Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone is an American actor and filmmaker. In a film career spanning more than fifty years, Stallone has received numerous accolades, including a Golden Globe Award and a Critics' Choice Award, as well as nominations for three Academy Awards and two BAFTA Awards. Stallone is one of only two actors in history (alongside Harrison Ford) to have starred in a box-office No. 1 film across six consecutive decades.
Struggling as an actor for a number of years upon moving to New York City in 1969, Stallone found gradual work in films such as The Lords of Flatbush (1974). He achieved his greatest critical and commercial success starting in 1976 with his iconic role as boxer Rocky Balboa in the first film of the successful Rocky franchise, which he also wrote. In 1977, he became the third actor in history to be nominated for two Academy Awards for Best Original Screenplay and Best Actor. He portrayed the PTSD-plagued soldier John Rambo in First Blood (1982), a role he would play across five Rambo films (1982–2019). He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1984. From the mid-1980s to the late 1990s, Stallone would go on to become one of Hollywood's highest-paid actors, acting in action films such as Cobra (1986), Tango and Cash (1989), Cliffhanger (1993), Demolition Man (1993), and The Specialist (1994). At the height of his career, Stallone was known for his rivalry with Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Stallone continued his established roles in Rocky Balboa (2006) and Rambo (2008) before launching The Expendables film franchise (2010–present), in which he starred as the mercenary Barney Ross. In 2013, he starred in the successful film Escape Plan and appeared in its sequels. In 2015, he returned to Rocky again with Creed, in which a retired Rocky mentors former rival Apollo Creed's son Donnie Creed. The film brought Stallone widespread praise and his first Golden Globe Award, as well as a third Academy Award nomination, having been first nominated for the same role 40 years prior. He also starred in the sequel Creed II (2018) and portrayed Stakar Ogord in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023).
Regarded as an icon of action cinema, Stallone is credited with helping redefine the Hollywood action hero. He has occasionally ventured from the action genre, with mixed results. He starred in the comedies Oscar (1991) and Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot (1992), both of which had modest success. He also starred in the 1997 drama Cop Land, for which he temporarily shed his sculpted physique and gained weight for his role as a powerless sheriff. In television, he has starred in the Paramount+ crime series Tulsa King (2022-present). In addition to his film work, Stallone is a noted art collector and painter and has written books on fitness.
Known For
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Stakar Ogord
2023
The Making of 'Rocky vs. Drago'
Self / Rocky Balboa (archive footage)
2021
The Suicide Squad
King Shark (voice)
2021
Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films
Lincoln Hawk (archive footage) (uncredited)
2014
Grudge Match
Henry 'Razor' Sharp
2013
Zookeeper
Joe the Lion (voice)
2011
The Expendables
Barney Ross
2010
Kambakkht Ishq
Sylvester Stallone
2009
Rambo
John Rambo
2008
Rocky Balboa
Robert 'Rocky' Balboa
2006
Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over
Toymaker
2003
Shade
Dean 'The Dean' Stevens
2003
Avenging Angelo
Frankie Delano
2002
D-Tox
Jake Malloy
2002
Raw Iron: The Making of 'Pumping Iron'
Self
2002
Driven
Joe Tanto
2001
Get Carter
Jack Carter
2000
Antz
Weaver (voice)
1998
Jackie Chan: My Story
Self - Jackie's Pal
1998
Cop Land
Sheriff Freddy Heflin
1997
Daylight
Kit Latura
1996
Assassins
Robert Rath
1995
Judge Dredd
Judge Joseph Dredd
1995
The Specialist
Ray Quick
1994
Demolition Man
John Spartan
1993
Cliffhanger
Gabe Walker
1993
Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot
Sgt. Joseph Andrew 'Joe' Bomowski
1992
Oscar
Angelo "Snaps" Provolone
1991
Rocky V
Robert 'Rocky' Balboa
1990
Tango & Cash
Raymond 'Ray' Tango
1989
Lock Up
Frank Leone
1989
Rambo III
John Rambo
1988
Over the Top
Lincoln Hawk
1987
Cobra
Lieutenant Marion 'Cobra' Cobretti
1986
Rocky IV
Robert "Rocky" Balboa
1985
Rambo: First Blood Part II
John J. Rambo
1985
Rhinestone
Nick
1984
First Blood
John Rambo
1982
Rocky III
Robert 'Rocky' Balboa
1982
Nighthawks
Deke DaSilva
1981
Rocky II
Robert 'Rocky' Balboa
1979
Paradise Alley
Cosmo Carboni
1978
F.I.S.T.
John D. 'Johnny' Kovak
1978
Rocky
Robert 'Rocky' Balboa
1976
Cannonball
Mafioso
1976
Farewell, My Lovely
Jonnie
1975
Death Race 2000
Machine Gun Joe Viterbo
1975
The Party at Kitty and Stud's
Stud
1970
Dolph: Fights Worth Fighting
Self
The Lords of Flatbush
Stanley Rosiello
1974
Never Too Old to Die
Alarum
Chester
2025
Armor
Rook
2024
Sly
Self
2023
Marvel Studios Assembled: The Making of the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Self - 'Stakar Ogord'
2023
The Randall Scandal: Love, Loathing, and Vanderpump
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2023
Jean-Claude van Damme: Karate King
Self (archive footage)
2023
Rallying Cry
Jasper Reese
2019
Animal Crackers
Bullet-Man (voice)
2017
Creed
Rocky Balboa
2015
The Making of The Expendables 3
Self
2014
The Expendables 3
Barney Ross
2014
Reach Me
Gerald
2014
Escape Plan
Ray Breslin
2013
Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon
Self
2013
Milius
Self
2013
Bullet to the Head
James Bonomo
2012
The Expendables 2
Barney Ross
2012
Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen
(archive footage)
2012
The Rocky Saga: Going the Distance
Self
2011
The Real Rocky
Self
2011
Inferno: The Making of 'The Expendables'
Self
2010
Rambo: To Hell and Back - Director's Production Diary
Self
2010
Bigger Stronger Faster*
Self (archive footage)
2008
The Opponents
Self (archive footage) / Rocky Balboa
2006
Iron and Beyond
Self - Actor & Director
2002
The Very Best of the Muppet Show: Volume 2
Self - Special Guest Star
1999
Men in Black
Alien on TV Monitor (uncredited)
1997
Your Studio and You
Sylvester Stallone
1995
Night of 100 Stars III
Self
1990
Mike Tyson vs Trevor Berbick
Self
1986
The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years
Self (archive footage)
1986
Escape to Victory
Captain Robert Hatch
1981
Mandingo
Lynching Witness (uncredited)
1975
Capone
Frank Nitti
1975
The Prisoner of Second Avenue
Youth in Park
1975
No Place to Hide
Jerry Savage
1974
What's Up, Doc?
Hotel Guest (uncredited)
1972
Klute
Club Patron (uncredited)
1971
Bananas
Subway Thug #1 (uncredited)
1971
The Sidelong Glances of a Pigeon Kicker
Party Guest
1970
Lovers and Other Strangers
Groomsman
1970
The Square Root
1969
Scavenger Hunt
Untitled "Rocky" prequel
Narrator
Downhill Racer
Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
1969
Samaritan 2
Joe Smith
Hunter
Nathaniel Hunter
Taming The Beast
Self
The Original Action Hero
Self
Scarpa
Gregory Scarpa
The Epiphany
Undisputed
Self
2024
Like Tears in Rain
Self (archive footage)
2024
Chuck Zito: An American Story
Self
2024
Arnold & Sly: Rivals, Friends, Icons
Self
2024
Expend4bles
Barney Ross
2023
Samaritan
Joe Smith
2022
Stallone: Frank, That Is
Self
2021
40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic
Narrator/Self (archive footage)
2020
One Night: Joshua vs. Ruiz
Self
2019
Rambo: Last Blood
John Rambo
2019
Escape Plan: The Extractors
Ray Breslin
2019
I Am Durán
Self
2019
Stallone, profession héros
Self (archive footage)
2019
Backtrace
Sykes
2018
Creed II
Rocky Balboa
2018
Escape Plan 2: Hades
Ray Breslin
2018
John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs
Self
2017
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
Stakar Ogord
2017
John Travolta, le miraculé d'Hollywood
Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)
2017
Ratchet & Clank
Victor Von Ion (voice)
2016
From Rocky to Creed: The Legacy Continues
Self
2015
And the Oscar Goes To...
Self (archive footage)
2014
Gods of War: Assembling Earth's Mightiest Anti-Heroes
Self
2012
From the Ashes: Post-Production and Release of 'The Expendables'
Self
2010
Ecki's World
Self
2007
Skill vs. Will: The Making of 'Rocky Balboa'
Self
2007
Ali's Dozen
Self
2006
Tribute To Burgess Meredith
Self
2006
Hogan Knows Best
(1 episode)
2005
The Tony Danza Show
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2004
Las Vegas
(2 episodes)
2003
Taxi 3
L'espion (caméo non crédité)
2003
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self · (2 episodes)
2003
"STARdate" with Ralf Moeller!
Self
2002
Afganistan: Land in Crisis
Self
2002
CyberWorld
Weaver (voice)
2000
Junket Whore
Self
1998
An Alan Smithee Film: Burn, Hollywood, Burn
Sylvester Stallone
1998
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
(4 episodes)
1992
Electric Blue Special: Nude Celebrity Special
1984
Jackie Chan: Down to Earth
Self
The View
Self · (2 episodes)
1997
E! True Hollywood Story
(1 episode)
1996
A Century of Science Fiction
Self
1996
Inside the Actors Studio
Self · (1 episode)
1994
Siskel & Ebert 1991 Holiday Video Gift Guide
1991
Two Rooms: A Tribute to Elton John & Bernie Taupin
Self - Guest
1991
A Man Called... Rainbo
Jim Ramroc / Jim Rainbo (archive footage) (uncredited)
1990
Staying Alive
Man on Street (uncredited)
1983
M*A*S*H
Soldier (uncredited)
1970
The Good Life
Boss
Mr. McMahon
Rocky Balboa (archive footage) · (1 episode)
2024
Arnold
Self · (3 episodes)
2023
The Family Stallone
Kendisi · (18 episodes)
2023
Il était une fois Champs-Élysées
Self (archive footage) · (1 episode)
2022
Tulsa King
Dwight 'The General' Manfredi · (20 episodes)
2022
Stasera c’è Cattelan su Raidue
Self · (1 episode)
2022
Sherri
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2022
Marvel Studios Legends
Stakar Ogord (archive footage) (uncredited) · (1 episode)
2021
The Kelly Clarkson Show
Self · (1 episode)
2019
This Is Us
Sylvester Stallone · (1 episode)
2016
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Self · (1 episode)
2015
The Director's Chair
Self · (1 episode)
2014
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Self · (3 episodes)
2014
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
(1 episode)
2014
30 for 30
Self · (1 episode)
2009
30 for 30
Self (archive footage) · (1 episode)
2009
Live from Studio Five
Self · (1 episode)
2009
The Graham Norton Show
Self · (1 episode)
2007
Made in Hollywood
Self · (1 episode)
2005
The Contender
Self - Boxing Mentor · (67 episodes)
2005
Celebrities Uncensored
Self · (1 episode)
2003
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self (uncredited) · (1 episode)
2003
Liberty's Kids
Paul Revere (voice) · (40 episodes)
2002
Pet Star
Self - Judge · (1 episode)
2002
E! Live from the Red Carpet
Self - After Party Guest · (1 episode)
2002
The Early Show
Self · (1 episode)
1999
The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
1999
Beckmann
Self · (1 episode)
1999
The Johannes B. Kerner Show
Self · (1 episode)
1998
The View
(1 episode)
1997
Taff
self · (1 episode)
1997
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Self - Guest · (3 episodes)
1993
GMTV
Self · (1 episode)
1993
HBO First Look
(1 episode)
1992
Stern TV
Self · (1 episode)
1990
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
1988
Sacrée soirée
Self · (1 episode)
1987
Champs-Elysées
Self · (1 episode)
1982
Entertainment Tonight
Self · (2 episodes)
1981
Wetten, dass..?
Self · (2 episodes)
1981
CBS News Sunday Morning
Self · (1 episode)
1979
Auf los geht's los
Self · (1 episode)
1977
The Muppet Show
Sylvester Stallone - Special Guest Star · (1 episode)
1976
Saturday Night Live
Self - Host · (1 episode)
1975
Saturday Night Live
Self - Cameo (uncredited) · (1 episode)
1975
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche
Self · (1 episode)
1975
Kojak
Det. Rick Daly · (1 episode)
1973
Police Story
(1 episode)
1973
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self · (2 episodes)
1962
The Mike Douglas Show
Self · (1 episode)
1961
The Oscars
Self · (3 episodes)
1953