Sylvester Stallone Reveals Body Image Struggles and Bulimia During Rocky Filming

Sylvester Stallone has disclosed that he suffered from an eating disorder during the filming of his iconic "Rocky" movies, detailing the extreme measures he took to achieve the character's physique and the subsequent impact on his health.

In a candid interview with The New York Times, the 80-year-old actor revealed that his pursuit of a specific body type for the "Rocky" films led him to become bulimic. He explained that during the production of "Rocky III," he achieved a body fat percentage of 2.6 percent but found himself unable to keep food down due to his obsessive focus on maintaining that level of fitness. Stallone described this period as an "obsessive body-worship kind of thing."

The actor also admitted to using steroids to enhance his physique, stating that it was common for actors in such demanding roles to use performance-enhancing drugs. He noted the difficulty of maintaining extreme fitness for extended periods solely through diet, mentioning eating yogurt and pudding as insufficient.

Stallone shared that the physical toll of his career has been significant, leading to multiple surgeries. "I’ve abused my body," he stated, recounting nine back operations, two shoulder operations, and three neck fusions. Despite these issues, he expressed a continued desire to stay in good shape, with his body held together metaphorically by "baling wire."

Ironically, Stallone recalled feeling most comfortable when portraying an out-of-shape police officer in the 1997 film "Cop Land." He described feeling liberated playing a character who was partially deaf and overweight, a stark contrast to the hyper-muscular roles he was known for. He suggested that after "Cop Land," his career trajectory shifted, leading him to "fall out of grace with Hollywood."

The actor, also known for his Rambo films, has not starred in a major film since "Expendables 4" in 2023. His upcoming autobiography, "The Steps: A Memoir," is scheduled for release on September 29. The memoir's title references the famous steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, a key location in the original "Rocky" movie. In the book, Stallone discusses his troubled childhood, detailing accusations that his parents were not nurturing, which left him feeling abandoned and neglected. He recounted instances of physical abuse from his father, Frank, including being punched for not bringing home bread and a disturbing incident where his father killed a cat, an act Stallone interpreted as an attempt to impress him with toughness.

Stallone also disclosed that he experienced anxiety and panic attacks starting at age 36, recalling an intense episode during a film screening that made him feel as if he were dying. He has previously referred to his third wife, Jennifer, as "the greatest woman ever."

Reflecting on his mortality, Stallone told The New York Times, "All I can do is cherish every second because, let’s face it, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel."