In 1971 he auditioned for a small part in Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather (1972) but didn't get it. He decided he might have better luck as a writer. He wrote the screenplay for the modestly successful The Lord's of Flatbush (1974) and had a featured role in the film.

Stallone has never recaptured the critical success he won initially after Rocky (1976), when Roger Ebert said he could be the next Marlon Brando. He has been nominated a record 30 times for the Golden Raspberry Awards, usually in the "Worst Actor" category, and has won 10 times. The Golden Raspberry Award Foundation awarded him a special "Worst Actor of the Century" award in 2000.

Was 23 years old when he got his first starring role in the porno The Party at Kitty and Stud's (1970) (which was re-released and renamed "The Italian Stallion" after his success with Rocky (1976)), in which he played the role of Stud The Italian Stallion. He was paid $200 to play the sex-craved gigolo and appeared in almost every scene nude.

Attended the University of Miami on an athletic scholarship

Was offered a part in Quentin Tarantino's section of Grindhouse (2007) ("Death Proof"), but turned it down.

His performance as Rocky Balboa in the "Rocky" movies is ranked #64 on Premiere Magazine's 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time.

A noted fan of cigar smoking, he quit smoking cigarettes while filming Rocky (1976) when he was thirty after he found himself getting out of breath in the ring.

Mother Jackie Stallone was a fan of Tyrone Power and had originally named him Tyrone Stallone, but when she got the birth certificate it had been changed by Sly's father Frank Stallone to Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone.

The ten awards from the Razzies that he's "won" so far are Worst Actor of 1985 for Rhinestone (1984), Worst Actor of 1986 for both Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985) and Rocky IV (1985), Worst Director of 1986 for Rocky IV (1985), Worst Screenplay of 1986 with James Cameron and Kevin Jarre for Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985), Worst Actor of 1989 for Rambo III (1988), Worst Actor of the Decade (1980s), Worst Actor of 1993 for Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot (1992), Worst Screen Couple of 1995 with Sharon Stone in The Specialist (1994), Worst Actor of the Century, and Worst Supporting Actor of 2004 for Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (2003).

At the age of five, he returned to live with his parents and younger brother Frank Stallone, this time in Silver Springs, Maryland. After his parents divorced, he moved with his mother and her new husband, a pizza manufacturer, Anthony 'Tony' Filiti, to Philadelphia.

Stallone was paid a mere $60,000 to do Cop Land (1997). It is said that he did the film to play a serious role and escape his action hero cast type.

He was presented with a certificate of recognition by California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for filming Rocky Balboa (2006) in Los Angeles at a time when other filmmakers are moving their business to cheaper states or overseas locations to cut costs. (22 December 2005).

Turned down the role of John McClane in Die Hard (1988). The part went to Bruce Willis instead.

Was said to have only $106 in his bank account at the time the Rocky (1976) project was given the green light by producer Irwin Winkler.

His father Frank Stallone was a hairdresser and mother Jackie Stallone is a larger-than-life eccentric who's also sought fame as an astrologer and women's wrestling promoter. Her maiden name is Labofish.

Ranked #92 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list. [October 1997]

Sued by model Margie Carr, who contends that he tried to force her to have physical relations with him last year at a Santa Monica Gym. [26 February 2001]

Has a half-sister Toni D'Alto (Toni Anne Filiti), the daughter of his mother Jackie Stallone and her second husband, Tony Filiti.

CBS considering "Father Lefty" TV series he created and produced for fall 2002 schedule. Star Danny Nucci set to star as offbeat Miami priest if controversial series gets the greenlight.

On 5 June 1994 he broke up with then-girlfriend Jennifer Flavin by sending her a "Dear Jane" letter via FedEx. They reconciled after one year, on 5 June 1995 and married on 17 May 1997.

According to Anthony Holden's "Behind the Oscar" (New York: Simon & Shuster, 1993), the great Frank Capra was enlisted in the Oscar campaign for the original Rocky (1976). Capra was quoted as saying, "I think it's the best picture in the last ten years. It's got my vote for the Oscars all the way down the line."

Is a fan of "Bollywood" movies

Holds the record for the longest unbroken streak of nominations at the Razzie Awards - thirteen straight years. He received a Razzie Nomination every year (mostly for Worst Actor) from 1985 to 1997.

Along with Jon Voight and Paula Abdul, took part in a fundraising, solidarity concert for the besieged Israeli city of Sderot, which has been hit by more than 7,000 Kassam rockets in the past seven years. Entitled "Live for Sderot," the concert features a performance by Israeli singer Ninette Tayeb. (2 March 2008).

Was voted the pupil most likely to die in the electric chair.

Turned down the lead role in Coming Home (1978) (for which Jon Voight won an Oscar).

Has a total of five children: Sage Stallone and Seargeoh Stallone with first wife Sasha Czack and Sophia Rose Stallone, Sistine Rose Stallone and Scarlet Stallone with third wife Jennifer Flavin.

Listed as one of twelve "Promising New Actors of 1976" in John Willis' Screen World, Vol. 28.

His mother, Jackie Stallone, is a fan of Jackie Chan. Chan and Stallone are very good friends.

Publicly endorsed Senator John McCain as his choice for Republican candidate in the 2008 presidential election.

Supported Republican candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger in his re- election bid for Governor of California in 2006, and donated $15,000 to his campaign.

In an interview in January 2002, Stallone confirmed he was still interested in reprising his roles as Rocky Balboa and John Rambo, but feared that at fifty-five he was too old. Nearly four years later, in October 2005, he confirmed his intention to make Rocky Balboa (2006) and Rambo (2008).

Daughter Sophia Rose Stallone, 2-1/2, by wife Jennifer Flavin. undergoes open heart surgery at UCLA Medical Center. The procedure went well. [12 November 1996]

In 1986, following the enormous success of Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985), Stallone was received at the White House by President Ronald Reagan.

His full frontal nude scene was edited out of Demolition Man (1993) prior to release, but can be viewed on the Internet.

Moved to Philadelphia in the early 1960s, living in Frankford and Rittenhouse Square. He went to Lincoln High School but never completed 10th grade. In 1963 he enrolled in the Devereux Manor High School in Berwyn, Chester County, a school for emotionally troubled youths.

The voice of Lou the cop in "The Simpsons" (1989) is based on him.

Second son Seargeoh Stallone (b. 1979) is autistic.

14 February 2002 - Sylvester sued his former business manager, Kenneth Starr, for giving him bad business advice. He claims $17M in damages. Part of the advice was for him to hold onto his shares in Planet Hollywood, the now bankrupt restaurant chain, despite it already being in a financial bind.

Step-son of Anthony 'Tony' Filiti & Stephen Marcus Levine.

His Miami 24,000-square-foot villa and its three guest houses sold after two years on the market for $24 million.

Birth complications, caused by forceps, resulted in paralysis of the lower left side of his face, manifested by a perennial snarl and slurred speech.

At 15, his classmates voted him the one "most likely to end up in the electric chair."

He joins Roberto Benigni, Prince, Kevin Costner, William Shatner, and Tom Green as being the only actors to direct themselves in performances that would "win" them a Razzie Award for Worst Actor.

Has the distinction of appearing in three of the 100 Most Enjoyably Awful Movies of All Time as listed in Razzie Award-founder John Wilson's book "The Official Razzie Movie Guide": Rhinestone (1984), Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)) and The Specialist (1994). He is thus tied with Joseph Cotten for having the second most titles among the 100. 'Ernest Borgnine' has the most, appearing in four of the 100 titles.

Father of Sage Stallone, who has acted with him in Rocky V (1990) and also Daylight (1996).

Did all of his own singing in Rhinestone (1984).

3rd child with wife Jennifer, Scarlet Rose born 25 May 2002 in Los Angeles, weighed 7 lbs, 8 oz.

Stallone claims to have been able to bench press 385-400 lbs (174.6-181.4 kg) and squat 500 lbs (226.8 kg) in his prime. While in a bench pressing contest with former Mr Olympia Franco Columbu, he severely tore his pectoral muscle and needed over 160 stitches on it. This is why one half of his chest is more veiny than the other.

Expelled from 14 schools for antisocial and violent behavior before the age of 13.

On June 27th, 1998, his second daughter, Sistine Rose Stallone was born, with third wife Jennifer Flavin.

On 8 March 2005 he appeared in his first magazine issue of Sly which came out monthly. He was on the cover of every magazine and did most of the articles and interviews himself.

Godfather of his son Sage Stallone was his best friend Joe Spinell.

Despite his long association with the Republican Party, Stallone supported President Bill Clinton during his impeachment trial and hosted a Democratic fund raiser at his Miami home on 9 July 1998.

Is a close friend and fan of Sir Elton John.

He sued writer Peter "Taki" Theodoracopulos and the British magazine "The Spectator" in 1991 for suggested he acted in a cowardly and hypocritical way when he "ducked the Vietnam War." He won the case.

Turned down Christopher Reeve's role in Superman (1978), Jon Voight's role in Coming Home (1978), Eddie Murphy's role in Beverly Hills Cop (1984), Harrison Ford's role in Witness (1985), Bruce Willis's roles in Die Hard (1988) and Pulp Fiction (1994), John Travolta's role in Face/Off (1997), Samuel L. Jackson's role in Rules of Engagement (2000), and Kurt Russell's role in Death Proof (2007).

On 10 May 2005 he published his book "Sly Moves: My Proven Program to Lose Weight, Build Strength, Gain Will Power, and Live Your Dream".

Went to Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, Maryland. Among his classmates were Goldie Hawn and Ben Stein.

In April 2004 he formed his own nutrition company InStone, that produces protein pudding, a testosterone booster, an energy booster and two different protein shakes.

Along with Bruce Willis, he is a staunch supporter of the Republican party.

The wax figure portraying Stallone as Rocky Balboa at the now defunct Movieland Wax Museum (Buena Vista, California) was 5' 7" tall.

Rocky (1976) is ranked #4 on the American Film Institute's 100 Most Inspiring Movies of All Time.

In the 1950s he and his brother Frank Stallone lived in Philadelphia with their mother Jackie Stallone for approximately two years and attended Notre Dame Academy, a private Catholic school on Rittenhouse Square in center city (no longer there). It is the same school that John Barrymore and Ethel Barrymore had once attended.

In 1988 he was offered $4 million to do an advert for an American beer commercial under the condition that he cut his hair; when he refused they offered a further $1 million to go to the barber - he still refused.

He was honored by the Video Dealers Software Association when he was presented with the "Action Star of the Millennium Award" at the organization's 21st Annual Convention in Las Vegas, NV. [16 July 2002]

Oil paints in his spare time and considers Leonardo Da Vinci his personal hero.

Was part owner of the Planet Hollywood restaurant chain with Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

As of 2004 is the all time Razzie Award champion, with a record 30 nominations and 10 "wins", more than any other person in history.

Received the first Boxing Writers Association of America's award for lifetime cinematic achievement in boxing at the organization's 81st annual Awards Dinner at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. (5 May 2006)

Attended the first inauguration of President George W. Bush along with other long-time Republican supporters Chuck Norris and Robert Duvall. (January 20th 2001)

Had a huge fan following from Bollywood Asia. Film stars like Salman Khan, Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol, Dharmendra, Sanjay Dutt, Sunil Shetty and Hrithik Roshan are his die-hard fans. Sunny Deol even named one of his sons "Rocky".

All his children's names begin with the letter "S": Sage, Sargeoh, Sophia, Sistine and Scarlet.

Has his look-alike puppet in the French show "Guignols de l'info, Les" (1988).

Born on the same day as President George W. Bush and Fred Dryer.

Voted "Worst Actor of the Century" by the Razzie Awards in 2000.

Former brother-in-law of Louis D'Alto and Markus Schaub.

Entered into the house of Big Brother VIP 2 (Mexico) for a few minutes as a special guest. He was in Mexico promoting _Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (2003)_ and was invited to participate.

Italian-American

Is a fan of the English soccer team Everton FC.

In 1998, following the murder of his friend Phil Hartman, Stallone, then living in England, called for America to ban all guns. This caused some controversy, since he had used guns in many of his movies.

On August 27th, 1996, his first daughter Sophia Rose Stallone was born with fiancée, Jennifer Flavin.

Dislikes his first name, usually referred to as "Sly."

Brother of Frank Stallone, Toni D'Alto and Dante Stallone.

Cousin of Paul Dion Monte.

He is most well known for his Rambo and Rocky movies.

A lifelong Republican, he is one of President George W. Bush's two favorite actors. The other is fellow action hero and conservative Republican Chuck Norris. Both men attended Bush's inauguration as President in 2001.

He was a manager for the Lee Canalito vs. Curtis Whitner Boxing Match on his 36th birthday in July 6th, 1982, at the Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, NJ. His brother Frank Stallone was a corner man for Canalito in this match.