Benjohn

Sylvester Stallone has established worldwide recognition as an actor, writer and director since he played the title role in his own screenplay of “Rocky,” which won the Academy Award in 1976 for Best Picture. Stallone’s new project is “The contender” a powerful and action-packed reality series for NBC.

Born in New York City, Stallone attended school in suburban Philadelphia where he first started acting and also became a star football player. He then spent two years instructing at the American College of Switzerland in Geneva.

Returning to the United States, Stallone enrolled as a drama major at the University of Miami and also began to write. He left college to pursue an acting career in New York City, but the jobs did not come easily.

By 1973, Stallone had auditioned for almost every casting agent in New York and had gone on thousands of acting calls, with little success.

During this period, he turned more and more to writing, churning out numerous screenplays while waiting for his acting break. The opportunity first came in 1974 when he was cast as one of the leads in “The Lords of Flatbush.” He also received his first writing credit for “additional dialogue” on this film,With the money earned from that film, Stallone left New York for Hollywood. He again began to make the rounds of studios and casting agents, managing to get a few small roles in television and movies. He also continued to pursue writing.

Prize fighter Rocky Balboa was born and given life in a script Stallone wrote in longhand. Several producers offered to buy the screenplay, wanting to cast a name star in the title role, which Stallone insisted on playing himself. Although his bank balance was barely $100, Stallone held fast with his perseverance finally paying off in a big way.

Stallone’s credits as actor/writer/director are “Rocky II” and “Paradise Alley.” As actor and co-writer, Stallone filmed “F.I.S.T.,” “First Blood,” “Rambo: First Blood Part II,” “Rhinestone” and “Rambo III.” He co-wrote, directed and produced “Staying Alive” and starred in “Nighthawks,” “Victory,” “Tango & Cash” and “Lock Up.” “Rocky V,” starring and written by Stallone and directed by John Avildsen, opened in 1990.

In addition, Stallone has also starred in “Demolition Man,” which set box-office records for its Fall 1993 release. He also starred in the films “The Specialist,” co-starring Sharon Stone; in “Assassins,” and in “Daylight.”

Stallone starred in the challenging and compelling role of Freddy Heflin, in the Miramax feature film “Copland,” which has garnered him international critical and audience acclaim. He had the starring role in “Get Carter” for Warner Bros., co-starring Michael Caine, which opened in Fall 2000. Stallone wrote and starred in the #1 box-office race-car thriller “Driven,” co-starring Burt Reynolds and Christian de la Fuente. In addition, he completed filming “Avenging Angelo,” co-starring Madeline Stowe.

Most recently Stallone starred in the role of “The Toymaker” in the international hit film “Spy Kids 3,” the final installment of that successful film franchise.

This summer Stallone launches INSTONE, a company created from Stallone’s vision of a holistic product line for complete health and fitness management.

It brings together his lifelong dedication to fitness and keen understanding of business with some of the preeminent minds in the sports nutrition industry.

Stallone is also one of the founding partners in Planet Hollywood, the internationally famous chain of entertainment complexes. Among other principals of Planet Hollywood are a number of motion-picture industry figures, including producer Keith Barish, The Rank Organization, Plc., Robert Earle, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis. Plans are underway to open Planet Hollywood throughout Europe, Tokyo and other major capitals around the world.

In 2002, Stallone 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.