Sylvester Stallone Details Traumatic Teen Years in Psychiatric Ward

Sylvester Stallone has revealed details of a disturbing incident he experienced as a teenager while institutionalized in a psychiatric ward. The 80-year-old actor, promoting his upcoming memoir "The Steps," shared with The New York Times that he was once attacked by a fellow patient during his stay at Devereux Manor High School in Pennsylvania.

Stallone described the institution as a place where teenagers were sent as punishment for breaking rules. He recalled the harsh conditions, stating, "The smell, the filth, people running around naked, clawing, hands tied, drooling – this is what they thought would impress you never to break the rules again."

During his time in the ward, which he said lasted for "a couple of weeks," Stallone recounted being assaulted. "They tried to rip my groin off," he told the Times. He described his assailant as a large, unclothed individual nicknamed "Jay Bird." The attack occurred when the assailant entered the bathroom as Stallone was on his way to the mess hall.

Two guards intervened, using razor straps to subdue the attacker. When Stallone questioned the man's behavior, the guards reportedly responded, "You're in a crazy house, boy. Nothing's wrong with him. He's crazy."

Stallone stated that upon entering the ward, he understood the intent was to "break" him. However, upon his release, he told the school principal that he had learned more than just a lesson about breaking rules. "I learned a lot more than that lesson. A much better lesson: You can't break me," he said. This experience, he explained, contributed to a sense of unbreakability that he carried with him into his adult life and career.

Elsewhere in the interview, Stallone also spoke candidly about previously suffering from an eating disorder during his career, particularly in relation to his physique for films like "Rocky." He detailed his obsession with maintaining extreme fitness, which led him to become bulimic and achieve as low as 2.6% body fat during the filming of "Rocky III." Stallone also admitted to using steroids to achieve his physique, stating that it was common in the industry for such demanding physical transformations.