Sylvester Stallone reveals the real reason he pushed so hard to star in “Rocky”
Sylvester Stallone reveals the real reason he pushed so hard to star in “Rocky”
Shelby StivaleTue, September 29, 2026 at 12:00 PM UTC
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Sylvester Stallone in ‘Rocky’Credit: United Artists/GettyThe actor reflected on the early days of his career in new memoir “The Steps.”Key Points -
Sylvester Stallone revealed in newly released memoir The Steps the real reason he wanted to star in Rocky.
The actor wrote the iconic 1976 sports movie and pushed to play the titular role.
The Steps is out now.
The story about Sylvester Stallone pushing to star in Rockyis widely known, but the reason why he did it is pretty surprising.
“When I was young, I always wanted to be hugged by my parents. Just once. Sadly, I couldn’t seem to do anything to make that happen. There was no love,” Stallone wrote in his new memoir, The Steps. “I realized at some point that there was nothing I was ever going to do that would make them love me or even pretend to. But if I could go out and achieve something that was almost impossible, maybe that would do the trick.”
Stallone reflected on his tumultuous childhood with his parents, Jackie Stallone and Frank Stallone Sr., in the book published on Tuesday. The actor hoped the success of the 1976 sports movie would “make them proud” in some way.
“All I wanted, more than money, was to feel my mother’s hands holding my face and saying, ‘I love you, my son,’ or my father’s arm around my shoulder pulling me close,” Stallone wrote. “Doing Rocky was the only thing I could think of that might make this miracle happen... maybe.”
Stallone turned down today’s equivalent of nearly $2 million to sell the Rocky script. Similar to the trailer for I Play Rocky, which is set to release in November, Stallone recalled sitting in the offices of producers Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff and telling them he had to play the lead role.
“I took the long way out and walked slowly past the studio parking lot, out the front gate, and down the street, to where my car was double-parked in front of the funeral parlor,” Stallone wrote, recalling the feeling of his stomach “in knots” while driving home.
“I was so exhausted by the turbulent conversation going on in my head,” he continued. “I pulled into the driveway of the little rental house and sat behind the wheel in silence for what seemed like forever, staring into nothingness.”
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Stallone eventually got a call from his manager, who said: “YOU CAN PLAY ROCKY!” The Tulsa Kingstar admitted that he “never” thought it would happen.
“I had been rejected and rejected to the point where my life was nothing but rejection,” he wrote. “Now it was like the clouds parted and I could see and feel the warmth of the sunlight for the first time in many, many years. I dropped the phone, dropped to my knees, and cried.”
Sylvester Stallone and Talia Shire in ‘Rocky’Credit: United Artists/Courtesy Everett
Then came the time to cast his costar. While the role of Stallone’s onscreen love interest, Adrian, went to Talia Shire, several A-listers were considered. Bette Midler was on the short list, and Stallone knew “it was the complete wrong choice” for the role. Asking Cher was also “wrong” in Stallone’s mind.
“Adrian was supposed to be shy and withdrawn. I was told I was new to the business and I should let the ‘pros’ make the creative choices,” he explained. “I could not get this far and have the movie hurt by wrong casting. I had seen Talia Shire in The Godfather, and thought she was the one.”
The Steps is out now.
on Entertainment Weekly
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
