Rocky Legend Sylvester Stallone Reveals Shocking Health Battles: Bulimia & Steroid Toll
Sylvester Stallone reveals the intense physical and psychological toll his iconic movie roles took on his body, admitting to bulimia and steroid use in his pursuit of the perfect physique. He reflects on his journey from obsession to liberation, and the 'terrible price' paid for treating his body as armor.
In a candid revelation, Hollywood icon Sylvester Stallone has opened up about the profound and often tumultuous relationship he has had with his own body, a journey deeply intertwined with his legendary roles as Rocky Balboa and John Rambo. Speaking with The New York Times, Stallone delved into how his physical form, initially conceived as an 'armor,' evolved from a 'smooth, very normal-looking guy' in 'Rocky' to a more 'animalistic' and 'feral' warrior in 'Rambo.' His ambition was to sculpt his physique not to be 'big like Arnold,' but rather 'limber and athletic,' akin to a jaguar.
However, this pursuit of an idealized physique quickly spiraled into an obsession. Stallone confessed to struggling with bulimia, particularly during the filming of 'Rocky III,' where he pushed his body fat down to an extreme 2.6 percent. This intense dedication to fitness became a relentless 'obsessive body-worship kind of thing,' making it difficult for him to retain food.
The actor also acknowledged the role of performance-enhancing drugs in maintaining his formidable physique. He stated unequivocally that 'Nobody does it without additives and drugs, period. I don’t care what they say.' While clarifying that it wasn't akin to being a 'junkie,' he described a regimen of using such substances 'in a sensitive way — six weeks on, six weeks off' to sustain his rigorous workout demands. Despite achieving his desired physical form, Stallone admitted that these practices took 'a terrible toll' on his body.
A turning point in his perspective came with his role in 'Cop Land,' where he portrayed a partially deaf, overweight character — a stark contrast to his action hero persona. Playing 'the weakest guy in the room' proved to be a liberating experience for him. Reflecting on his past, Stallone now views his body not as an 'armor' but acknowledges the 'masochistic' ways he treated it, recognizing the 'terrible price' he paid. He expressed regret, stating, 'If I could do it over again, I would say, ‘Let someone else carry the banner and don’t do your own stunts.' This intimate account of his physical and emotional struggles is further explored in his forthcoming memoir, 'The Steps,' which is scheduled for release on September 29.