Hollywood action star Sylvester Stallone is known for starring in blockbusters like Rocky and Rambo. Among his beloved on-screen characters, he is often seen playing the role of a soldier or military figure and has left the audience in awe with his performances. Surprisingly, the actor himself never had the opportunity to serve in the military. While he registered to be drafted into the army, reportedly during the Vietnam War, one medical condition made him ineligible for the army.
Sylvester Stallone’s Military Mystery Revealed
Following his debut in the late 1960s, Sylvester Stallone has starred in multiple hit movies and has continued to entertain his fans for over five decades. And the 77-year-old actor doesn’t seem to have plans to stop anytime soon, as he has multiple projects lined up for the future as well.
However, before he became a Hollywood superstar he almost enlisted in the military services. Stallone was eligible to serve in the military in 1969 and registered for the draft, reportedly during the Vietnam War. Contrary to his expectations, Stallone was unable to enlist in the military due to a medical condition.
The medical condition that deemed him unfit for military service has been claimed to be a partial paralysis in his face. According to LA Peer Health, the actor was born with facial paralysis due to birth complications, and it is often noticeable in his crooked smile and slurred speech pattern. While he did not serve in the military, he has made a name for himself as an action star in Hollywood.
What Caused Sylvester Stallone’s Facial Paralysis?
According to LA Peer Health, Facial Paralysis is a condition where a person can not “voluntarily move some or all of the facial muscles,” which is caused by some type of damage to the facial nerve. And many reports suggest that Sylvester Stallone has been diagnosed with the condition since birth.
According to Celeb Answers, his mother had a difficult birth, and the doctors had to pull Stallone out using a pair of forceps. The use of forceps caused damage to one of his facial nerves and resulted in permanent facial paralysis and distinct facial features. It also caused him to get bullied growing up, where kids in school taunted him, calling him names like Slant Mouth, Sylvia, and Mr. Potato Head.
He has also shared that his speech and appearance have left him feeling “like a poster boy for a nightmare.” After watching Steeve Reeves in Hercules Unchained, he was inspired to make something of himself and started relentlessly working out and moved to New York in 1969 to pursue a career as an actor.