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Sylvester Stallone Biography

Birth Name:Michael Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone

Birth Place:New York City, New York, United States

Profession Actor, Writer, Producer, Director, Soundtrack

Fast Facts

A statue of Rocky Balboa, the "Rocky" franchise character that earned him worldwide fame, stands at the foot of the steps to the Philadelphia Art Museum
Founded his own promoting company for boxers in the early 1980's called "Tiger Eye Productions," signing Aaron Pryor and Sean O'Grady
Was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2011
Won the Inaugural Golden Icon Award for achievements as an America actor and filmmaker at the 2008 Zurich Film Festival
Was presented with the Venice Film Festival Glory to the Filmmaker Award in 2009
Was awarded an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Miami in 1999
Is the son of women's wrestling promoter Jacqueline "Jackie" Stallone
Brother to actor Frank Stallone
Began acting in high school and studied drama at the University of Miami, but had a hard time making it as an actor before "Rocky," relying instead on income from selling screenplays
With little money to his name, he gained $100 by selling the script to "Paradise Alley․"
Quote: "You have to grab life by the throat and squeeze before it grabs you by your neck and breaks it․ Own your destiny․"
Quote: "Once in one's life, for one mortal moment, one must make a grab for immortality; if not, one has not lived․"
Known for playing underdog heroes
Widely recognized for his distinctively deep, mumbling voice
Donated props from the film "Rocky" to the Smithsonian Museum
Had only $100 in his bank account when he refused to sell his "Rocky" screenplay to a number of producers who refused to cast him in the title role
Was offered the role of John McClane in "Die Hard," but turned it down
An avid painter, he has shown a collection of his art at the Modern Art Museum in Nice, France
Is featured on the soundtrack of "Rhinestone" with Dolly Parton in songs such as "Stay Out of My Bedroom" and "Woke Up in Love․"
Was originally named "Tyrone," but his father changed his name on the birth certificate
To prepare for his roles in "Rocky II" and "Rambo II" films, he met with former Mr․ Olympia Franco Columbu, working out twice a day for 6 days a week
Was voted "Most Likely to End Up in the Electric Chair" by his classmates during high school

Awards

1976KCFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
1977Oscar-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
1977Oscar-Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen: nominated
1977David-Best Foreign Actor (Migliore Attore Straniero): winner
1977Golden Globe-Best Actor in Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
1977Golden Globe-Best Screenplay - Motion Picture: nominated
1977Gold Medal-Favorite Movie: nominated
1977WGA Award (Screen)-Best Drama Written Directly for the Screen: nominated
1978BAFTA Film Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
1978BAFTA Film Award-Best Actor: nominated
1978Stinker Award-Worst Sense of Direction (Stop them before they direct again!): nominated
1978Stinker Award-Worst Actor: winner
1979Stinker Award-Worst Actor: nominated
1983Jupiter Award-Best International Actor: winner
1983Jupiter Award-Best International Film: nominated
1984Jupiter Award-Best International Actor: nominated
1985Razzie Award-Worst Actor: winner
1985Razzie Award-Worst Screenplay: nominated
1986Jupiter Award-Best International Actor: nominated
1986Razzie Award-Worst Director: winner
1986Razzie Award-Worst Actor: winner
1986Razzie Award-Worst Screenplay: winner
1986Razzie Award-Worst Screenplay: nominated
1987Jupiter Award-Best International Film: nominated
1987Jupiter Award-Best International Actor: nominated
1987Razzie Award-Worst Screenplay: nominated
1987Razzie Award-Worst Actor: nominated
1988Jupiter Award-Best International Actor: nominated
1988Razzie Award-Worst Actor: nominated
1989Jupiter Award-Best International Actor: nominated
1989Razzie Award-Worst Actor: winner
1989Razzie Award-Worst Screenplay: nominated
1990Razzie Award-Worst Actor: nominated
1991Razzie Award-Worst Actor: nominated
1991Razzie Award-Worst Screenplay: nominated
1992Razzie Award-Worst Actor: nominated
1993Razzie Award-Worst Actor: winner
1994Razzie Award-Worst Screenplay: nominated
1994Stinker Award-Worst Actor: nominated
1995Razzie Award-Worst Actor: nominated
1995Razzie Award-Worst Screen Couple: winner
1995Stinker Award-Worst Actor: winner
1996Razzie Award-Worst Actor: nominated
1996Stinker Award-Worst Actor: nominated
1997Razzie Award-Worst Actor: nominated
1997Best Actor-: winner
1999Razzie Award-Worst Supporting Actor: nominated
2000Stinker Award-Worst Actor: nominated
2001Razzie Award-Worst Actor: nominated
2001Stinker Award-Worst Actor: nominated
2002Peabody Award-Winner: winner
2002Razzie Award-Worst Screen Couple: nominated
2002Razzie Award-Worst Supporting Actor: nominated
2002Razzie Award-Worst Screenplay: nominated
2003Stinker Award-Worst On-Screen Group: nominated
2003Stinker Award-Worst Supporting Actor: winner
2004Razzie Award-Worst Supporting Actor: winner
2011Razzie Award-Worst Director: nominated
2013Lifetime Achievement Diamond Award-Lifetime Achievement Award: winner
2014Razzie Award-Worst Actor: nominated
2015AFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2015ACCA-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: winner
2015BFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2015BOFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2015BSFC Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2015CFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2015FFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2015Golden Schmoes-Best Supporting Actor of the Year: winner
2015ICP Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2015KCFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2015Sierra Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2015NBR Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2015OFCS Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2015PCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2015SFFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2015SEFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2015SLFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2015UFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2015VFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2015VVFP Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2015WAFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2016Movies for Grownups Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2016Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
2016All Def Movie Award-Most Helpful White Person: nominated
2016EDA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2016Black Reel-Outstanding Motion Picture: winner
2016Palmarés blogos de oro-Best Supporting Actor (Mejor Actor de reparto): nominated
2016COFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2016Christopher Award-Feature Films: winner
2016Critics Choice Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2016DFCS Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2016GAFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2016Gold Derby Film Award-Supporting Actor: winner
2016Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: winner
2016HFCS Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2016IFC Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2016NSFC Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2016NCFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2016OFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2016OFTA Film Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2016Montecito Award-: winner
2016Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
2016Seattle Film Critics Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2017Jupiter Award-Best International Actor: nominated
2019National Film and Television Award-Best Actor: nominated
2020Razzie Award-Worst Actor: nominated
2020Razzie Award-Worst Screenplay: nominated
2020Razzie Award-Worst Screen Combo: nominated
2022HCA Award-Best Visual Effects or Animated Performance: nominated
2022May Award-Best Acting Ensemble: winner
2022May Award-Best Actor: winner
2023CCA Super Award-Best Actor in an Action Series, Limited Series or Made-for-TV Movie: nominated
2023OFTA Film Hall of Fame-Character: winner
2023Razzie Award-Worst Actor: nominated
2024Astra TV Award-Best Actor in a Streaming Comedy Series: nominated
2024Razzie Award-Worst Supporting Actor: winner
2026Razzie Award-Worst Supporting Actor: nominated