Sylvester Stallone is certainly one of the biggest names in the history of Hollywood, as he was truly the king when it came to action and drama in the 70s and 80s. After all, his roles in classics such as Rocky, Rambo, and more, solidified his legacy as an all-time great.
With that said, Stallone named just one role that didn’t show him as impaired or dangerous in one of his lesser-known movies. This might also come as a surprise for many fans in general who have followed him over the years.
Sylvester Stallone Named Just One Role That Doesn’t Show Him As Dangerous
As per Variety, tied by commitments to nine shows, Taylor Sheridan couldn’t be as involved as before. After crafting the Tulsa King pilot within three days and swiftly securing Sylvester Stallone’s participation, Sheridan entrusted the project to Terence Winter, renowned for his work on Boardwalk Empire and The Sopranos.
Now, the reins belong to Winter. Impressed by the “brilliant” first script, he collaborated with Sheridan to refine the concept, relocating the premise from Kansas City to Tulsa and building upon it further.
Winter recalls,
“Taylor was like, ‘This is your baby. I have visitation rights.’ He stayed true to his word. I went off to the show, and I met him one time after that, in person right before we started shooting.”
On paper, the Paramount+ series follows former Mafia capo Dwight Manfredi, forced to relocate to Tulsa, Oklahoma, after a 25-year prison sentence. Yet, it’s more than a mere narrative.
In Stallone’s inaugural TV series role, he portrays a character strikingly similar to himself, grappling with a sense of disconnection from the modern world.
“I think this is a version of Sly that very few people have ever gotten to see before,” notes Winter. “This is closer to the real person than anything he’s ever done — aside from the Mafia stuff, of course. He’s very funny, very smart, and incredibly well-read. He’s sarcastic, self-deprecating, and soulful. So much of Dwight is actually taken from the real guy. I haven’t seen him flex those muscles on-screen before.”
Stallone concurs about the similarities, remarking,
“the only difference is the name. If I were a gangster, I probably wouldn’t be a very successful one, because that’s the way I would be — humorous and irregular, you might say.”
Furthermore, he claimed he was prepared to defy expectations, stating,
“People think after ‘Rocky’ that I’m a little impaired. Or after ‘Rambo,’ they think you’re monosyllabic, dangerous, and antisocial. What you see as Dwight is what you see right now. This is who I am.”
Sylvester Stallone Paid $1 Million From His Own Pocket For An Insane Stunt In Cliffhanger
Cliffhanger stands as one of Sylvester Stallone’s most underappreciated works, and with good reason. Featuring Stallone alongside John Lithgow, Michael Rooker, and Janine Turner, the film was crafted on a modest budget of $70 million. Despite its humble beginnings, the movie soared to monumental success, raking in an impressive $255 million at the box office.
One of the most unforgettable moments from the film is an incredibly perilous stunt, etched in the memory of fans. It involved stuntman Simon Crane undertaking a daring rope climb from one airplane to another, all while soaring over 15,000 feet above ground without the safety of a harness.
Crane, understandably, wasn’t willing to risk his life without proper compensation, demanding a hefty $1 million. However, his request hit a roadblock when the insurance company refused to cover him. In a remarkable display of solidarity and determination, Sylvester Stallone stepped up to the plate, sacrificing $1 million from his own $15 million salary to ensure the stunt’s realization. This gesture proved pivotal, especially as the film was already $30 million over budget. Ultimately, the daring feat was executed flawlessly, cementing its place in the annals of cinematic history.