The first Rocky movie served as Sylvester Stallone’s big break in the film industry and catapulted him to stardom. It was also one of the rare franchises that forced him to confront his Rocky 4 co-star Dolph Lundgren, pushing him to the edge of the limit.
During a Rocky 4 retrospective, Stallone recounted how he was hospitalized after being beaten so severely by his co-star Dolph Lundgren. Lundgren played Ivan Drago in Rocky 4, which pits Stallone’s character Rocky against Drago in the ring.
The Hardest Punch Sylvester Stallone Ever Got in His Career
Speaking with Jimmy Fallon in an episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Sylvester Stallone once revealed the hardest punch he ever got in his career.
“Dolph Lundgren put me in a hospital for four and a half days. It was unbelievable. I mean really, he hit me so hard in the chest that the next thing I know I was in a low-altitude flight in an intensive care at St. John Hospital surrounded by four nuns,” Stallone said.
In Netflix’s 2023 documentary, Sly, based on the legendary action God Sylvester Stallone’s life and career, the actor revealed many details of his movies as well which include the 6 feet 5 inch Dolph Lundgren’s hard hit that put him in a hospital bed.
“Later that night, my heart started to swell—which happens when the heart hits the chest—and then my blood pressure went up to 260, and they thought I was going to be talking to angels. Next thing I know, I’m in intensive care, where I’m surrounded by nuns, and I thought, ‘OK, that’s curtains.’”
The Rocky star had to spend nine days in the hospital and his condition was severe as the doctors could relate it to a devastating car crash. “I did hit a bus, of sorts,” (Via Deadline) Stallone joked later. Fortunately, the doctors cleared him as he recovered.
Why Sylvester Stallone Initially ‘hated‘ Dolph Lundgren?
Even though the two are now friends, Sylvester Stallone admitted in an interview with Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show that he initially “hated” the Swedish action hero.
“I hated him,” recalled the Rambo: Last Blood star, describing his first impression of Lundgren.
“In Rocky IV I really wanted a big, horrible, vicious guy. I mean, like a primitive. And I couldn’t find him. I’m finding giant wrestlers and football players. He was like the real Terminator, and I go, ‘I hate this friggin’ guy,’” Stallone said. (Via CinemaBlend)
“He’s just too perfect, too good-looking. And if I loathe him, I’m sure the world will.”
Certainly, Lundgren’s character added the necessary flavors the movie needed. Ivan Drago made a mark as one of the most prominent Rocky villains in the entire franchise.