Sylvester Stallone Through the Years: From Rocky to Action Movie ICON | ET Vault Unlocked

tonight. He didn't just create icons. He became one. I'm on entertainment tonight right now being rigged up to be shy. Sylvester Stallone, the underdog who rewrote Hollywood from his early days building franchises. When I die, at least something that I've done will live on to the king still reinventing himself. I'm ready for it. Five decades in slides never stopped fighting. I have no intention of slowing down. If anything speeding up and E. T. Has been ringside for it all. My legacy is all about the comeback. What you never knew about his nine rocky films and five Rambo movies. This may be my farewell. The hits. Yes, I went to the hospital on that one. That's two hematomas on four stitches there. The risks. That's the real secret. Let it be known. And the stunts that push him to the edge. I had called home and said, I don't think I'm gonna make it. E. T. Vault unlocked Sylvester Stallone. This is, dare I say the dessert on the final meal of my life starts right now. When it comes to action, only one man can say he's been rocky Rambo and the Tulsa King. Hello, everybody and welcome to entertainment tonight. Sylvester Stallone has had quite the year and next summer he turns 80. So no better time to unlock our moments with sly. Who's anything but expendable as Hollywood's ultimate action icon. I've been so lucky. Guess what? We're still going. Rocky turns 50 next year. You turn 80, which I could not believe. It's amazing because everyone says that where to go, how to go so fast it does. And I wish I had my this wisdom I have now back then to really savor these moments. Make no mistake. Sly is still swinging like a star. I have no intention of slowing down. If anything speeding up, I think the key is when you get older, throw it in high gear. He and his family filmed a reality tv series. His paramount plus drama Tulsa King is greenlit for season four. I'm ready for it. And earlier this month he stepped up to receive a Kennedy Center honor for his career in Hollywood. This is, dare I say the dessert on the final meal of my life. E. T. Has been on set for nearly 20 of his 100 plus projects which have made over 7.5 billion worldwide. There's certain characters and ideologies identified with the john Rambo character, rocky character, ones that I feel very strongly about. And if there's one thing we've learned covering Stallone for five decades, it's this. There is no limit to what he'll put his body through to achieve cinematic greatness. He looked back, so that hurt. Yes, I went to the hospital on that one. That was two hematoma, four stitches there from doing his own stunts to the extreme conditions on set the heat. For example, it's unrelenting. There's been coral snake attacks, rattlesnake attacks. People have gone home with malaria, typhoid, anemic dysentery. So it has been quite trying. We had to dig into the ice. You know, the one thing about this movie, if you do it, you'll never age when you're totally in a cryonic state, totally frozen. So if we keep doing this film, we'll stay our age for the next 1000 years. You must wait ready or whatever weight I lost. You found found. What do you hope is your legacy? Oh my God. You know, it's really easy to say never give up whatever. That's hard to do and learn to deal with failure because there's always a chance always for the comeback. So my legacy is all about the comeback. But let's wind it back to rocky. Sly's big career breakthrough came in 1976. The then unknown and nearly broke actor wrote the film for himself. It's a classic case of ignorance is bliss. I knew in my heart that I wanted to play the character not because I thought I was better than anyone else. I just felt that I had a real kinship with the role to do what I do best. E.T. First met Stallone in 1982. The then 35 year old knew playing the underdog boxer would be a career defining role. I don't think they'll be able to really mention one without the other. At first, I thought that was terrible. That's all I'll be remembered for. But the other part is I'm very flattered to actually be involved in a character that has meant so much to so many people. When I die, at least something that I've done will live on. Wish me luck. I'm gonna need it. The original film became an instant box office phenomenon, even turning those Philadelphia Art Museum steps into an international tourist destination. That was the pinnacle of his life. He finally did it. People say, Do you think cinema is influential? There it is. That is in your brain forever. It's in my brain forever. Stallone earned two Oscar nominations for acting and writing, and the film won Best Picture. Its sequels also catapulted him into sex symbol status. How does that make you feel? Very oily, sweaty. No, it's kind of, uh, you know, it's fun. I usually don't walk around in boxing trunks all the time. It's nice to know that all the days in the gym have paid off. Paid off is right. The nine film franchise earned nearly two billion across 49 years. But get this back to one. Sly, rocking that famous fedora, told us on set of the fifth one studio execs nearly bandit. They want me to use his hat at all. In the beginning, it was forbidden. I said, Why? I said, Well, Bobby, do you know I had a ministry president? Everyone in China clothes was a hat. I mean, excuse me. Would you say your name was done in 2015? He passed the torch to Michael B Jordan in Creed. His role playing the mentor and coach scored Sly a best supporting actor Oscar nod cut to the Golden Globes in 2016. Sylvester Stallone, you're fighting back. Tears was emotional, I guess. I just didn't expect it. This character just keeps saving my life. While Rocky was at its peak, Sylvester simultaneously launched another legendary franchise. Rambo First Blood hit theaters in 1982. I don't speak the whole film until the whole thing. I don't say a word. It's just reaction, reaction, reaction, reaction. Who are they to protest me? Huh? The first film success laid the groundwork for what would ultimately be five films spanning over four decades. Next year, a prequel starring Noah Centineo is set to begin production. But back in 1984, E. T. Traveled to Acapulco for the sequel, where the conditions were so brutal, Sly feared for his life. We had the worst hurricane turbulence down here in 50 years, which was so bad. I had called home and said, I don't think I'm gonna make it. And if you don't hear from me again, because I think the hill that we were on was gonna collapse because everything around me was crumbling. I never was so humbled in my life. Three years later, the conditions were equally challenging when E. T. Traveled to Israel to visit the Rambo three set. At times, temperatures peaked at 120 degrees. A lot of guys wouldn't take chances with a movie like this by doing their own stunts, but not you. But I take a shot at it. I don't know if it's a wise decision. This may be my farewell, but we're trying. We're doing so now that he's a bona fide action star. What a slide do next comedy. I just wanted to take a break. My body was so beamed up and broken. I said, I better get some last first. It was the buddy cop movie Tango and Cash starring Kurt Russell. Oh, wait a minute. Why is yours bigger than mine? Genetics? To me, the process of comedy is one that's invigorating. It's also incredibly challenging. The film became a cult classic, and Sylvester says he's down to make a sequel. But the film he later called one of the worst in the entire solar system. 1992 Stop or my mom will shoot. The story goes he was tricked into making it by his rival Arnold Schwarzenegger. Nobody hurts my baby. Looked very good. Lashed across the hood of a Chevy. E. T. Was on set of the comedy where slide played a cop dealing with an overbearing mother played by Golden Girl star Estelle Getty. It's an unlikely pairing. Actually, they casted together because we wear the same size dress. That's the real secret. Let it be known with his career on the ropes. Sly launched a post comedy comeback with 1993 cliffhanger. E. T. Traveled with him all the way to the frigid Italian Alps where the stunt were next level. I'm on entertainment tonight right now being rigged up to be shot. I work with the mountain climbers for a while, and it's one thing to practice on 100 200 ft wall. But when you get out here on 79,000 ft, fear takes precedence. It's rough. Actually, it's such a good action film that I don't mind abuse a little bit. Cliffhanger is actually getting the reboot treatment. The reimagining starring Lily James and Pierce Brosnan is set for release next year. And when it comes to which of his films he thinks has aged the best demolition man, it's one of the few films that really hangs up. I thought it was really well done. You know, E. T. Was also on set of the dystopian thriller. Sly played a tough guy cop cryo frozen for over three decades. Sets of this is so real that I have to admit that I was, uh, losing my nerve. Uh, after all the stuff you've done after all the stuff I've done, this film has like some nudity. Yeah, a little frozen nudity. And I must admit I performed well. I'm very, very happy. It was not a bad new day. It was a good, bad hair day. It was a good new day. Okay, this is weird. This is exactly every millimeter of my body. It's very eerie. Every hair, everything. I must admit they, uh, did me good. Sly's co star and up and comer by the name of Sandra Bullock. One year before her breakout role in Speed. Ain't she great? A real trooper. I hate that word. A real pooper. That's great. Is that better? You can see a love scene like no one has ever been tortured with in your life. Just relax. I'll begin in a few seconds. Begin what? Having sex, of course. And then she comes out and performs what I consider absolute, most ludicrous sexual ritual. No touching this. Looky maybe. I don't. It's like it was a horror show. I felt like I was 16 years old to be able to translate and have had a character that goes on for 30 years. You have little kids appreciate it. It's the best. I don't call him sequels. I just call him continuation. That's the next chapter. Call it whatever you want. Sylvester Stallone is the undisputed king of franchises. You've done it. Rocky Rambo that works. What is the key to getting it right? Not to get too big numbers. I've made him say sometimes a sequel. You think that you have to be bigger, faster, louder. All you gotta do is keep in touch with your audience, make sure that the stories are relatable and then they'll keep coming. In 2010, lightning struck yet again when he created, co wrote, starred in and even directed the Expendables. He assembled an all star cast that included his eighties era action rivals, Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Only an idiot would do this job. How much? No. Like I said, was it fun when the cameras weren't rolling? Luckily, we didn't have any divas, you know, except for me. You know, of course, everyone was lining up to break my next day. Who gets to kill him today? If he gets an attitude that never happened up to that point where you had three men that have had such diverse, big careers all together. That thing belongs in a you all do. The second movie made even more money around $315 million. The franchise has four films, but there's talk of fifth could be on the way. And if expendables wasn't enough in 2017 slide joined the M. C. U. For Guardians of the Galaxy volumes two and three. You have to wear these to move through the or go without attracting attention. I walked on the set that went, Oh my God, because I used to be in a tree in Burma somewhere. Oh my God, this is unbelievable. This is a whole new art form. Welcome home. If I asked you if you were successful, what would you say? Yeah, I would say very successful publicly. I've had a lot of failures in my private life. That's been kind of sad. Yeah. Sylvester Stallone's personal life has been just as headline worthy as his action packed career. In 1974, Sly married first wife Sasha Chack. They welcomed two sons, Sage in 1976. Then in 1979, Sergio was born and made his on screen debut in Rocky Two. He's really us. Thank you. At three years old, Sergio was diagnosed with autism, and Sly became an advocate to help reduce the stigma of the condition. My first impulse was was to deny it. And then I thought, maybe this is just a But for the couple, fame came at a cost. The marriage crumbled amid his skyrocketing career and admissions of infidelity. I made a few indiscretions along the way, and those indiscretions were not done because I was unhappy. I was curious about what is all this junk I've been reading about Shangri-La and fame and stardom. In 1985, the then 38 year old began a whirlwind romance with his 21 year old Rocky Four co star Brigitte Nielsen. The two tied the knot within months, and he was her plus one at the Beverly Hills Cop two premiere. What kind of a grade are you giving your wife on this performance? Never over the bullet. But Sly's disciplined personality clashed with Brigitte's wild side, and the marriage lasted around 19 months. He later described that era as a quote temporary form of insanity. It was a horror show. What I thought was gonna be the great romance of my life turned out it didn't work. Sylvester didn't stay single long. In 1988, he started dating model Jennifer Flavin. The couple married in 1997 and had three daughters. But throughout the highs and lows of his personal life, Sylvester remained a present dad. In 1990, E. T. Was on set as 13 year old Sage was cast as his son in Rocky Five. Yeah, you could do better than that. When people ask you to describe what Rocky has meant, what would you say? For some reason, I'm kind of tongue twisted. Let me see your tongue. It's really twisted. It looks good to me. But in 2012 tragedy struck when Sage was just 36 years old, he passed away suddenly from coronary artery disease, with Sly saying this agonizing loss will be felt for the rest of our lives. It's impossible really to describe. People take their Children are take their life, including myself pretty much for granted. When, when it's taken from you, it's like a nightmare. As Sly coped with the loss of his son while raising three daughters with Jennifer, priorities shifted. I think that an actor earlier on in their life, let's go to a foreign location for five months and rough it out. And then you have something that you really relish your new Children and your wife. You go, I don't know, man, can we shoot this movie in the backyard? In 2022, the 76 year old took on an entirely new challenge television and action. This is joke. This is your first tv drama. The Tulsa King himself right here. Thank you. What was it about this gangster role that sealed the deal for you? Well, I've always wanted to play a gangster since I basically start up my career better late than never. Tulsa King exploded out of the gate with season one, racking up 3.36 billion viewing minutes and becoming one of Paramount pluses most watched original programs. Short circular strokes. You see? Yeah. Also joining the Tulsa universe, Sly's youngest daughter, Scarlet E. T. Sat down with the father daughter duo on set. You just couldn't get enough of your dad. Yeah, I follow him everywhere. She's doing great. I'm very, very proud of her. Have you been nervous? Honestly, I've never really been that nervous. I've been, he actually doesn't make me nervous when I, when I do, that's the truth. No, it's frustrating. Their playful family dynamic was also on full display in the Paramount plus reality show. The family Stallone, I will kick you in the face. Are you kidding me? What are you donkey Kong? Why was now the perfect time to do this show with your family? Well, certainly I'm not getting any younger, but Tulsa King has brought me to like another level. I love my daughter, love my wife and I wanted to share that. And we also learned a surprising perk of having an Oscar nominated screenwriter for a dad. He actually writes their breakup text guilty. What did it say? I'm a good writer. Sometimes though he does want to end it with keep punching. I'm like that doesn't that might give it away. I delete that part, but everything else is so good. Safe to say Sly's ringing in 2026 living his best life and tells E. T. He's grateful for all his blessings. I pretty much have done it all the mountain. I fell off the mountain, climbed it again. So now that I'm really focusing on what's important, like time, my wife, my family, I just feel as though priorities are finally right. Times a new outfit just makes you want to go back in 2024. Sly went viral for busting some barefoot moves after he says he was caught off guard here in Smokey Robinson's more love playing during the costume fitting. The video has gotten over two million likes, although some folks said Stallone's moves were a little rocky. We leave you now with more moments from the E. T. Vault. Good night, everybody. Wish me luck. I'm going to need it. I think that early on everyone perceived me as rugby ball ball and it never never ceased. When do I fight again? It really is is not the perception of what I am. I'm more of a recluse. I think I give out a feeling of optimism that I look like a person that came off the street, which I did and managed to have a little hold of success and hang on and keep and keep it going and then almost lose it and keep going again. I don't look like a winner. Okay, come on, let's do this. You don't accept family. No, I accept the word maybe or we'll see, but not anything that deals on absolute the day you quit. Maybe the next day you would have made it if you just hung on 24 more hours. It's true.