Sylvester Stallone pushed himself to make sure all his films were great, which took a toll on his body

SUMMARY

Sylvester Stallone’s never-say-die attitude made him a legendary star in Hollywood
Sylvester Stallone’s incredible role in ‘The Expendables’ revitalized his career
Despite his best efforts, Stallone ended up suffering a physical toll he could never recover from

Sylvester Stallone is undoubtedly one of the biggest names in the history of Hollywood, as he has made a name for himself as the king of action movies in the 70s and 80s, thanks to his incredible roles in juggernaut franchises such as Rambo as well as Rocky.

His iconic roles helped him influence several decades’ worth of movies and even now – many continue to be inspired by him.

That being said, Stallone had to go through a lot of physical turmoil for one of his greatest action movies.

Sylvester Stallone is no stranger when it comes to going to great lengths in order to achieve peak physical fitness, whenever a role demands it.

After all, fans are more than aware of how much he pushed himself to portray the role of the cold-blooded John Ranmbo in the Rambo franchise. This discipline carried onto his other films as well.

A still from Rambo featuring Sylvester Stallone

Sylvester Stallone Had A Career Resurgence in The Expendables

Sylvester Stallone had somewhat fallen off the radar as far as being a Box Office draw was concerned during the onset of the 2000s, as the likes of Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and others took over his role as bonafide action heroes.

However, that all changed after The Expendables was released back in 2010.

This film, featuring a star-studded ensemble including Jason Statham, Bruce Willis, and Arnold Schwarzenegger, marked Sylvester Stallone’s return to the top of the Box Office, as fans loved the film’s focus on old-school action and gut-punching moments.

Sylvester Stallone in The Expendables

The Expendables Took A Toll On His Body He Could Never Fully Recover From

According to Marca, the Netflix documentary Sly unveiled the arduous journey that the Hollywood legend had to endure in order to make The Expendables a success – even at the cost of his health.

Stallone admitted that the “filming was hell” and he had to endure a lot of physical and mental turmoil throughout the filming process.

Stallone revealed how he had bronchitis, canker sores, a broken neck and more during the whole ordeal.

“Having family there all the time… it was very hard for them because I was very stressed and devastated.: bronchitis, canker sores, broken neck… And it was one, and another, and another. So I didn’t like it.”

Even his co-star and fellow action legend Arnold Schwarzenegger acknowledged the ridiculous lengths Sylvester Stallone would go to in order to ensure that The Expendables would become a success.

Schwarzenegger noted that Stallone truly pushed himself to the limit.

”It’s common for an action hero to get injured on set, but I think it’s clear that Sly pushed himself to the limit. That seemed like a lot to me.”

In the end, The Expendables proved to be a pivotal point in Stallone’s career, leading to sequels and even the resurgence of his iconic character Rocky in Creed.

That said, Stallone revealed in the documentary that he never fully recovered from the toll taken by The Expendables.

“Sincerely, I never fully recovered from The Mercenaries. It took a toll on my body.

I was never the same again. Never. And you say: ‘Was it worth it?

Are you doing it for people’s approval? Really?’ It’s almost like a child needs a hug from his father.”

Sylvester Stallone during a conversation in The Expendables

Sylvester Stallone will forever be loved and revered for putting his body on the line over the years simply because he wanted to make sure all of his films were up to standards.

For that, fans and peers alike will continue to respect him no matter what.