Sylvester Stallone Mini Biography
Sylvester Stallone became one of
Hollywood's highest paid actors, usually playing monosyllablic, antisociety,
underdog heroes. While Stallone has attempted to extend his range into film
comedies and drama, his real box office success continues in action films.
This
athletically built, dark-haired U.S. actor/screenwriter/director of European
parentage may never be mentioned by old-school film critics in the same breath
as, say, Richard Burton or Alec Guinness; however, movie fans worldwide have
been flocking to see Stallone's films for over 30 years, making "Sly"
one of Hollywood's biggest-ever box office draws.
Born on July 6, 1946, in New York's
gritty Hells Kitchen, the young Stallone attended the American College of
Switzerland and the University of Miami, eventually obtaining a B.A. degree.
Initially, he struggled in small parts in films such as the soft-core The Party
at Kitty and Stud's (1970), the thriller Klute (1971) and the comedy Bananas
(1971). He got a crucial career break alongside fellow young actor Henry
Winkler, sharing lead billing in the effectively written teen gang film The
Lord's of Flatbush (1974). Further film and TV roles followed, most of them in
uninspiring productions except for the opportunity to play a megalomaniac,
bloodthirsty race driver named "Machine Gun Joe Viterbo" in the Roger
Corman-produced Death Race 2000 (1975). However, Stallone was also keen to be
recognized as a screenwriter, not just an actor, and, inspired by the 1975
Muhammad Ali-Chuck Wepner fight in Cleveland, Stallone wrote a film script
about a nobody fighter given the "million to one opportunity" to
challenge for the heavyweight title. Rocky (1976) became the stuff of cinematic
legends, scoring ten Academy Award nominations, winning the Best Picture Award
of 1976 and triggering one of the most financially successful movie franchises
in history! Whilst full credit is wholly deserved by Stallone, he was duly
supported by tremendous acting from fellow cast members Talia Shire, Burgess
Meredith and Burt Young, and director John G. Avildsen gave the film an
emotive, earthy appeal from start to finish. Stallone had truly arrived on his
terms, and offers poured in from various studios eager to secure Hollywood's
hottest new star.
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