Sylvester Stallone Recounts Explosive On-Set Fight with Richard Gere

Sylvester Stallone has detailed a fierce rivalry with actor Richard Gere that escalated into a physical brawl on the set of their 1974 film, "The Lords of Flatbush." The animosity between the two actors reportedly began during auditions and intensified throughout the filming, ultimately leading to Gere being replaced in the movie.

According to Stallone's newly published memoir, "The Steps," the friction started during an ad-lib session where Gere allegedly grabbed Stallone's T-shirt, digging his fingernails into his skin. Stallone recalled asking the director if he could react as he would in real life, to which he responded, "I’d knock his teeth out." The director reportedly advised against it.

The situation deteriorated further during a lunch break on set. Stallone claims that as he was eating, Gere allegedly dropped chicken grease onto his leg. This incident triggered a physical confrontation, with Stallone elbowing Gere and then pulling him out of the car. The fight was reportedly broken up by director Stephen F. Verona, who placed himself between the two actors.

Stallone wrote in his memoir that it became clear to everyone involved that the situation was untenable, stating, "One of us had to go." Ultimately, Gere was replaced by Perry King. Robert De Niro was also slated to be in the film, but he departed for reasons apparently unrelated to the conflict between Stallone and Gere. Henry Winkler, who replaced De Niro, later became good friends with Stallone.

"The Lords of Flatbush," directed by Verona and Martin Davidson, was a low-budget comedy set in 1950s Brooklyn. The film followed the lives of blue-collar toughs.

Years later, in 1994, Stallone and Gere reportedly had another near-confrontation at a party hosted by Elton John in London. The incident allegedly occurred during Princess Diana's separation from Prince Charles. John's memoir suggests that Gere and Diana were "very taken with each other," which may have displeased Stallone, who he believed had intended to ask Diana for a dance. According to reports, the two actors were on the verge of a fistfight over the matter, which was averted by David Furnish, John's husband.

Stallone has also publicly addressed rumors that he was responsible for a Hollywood rumor about Gere requiring hospitalization for a gerbil extraction. Stallone has denied being the source of this unsubstantiated story, stating that Gere believed him to be the culprit.