Sylvester Stallone would do Rocky for free.
Welcome back!
In 1974 a broke, beaten down actor/screenwriter name Sylvester Stallone was attending a boxing match of a “nobody” boxer with the great Mohammed Ali and Stallone became inspired by this nobody fighter who “went the distance” with the greatest boxer ever live.
Stallone rushed home and in three days he wrote the first draft of the screenplay entitled Rocky. Down to his last $106, Stallone submitted his screenplay to his agent. A studio offered $20,000 with either Ryan O’Neal or Burt Reynolds playing the lead character. Stallone was excited by the offer but wanted to play the lead himself and he offered to act for free. Stallone was told, “That’s not the way it works in Hollywood.” Stallone turned down the offer though desperately needed the money.
Then the studio offered him $80,000 on the condition that he wouldn’t play the lead. Stallone turned them down again.
The studio told him that Robert Redford was interested, and this time the studio would pay him $200,000 for him to not play the lead. Stallone turned them down once more.
The studio upped their offer to $300,000 for his script. Stallone told them that he didn’t want to go through his whole life wondering “what if?”
The studio again upped their offer to $330,000. Stallone told them that he’d rather not see the movie made if he couldn’t play the lead.
So, studio finally agreed to let him play the lead. Stallone was paid $20,000 for his script plus $340 per week minimum pay for an actor at the time. After expenses, agent fees, and taxes, Stallone netted about $6,000 instead of $330,000.
In 1976 Stallone was nominated for an Academy Award as Best Actor. The movie Rocky won three Oscars: Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Film Editing. The Rocky series has since grossed almost $1 billion, making Sylvester Stallone an international movie star!
Sylvester Stallone rather stayed broke then to sell his dream, not even for $330,000. His passion to act in the role of Rocky was so big that it wasn’t negotiable.
Believe in yourself! Follow your gut and stick to your guns. You are not for sell.
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action
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I, for one am glad that he stuck to his guns and played the lead roll. It would not have been the same with someone else in it. I like those movies. I am glad that he did not give in and he keep to his dream. Thank you Giovanna for the great story.
Dan and Deanna “Marketing Unscrambled”
I have to say I haven’t seen the movies!? - and I hadn’t realised Sylvester Stallone had written the script - very interesting & inspiring .. so many of us throw our first few dreams away at the beginning .. and don’t hold on to our personal belief .. that we can do it.
Thanks Gio - Hilary: Be Positive Be Happy
Awesome story! I didnt know Sylvester Stallone had written the script either. When you believe in yourself everyone feels that energy. Maybe thats why it was such a great movie!
Inspiring! Thank you for bringing us this wonderful story of courage.
Hi Deanna
I can’t imagine Rocky being anyone else but Sylvester Stallone. I agree with you that if it was someone else playing Rocky it will not be the same.
Thank you for your comment and support.
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action
Hi Hilary
When we think of Stallone we think of the tough guy Rocky, and we don’t picture him as a writer. In fact he is a very inspirational person that we can all learn from.
Thank you for your comment and joining in the conversation.
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action
Hi Christy
I agree I think the reason those movies are so great is because he believe in them so much.
Thank you for your comment and sharing your thoughts.
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action
Hi Vered
Giovanna Garcia
Thank you for reading the story.
And I appreciate your comment and support
Imperfect Action is better than No Action
This is a great story, one which I have thought about many times. Sly was Rocky!
“I am not for sale”, “I am not a sell-out” — these will be my new mantra!
hiya
A great read, a wonderful story and an enjoyable movie too. That is the strength of individuality and purpose in action. A timely reminder.
Thanks
Jens
When i was a kid Stallone was my hero. I am grownup now (so they say…) and this story makes him my lifetime hero. WOW!
Hi Mark
I am glad you like this story too, it is such a great one that it is timeless.
Thank you for your comment and joining in the conversation.
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action
Hi Jen
That is right “You are not for sale and I am not for sale.”
Thank you for your comment and sharing your thoughts.
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action
Hi Jens
Stallone is an amazing person, and he shows us there is something more important in life then money.
Thank you for your comment and joining in the conversation.
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action
Hi Alik
Stallone was hero to many during the Rocky movies, knowning more about him as a person make Stallone a hero and Role Mode.
Thank you for your comment and sharing your thoughts.
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action
This is the first time I heard this story. Thanks for sharing. It’s inspiring and a reminder to hold on to our dreams and our vision during the peaks and valleys of life.
I learnt something today, again because your blog tells stories of real-life people. Thanks Giovanna, for the inspiration based on facts.
Man, I love that movie.
Giovanna, this is a marvelous little story. How inspiring that he believed in himself so much he turned down what today would be the equivalent of million! My favorite part is this: “Stallone told them that he didn’t want to go through his whole life wondering ‘what if?’”
Hi Stacey
I wish for every one of us to hold on to our dreams and never give up.
Thank you for your comment and sharing your wisdom.
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action
Hi Daphne
Thank you, I am glad you enjoy the ROCKY story. I love the back story of success. I feel that we need to hear about them, because that can make so much more impact for us than the popular winning result. It inspires us all that we too can do it.
Thank you for your comment and sharing thoughts.
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action
Hi Christopher
Me too
Thank you for your comment and joining the conversation.
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action
Hi Stephen
Thank you for pointing the part of “what if!” That is my favorite of the whole story.
Thank you for your comment and support.
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action
Nothing beats having the eye of the tiger
I think Rocky is all about heart and it’s cool that Stallone had a bunch of it even behind the scenes.
Hi J.D.
Yes, Stallone got heart! And sometime that is all we need.
Thank you for your comment and sharing your thoughts.
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action
Thanks — it’s stories like this that inspired me to start listening to “Rocky IV Training Montage” in the morning. Either that or “You’re The Best Around” from the Karate Kid.
Hi Chris
Now, I am going to have to go see Karate Kid again
Thank you for your comment and sharing your thought.
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action
Great article! I think there was a story about Stallone’s dog he loved much but had to sell cause of lack of money for some little money. He bought it back once he had money from movie for 50000 as I remember. Great man, great movie, great story.
Hi Maksym,
Yes, you are right about Stallone and his dog. He did get his dog back by buying it back for a very high price, he also have to give that guy a small part in the ROCKY one movie.
Thanks for your comment and joining the conversation.
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action
OH I am glad I found you all,I love SLY so much,he is one amazing,lovely and sexy person,doesnt he Ladies? I cant desribe by words what I feel to him