Story perspectives

Stallone Reveals Steroid, Bulimia Past in Memoir

By Drooid · Sep 29, 2026, 10:36 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Stallone Releases Memoir

Sylvester Stallone released his memoir “The Steps,” recounting his rise and personal grief.
He admitted cycling steroids and becoming bulimic while filming “Rocky III,” reaching 2.6 percent body fat.
A heart-valve replacement later gave him a wake-up call to quit drugs.
His son Sage died in 2012 from an undiagnosed heart condition.

Summary

Stallone Rejects Offer

Sylvester Stallone rejected a $360,000 script offer unless he also starred.
He drafted “Rocky” in three days and rewrote it to add hero nobility.
He survived on $34 weekly, shoveling lion waste, and was jailed.
On the “Tonight Show” he said they built a plywood ring for Rocky’s hopeful ending.

History

Historical Context

In March 1975 Stallone wrote Rocky after seeing the Ali–Wepner fight and demanded to play the lead. United Artists approved the $1 million film, shot in January 1976 in Philadelphia and premiered in November 1976. It won Best Picture at the 49th Academy Awards, became 1976’s highest-grossing movie and earned $225 million worldwide, cementing the underdog formula that still influences star contracts and health disclosures.

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Stallone Releases Memoir

Sylvester Stallone released his memoir “The Steps,” recounting his rise and personal grief.
He admitted cycling steroids and becoming bulimic while filming “Rocky III,” reaching 2.6 percent body fat.
A heart-valve replacement later gave him a wake-up call to quit drugs.
His son Sage died in 2012 from an undiagnosed heart condition.

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