Quick summary
- Sylvester Stallone turned 80 in July and says he has no plans to retire, according to Ynetnews.
- This month marks 50 years since the premiere of “Rocky”, which won three Oscars.
- “I Play Rocky”, directed by Peter Farrelly, is arriving in cinemas to mark the anniversary.
- Stallone published his memoir “The Steps” in September and spoke about his childhood and body image to The New York Times.
Sylvester Stallone has spent his 80th year looking back, and in a new video interview with Ynetnews he made clear he is not finished. The actor, who turned 80 in July, is marking 50 years of “Rocky” this month, promoting a film about how that story reached the screen and living with a memoir that revisits a hard childhood.
Sylvester Stallone at 80: “I have movies”
Asked how he celebrated the birthday, Stallone joked that he spent the day crying, then laughed and called it a shock. He told Ynetnews that his films help him remember where the years went. “I did a lot of movies,” he said, and each one reminds him of a stretch of his life.
He has no intention of stopping. Ynetnews reports that he still deals with health problems from the injuries of his career, and that he told The New York Times in September he had undergone nine back operations. Even so, he refuses to hang up his gloves.
Fifty years of Rocky
The original film premiered in November 1976. Stallone wrote the screenplay and starred in it, and it made him an international star. According to Ynetnews, it won three Oscars, for best picture, best director and best editing, and Stallone himself was nominated twice, for best actor and best original screenplay. It later spawned five sequels and three “Creed” films.
Stallone says he first worried about being “Rocky forever”, then decided it was a fine character to be identified with. He added that he sees children of seven or eight watching the film, and finds it striking that an 80-year-old can still connect with them.
I Play Rocky and why it feels timely
To mark the anniversary, “I Play Rocky” is arriving in cinemas. Directed by Peter Farrelly, it follows the period when Stallone wrote the screenplay. Ynetnews describes him then as a struggling actor with little money who had appeared in soft-core films, yet who insisted the studio cast him in the lead despite being virtually unknown. Anthony Ippolito plays the young Stallone.
Stallone told the outlet he has seen the film and found it “sensational”. He said the mood in America now matches the mood of 1976, with audiences looking for hope and uplifting entertainment. Not every critic agrees on how faithful it is: our report on the I Play Rocky review covers WBUR’s view that the film is a flattering, made-up account.
The Steps: a memoir of a difficult start
In September Stallone published “The Steps: A Memoir”. The title refers to the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps that Rocky climbs, which Ynetnews says became a symbol of resilience.
The book starts with his birth. Ynetnews reports that complications led doctors to use forceps, which damaged a facial nerve and caused partial paralysis. He describes a childhood short on affection and a father he portrays as violent and short-tempered. His parents divorced when he was 9. In his New York Times interview, he said he and his brother learned to spot warning signs at the dinner table so they could duck.
Stallone also told The New York Times that his drive to stay muscular led to bulimia and steroid use, and that it was worst while filming “Rocky III”, when he cut his body fat to 2.6% and struggled to keep food down.
What happens next
“I Play Rocky” is expected to feature in this year’s awards season, according to Ynetnews, which would add a fresh chapter to the Rocky legend on its 50th birthday. For more on the actor, see everything we publish about Sylvester Stallone and our Movies coverage.
Frequently asked questions
How old is Sylvester Stallone?
Stallone turned 80 in July, according to Ynetnews.
When did the first Rocky film premiere?
It premiered in November 1976, so this month marks its 50th anniversary.
What is Stallone’s memoir called?
It is called “The Steps: A Memoir” and was published in September. The title refers to the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps from “Rocky”.
Who plays Stallone in I Play Rocky?
Anthony Ippolito plays the young Stallone in the film, which Peter Farrelly directed.
