Movies of All Time
Sylvester Stallone’s Father InspiredRambo!
The character of John Rambo, a Vietnam War veteran armed with a machine gun, first burst onto the cinematic scene in the 1982 hitFirst Blood.He stands as just one example of the many characters inspired by the filmmaker’s own life. To discuss in detail,Sylvester Stallonewho also contributed to the screenplay of the hit franchise, derived direct inspiration from his childhood, more specifically his father, Frank Stallone Sr.
In his latest Netflix documentary calledSly,the actor revealed,
“My father was Rambo, in reality—I was raised by a very physical father,–Nothing was ever settled verbally. It was usually a physical ultimatum.–You do not want to mess with this guy”
Further to make people understand what he really went through in his childhood he shared a story from the past that showed what brutal treatment he had to endure. He recounted a specific incident from his youth, wherein his father berated a young Stallone for not riding a horse correctly during a polo match. He recalled,
“He comes out of the stands, grabs me by the throat, throws me on the ground and takes the horse, and walks off the field.–And I laid there and I went, ‘I never want to see a horse again in my whole life.’”
Instead of letting that aggression get the better of him, he channeled it into shaping compelling characters and creating stories likeRambothroughout his life.
Also Read:“I just hate sad endings”: Sylvester Stallone’s Adamant Rule Saved Rocky, But Failed to Save Another Franchise After Actor Didn’t Compromise
Sylvester Stallone’s Father Was Jealous of His Own Child’s Success
In a segment of the Netflix documentary, clips from a John Herzfeld interview played a crucial role in unraveling the character of Sly’s father and understanding who he truly was. According to the director,
“He was still competing with Sly,”
To elaborate, during the filming of a movie, Herzfeld collaborated with Frank Stallone Sr. and discovered that he relished playing a character that shoots and kills Stallone’s role a bit too much. Following the triumph ofRocky, the actor’s father Frank Stallone Sr. also approached the director with a script about the“real Rocky.”And when Herzfeld insisted Stallone himself should review the script first, Stallone’s father adamantly refused.
Despite enduring a challenging childhood, the actor not only refused to let his determination wane but saw it grow stronger over time. Every hardship he faced contributed to shaping the resilient man he has become today.
Slyis currently streaming on Netflix.
Also Read:“I wish I could get over it”: Sylvester Stallone Constantly Needed To Be Loved By an Audience After Being Abandoned By His Parents as a Kid
Sampurna Banerjee
Articles Published :1803
Sampurna Banerjee is an Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, and she’s written over 1,700 articles! She covers everything from celebrity news to the latest superhero buzz, streaming shows, and fan theories. If it’s trending in pop culture, Sampurna’s probably already on it.When she’s not working, you’ll probably find her rewatching The Office (again), getting into debates about Marvel’s timeline, or diving deep into Christopher Nolan movies for the hundredth time. She’s not just writing about entertainment, she’s living it.
