The life of Stallone

Stallone was born in Hell's Kitchen/Clinton, Manhattan, New York; the son of Jacqueline "Jackie" (nee Labofish), an astrologer, former dancer, and promoter of women's wrestling, and Frank Stallone, Sr., a hairdresser. Stallone's father was an immigrant from Gioia del Colle (province of Bari, Apulia, Italy), and his mother is of part Eastern European Jewish ancestry (her grandmother, Rosa Rabinovich, was from Odessa, Ukraine). In the 1960s, Stallone attended the American College of Switzerland, Leysin and the University of Miami for three years. He came within a few credit hours of graduation before he decided to drop out and pursue an acting career. After Stallone's request that his acting and life experiences be accepted in exchange for his remaining credits, he was granted a Bachelors of Fine Arts (BFA) degree by the President of the University of Miami in 1999.



SYLVESTER STALLONE has established worldwide recognition as an writer, producer and director since he played the title role in his own screenplay of "Rocky" which actor, won the Academy Award in 1976 for Best Picture. Born in New York City, Stallone attended school in suburban Philadelphia where he first started acting. He then spent two years instructing at the American College of Switzerland in Geneva. Returning to the United States, he enrolled as a drama major at the University of Miami and also began to write. Stallone left college before graduation to pursue an acting career in New York. By 1973, Stallone had auditioned for almost every casting agent in town, but found little success. During this period, he turned more and more to writing, churning our numerous screenplays while waiting for his acting break. The opportunity first came in 1974 when he was cast as one of the leads in "The Lords of Flatbush." He also received his first writing credit for "additional dialogue" on this film.

His Films

With the money earned from that film, Stallone left New York for Hollywood, He again began to make the rounds to studios and casting agents, managing to get a few small roles in television and movies. He also continued to pursue writing. Prizefighter Rocky Balboa was born and given life in a script Stallone wrote in longhand. Several producers offered to buy the screenplay, wanting to cast a name star in the title role, which Stallone insisted on playing himself. Although his bank balance was barely $100, Stallone held fast- and his perseverance finally paid off. Stallone's credits as an actor/writer/director are "Rocky II" and "Paradise Alley." As actor and co-writer, Stallone filmed "F.I.S. T.," "First Blood", "Rambo: First Blood, Part II", "Rhinestone" and "Rambo III". He co-wrote, directed and produced "Staying Alive" and starred in "Nighthawks", "Victory", "Tango & Cash" and "Lock Up". "Rocky V", starring and written by Stallone and directed by Ion Avildsen, opened in 1990
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In addition Stallone has starred in "Get Carter", "Cliffhanger", "Demolition Man". "The Specialist. " "Assassins," "Daylight" and in the challenging and compelling role of Freddy Heflin in the Miramax feature film "CopLand", which has garnered him international critical and audience acclaim. Winner of the People's Choice Award for Favorite Motion Picture Actor, Stallone was recently given the Lifetime Achievement Award by the USA Academy of Science Fiction, Horror and Fantasy Films. Stallone is one of the founding partners in Planet Hollywood, the internationally famous chain of entertainment complexes. Among other principals in Planet Hollywood are producer Keith Barish, The Rank Organization, Robert Earl, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis.