Full Breakdown
Sylvester Stallone Marks 80th Birthday with Memoir, Health Revelations, and Upcoming Biopic
By Drooid · · How we work
Memoir Launch and Recent Media Appearances
In late September, Sylvester Stallone released his memoir “The Steps.” He promoted the book from a Manhattan hotel, calling himself a “lucky dog.” That week he appeared on SiriusXM’s *Front Row* (September 28, 2026) and The New York Times “The Interview” podcast (September 26), discussing his childhood, the making of *Rocky*, and the physical toll of his career.
A biopic titled “I Play Rocky,” directed by Peter Farrelly and starring Anthony Ippolito as a young Stallone, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and is slated for theatrical release on November 6.
From Hell’s Kitchen to Hollywood Icon
Stallone was born in Hell’s Kitchen in 1946 and later moved to Philadelphia, where he ran up the 72 stone steps of the Museum of Art—a moment that inspired his memoir’s title. In 1975 he wrote the *Rocky* screenplay in three days, turned down a $360,000 offer that excluded him from the lead role, and secured both script and starring part. The film won Best Picture at the 1977 Academy Awards and launched a franchise that earned three Oscars and more than $225 million worldwide.
Health and Body-Image Challenges
Stallone disclosed that while preparing for *Rocky III* he reduced his body fat to 2.6 %, a dangerously low level. He attributes his extreme conditioning to a “process of elimination” that shaped his career.
Industry Recognition and Official Honors
In 2025 Stallone received a Kennedy Center Honor, presented by former President Donald Trump, who later named him a “Hollywood ambassador” alongside Jon Voight and Mel Gibson. Stallone has praised Trump as “the second George Washington” while also supporting stronger gun-control laws and condemning wars that profit the military-industrial complex. Regarding the biopic, he emphasized that he has “nothing to do” with the production and will simply “sit back and watch.”
Data & Statistics
- *Rocky* (1976) earned $225 million worldwide on a modest budget and secured three Academy Awards (including Best Picture).
- Stallone has starred in at least one #1 box-office film in each of the past six decades, a distinction shared only with Harrison Ford.
- The memoir runs 304 pages and is published by William Morrow.
- Medical disclosures: 2.6 % body fat during *Rocky III*; nine back surgeries, two shoulder surgeries, three neck fusions.
What’s Next
- “The Steps” will be available in hardcover, paperback, e-book, and audio formats throughout late September.
- “I Play Rocky” opens nationwide on November 6, entering the awards-season conversation.
- Stallone will continue starring as mobster Dwight “The General” Manfredi in the fourth season of Paramount+’s *Tulsa King*, slated for release in the coming months.