Sylvester Stallone : Biography
SYLVESTER
STALLONE has established worldwide recognition as an actor, writer, producer
and director since he played the title role in his own screenplay of "Rocky"
which won the Academy Award in 1976 for Best Picture. Born in New York
City, Stallone attended school in suburban Philadelphia where he first
started acting. He then spent two years instructing at the American College
of Switzerland in Geneva. Returning to the United States, he enrolled
as a drama major at the University of Miami and also began to write. Stallone
left college before graduation to pursue an acting career in New York.
By 1973, Stallone had auditioned for almost every casting agent in town,
but found little success. During this period, he turned more and more
to writing, churning our numerous screenplays while waiting for his acting
break. The opportunity first came in 1974 when he was cast as one of the
leads in "The Lords of Flatbush." He also received his first writing credit
for "additional dialogue" on this film. With the money earned from that
film, Stallone left New York for Hollywood, He again began to make the
rounds to studios and casting agents, managing to get a few small roles
in television and movies. He also continued to pursue writing. Prizefighter
Rocky Balboa was born and given life in a script Stallone wrote in longhand.
Several producers offered to buy the screenplay, wanting to cast a name
star in the title role, which Stallone insisted on playing himself. Although
his bank balance was barely $100, Stallone held fast- and his perseverance
finally paid off. Stallone's credits as an actor/writer/director are "Rocky
II" and "Paradise Alley." As actor and co-writer, Stallone filmed "F.I.S.
T.," "First Blood", "Rambo: First Blood, Part II", "Rhinestone" and "Rambo
III". He co-wrote, directed and produced "Staying Alive" and starred in
"Nighthawks", "Victory", "Tango & Cash" and "Lock Up". "Rocky V", starring
and written by Stallone and directed by Ion Avildsen, opened in 1990.
In addition Stallone has starred in "Get Carter", "Cliffhanger", "Demolition
Man". "The Specialist. " "Assassins," "Daylight" and in the challenging
and compelling role of Freddy Heflin in the Miramax feature film "CopLand",
which has garnered him international critical and audience acclaim. Winner
of the People's Choice Award for Favorite Motion Picture Actor, Stallone
was recently given the Lifetime Achievement Award by the USA Academy of
Science Fiction, Horror and Fantasy Films. Stallone is one of the founding
partners in Planet Hollywood, the internationally famous chain of entertainment
complexes. Among other principals in Planet Hollywood are producer Keith
Barish, The Rank Organization, Robert Earl, Arnold Schwarzenegger and
Bruce Willis
Sylvester Stallone : Rocky
Rocky
Balboa is a struggling boxer trying to make the big time. Working in a
meat factory in Philadelphia for a pittance, he also earns extra cash
as a debt collector. When heavyweight champion Apollo Creed visits Philadelphia,
his managers want to set up an exhibition match between Creed and a struggling
boxer, touting the fight as a chance for a "nobody" to become a "somebody".
The match is supposed to be easily won by Creed, but someone forgot to
tell Rocky, who sees this as his only shot at the big time.
Sylvester Stallone : Rambo III
John
Rambo, unwilling to accompany old friend Colonel Trautman behind Soviet
lines in Afghanistan, ends up going there on an unofficial rescue mission
after Trautman is captured. Bullets and bombs fly in all directions as
the indistructable Rambo quickly works his way through a large camp of
Soviet soldiers.