Inspiration compilation storybook part 3 Sylvester Stallone

Sylvester Stallone

Sylvester “Sly” Stallone was born in Hell’s kitchen. During birth, his mother suffered from complications, and his birth was “assisted” with the use of forceps. The forceps accidentally severed a nerve, causing partial paralysis in his face.

On the left side of his face, part of his lip, tongue, and chin were paralyzed, giving him the trademark snarling look and giving him the unique style of speech, starting him out with what many would consider a handicap to overcome – and he wasn’t even a day old yet!

Unfortunately, things didn’t get a whole lot better from there. He and his brother endured their parent’s hostile marriage and subsequent divorce. His father moved the family to D.C. when Sly was 5. He remained there with his father after the divorce. The adjustment was difficult. During this time, he was expelled from several schools and suffered severe depression and emotional distress.

He eventually moved, going to live with his mother and her new husband. He wound up attending a high school for “troubled youth” in Philadelphia. Afterward, he spent two years in Switzerland and returned to go to college in Florida. Restless, and feeling like he didn't fit in anywhere he went, he eventually returned to New York to pursue acting.

Stallone didn’t get very far. Acting jobs were few and far between, especially for someone often described as "talking funny." While trying to get his foot in the door, he worked in many other, less glamorous jobs, such as cleaning lion cages at the zoo, ushering at a movie theatre, among others. Life looked pretty bleak.

Down to no money at all and sleeping in a bus station in New Jersey, he spotted a flier looking for actors, leading him to work in a porn movie called A Party at Kitty and Studs. Maybe it wasn’t exactly the sort of film you’d brag about being in, but it was a foot in the door. Later, a part in a small independent movie called Lords of Flatbush gave him a better role, but the work still didn’t pay the bills. At one point, money was so tight that he had to sell his dog for $25. He was going nowhere fast.

During this period, he had an idea for a screenplay about at two-bit thug that dreams of being a professional prizefighter. In three days, he had the script for Rocky wrote out longhand. He began to shop it around. It received a lot of attention with many interested in taking it on but with a single condition: he was not to be a part of it. The studios wanted the script; they didn't want him.

To Stallone, this wasn't good enough. He believed in the story – but he also thought he could play the lead. At one time, he was offered $350,000.00 for the script, with the same caveat: They wanted Redford or someone with a recognizable name to play the part of the fighter. Still, Stallone refused. Acting was his passion. He held off, refusing to budge until he got the green light from two producers who gave him $25,000 for the script and a percentage of whatever the film made.

Rocky cost $1,000,000.00 to make, a paltry sum for a movie. But Stallone’s hunch paid off. The domestic box office was $117,000,000.00. It then went on to beat out films such as Taxi Driver, All the President’s Men, and Network to win the Academy Award for Best Picture.

He’d finally made it. The best part of the story? With his earnings, Stallone spent thousands of dollars to track down and buy back his dog. They have never parted again.

Despite being born in such a way as to give him a disability, despite continued failure and being told that there was no way he could ever be an actor, Sylvester Stallone never gave up. He proved that “speaking funny” could become an asset. And that by sticking to what he knew was right, would payout in the end.

So it was, Sylvester Stallone pursued his dream, stuck to his vision and came out a champ.

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