Sylvester Stallone has walked a long and difficult path to get where he is now. Standing as one of the biggest actors in the Hollywood industry, not only is he known best for his role as Rocky but he has established himself as a formidable and talented actor. His decades of dedication that he shows in his works is always one that is profusely loved by his fans.
In such a state, it would be rather difficult to understand how his life came to be as glorious as it is now. To make a goal and to achieve a goal are two different things. Stallone struggled to get good movies and now he is a household name. From living under a bus station to having a lavish house for himself. He has come a long way. However, his rough childhood made the audience’s love for him even more meaningful than he initially expected.
Sylvester Stallone’s Rough Childhood
In his Netflix documentary, Sly, Sylvester Stallone revealed how things for him when he was growing up were increasingly tough. From lack of attention and love from his parents to staying away from them for almost the entirety of the year. There are ways in which he remembers his past, a majority of which do not resonate with positivity.
“The majority of the time, I was living in a boarding house. Basically twelve months a year, never went home because they just didn’t have time. They were both working. And people say, ‘Oh you feel deprived and you weren’t nurtured.’ I thought, ‘Yeah, that’s true.’”
Sylvester Stallone opened up about how his parents were constantly busy since they both were working. They would fight al the time and it was as if they would wake up screaming and go to sleep screaming. Stallone and his father did not mix as well either, a relationship that was rocky and brutal. Due to his lack of nurturing, the actor found another means of love.
Sylvester Stallone Found Solace in His Audience
Speaking in his Netflix documentary, Sly, Sylvester Stallone talked about how because of the lack of nurturing and care his parents should have given him, there was a sense of longing and deprivation within him. This, however, was solved with the help of his audience. Becoming an actor, he opened his doors to the audience’s love and praise. Their cheers of joy became his driving force.
“And maybe the nurturing comes from the respect and love of strangers. To feel embraced and loved by an audience. It’s insatiable. I wish I could get over it, but you can’t.”
He confirmed that no matter how many times he tries to tell himself to not depend on the audience and their response, he cannot stop. The love that the world gave him was something he had been craving for since his childhood, so when he saw an opportunity, he grabbed it.