Sylvester Stallone: His Best Roles Through The Years
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Sylvester Stallone
Born July 6, 1946, American actor Sylvester Stallone has had his signature snarl and slur since he was born. Complications from his birth resulted in doctors misusing forceps while delivering Stallone, and as a result the bottom left half of his face was left paralyzed. Not one to let the defect get the best of him, Stallone has used it to his advantage and become an iconic Hollywood figure!
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'The Lords of Flatbush'
After a number of years of struggling to find success in Hollywood, including a failed audition for 1972 hit The Godfather, Sylvester Stallone finally made his breakthrough in 1974 with The Lords of Flatbush. While the role would not be Stallone's biggest, he caught the eye of audiences and would become a star they couldn't forget.
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'Rocky'
Tired of only playing supporting roles, Sylvester Stallone would create this next role himself! After seeing boxer Muhammad Ali fight live, Stallone would write a script around the famed boxer in three days! After months of convincing, Stallone was able to get producers Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff to buy the script and take him on as the lead. The Rocky story line would prove to be a box-office hit, winning three Academy Awards and spawning seven sequels!
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'Rambo'
One big name film series wasn't enough to stop Sylvester Stallone from continuing his Hollywood rise to fame and in 1982 he would take on the second biggest role of his career as Vietnam vet "John Rambo". The Rambo series has been nearly as successful as the Rocky series with a total of five films!
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'Cobra'
While it would be hard to follow up his outstanding performances in Rambo and Rocky, Sylvester Stallone proved himself capable when he took on 1986 film Cobra. The film would truly cement his image in action films, putting him up in the ranks with other iconic 80's action film star Arnold Schwarzenegger.
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'Tango & Cash'
Sylvester Stallone would continue to prove himself worthy of the fame and go onto produce another box-office success with 1989's Tango and Cash. Starring alongside actor Kurt Russell, the film is a must see for any action film fan!
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'Cliffhanger'
While Sylvester Stallone would see a string of unsuccessful films in the late 1980s and early 1990s, he would make his comeback in 1993 with hit action-adventure film Cliffhanger. The film would see success in the U.S. but would be even more successful internationally, making Stallone an iconic figure worldwide!
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'Demolition'
Sylvester Stallone would continue his comeback with a string of successes in the 1990s including 1993's futuristic action film Demolition and 1994 thriller The Specialist. Both must sees for true action film lovers!
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'Cop Land'
While critics hadn't given Sylvester Stallone as much critical acclaim since his role of "Rocky", they came pretty close after seeing Stallone in this next film! Starring alongside the legends Robert De Niro and Ray Liotta, critics couldn't get enough of Stallone in neo-noir crime drama Cop Land. Stallone would even win the Stockholm International Film Festival Best Actor Award for his performance!
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'The Expendables'
While Sylvester Stallone has taken on fewer roles over the past decade and stuck mostly with Rocky and Rambo sequels, he did find success with 2010's The Expendables. Writing, directing, and starring in the film, Stallone's The Expendables would be a box-office hit, shooting straight to No. 1 the weekend of its release. With an ensemble cast including action stars Jason Statham, Jet Li, and Dolph Lundgren along with a cameo by Arnold Schwarzenegger, it is no wonder why the film was so successful!