Sylvester Stallone Through The Years: Photos Of The ‘Rocky’ Icon In Honor Of His 76th Birthday

1 of 23

Sylvester Stallone: Then & Now

Sylvester Stallone: Then & Now — Talk about a class act! Sylvester Stallone, born July 6, 1946, is a Hollywood icon, with 6 decades of acting under his belt. He struggled for years before breaking big with ‘Rocky’ in 1976, which he also helped write. The underdog Philly boxer would become one of his more iconic characters, and he reprised the role 7 times in years since.

He would become an action star in the 80s, with the help of the ‘Rambo’ movies, and thrillers like ‘Demolition Man’, and ‘The Specialist’. In the 2010s, Stallone launched ‘The Expendables’ films series (2010–2014). He also picked up the Rocky saga with 2006’s ‘Rocky Balboa’ and the two ‘Creed’ movies, starring Michael B. Jordan.

Through it all, he’s remained a true star. Want to see photos of Sly from his young years to now? Click through the gallery to see photos from the early days and on.

2 of 23

‘Lords Of Flatbush’

‘Lords Of Flatbush’ — City slickers! Sylvester Stallone (center left) appears with Henry Winkler (center right), Paul Mace (left), and Perry King (far right) in ‘Lords Of Flatbush’. The 1974 movie was about leather jacket-clad street teens from Brooklyn’s Flatbush neighborhood in New York. It was one of Sly’s first big parts.

3 of 23

‘Death Race 2000’

‘Death Race 2000’ — Sylvester Stallone looks a bit bloodied in a scene for 1975’s ‘Death Race 2000’. The film was about dystopian future, which is home to a brutal a cross-country car race that tasks contestants to run down innocent pedestrians to gain points tallied based on each kill’s brutality.

4 of 23

‘Rocky’

‘Rocky’ — Fighting spirit! Sylvester Stallone wrote and starred in the boxing drama ‘Rocky’. The movie received ten Academy Award nominations and won three, including Best Picture.

5 of 23

Sylvester Stallone In 1977

Sylvester Stallone In 1977 — Sylvester Stallone, left, holds his Oscar for ‘Rocky’ at the 1977 Academy Awards. Besides him, Eletha Finch, center, holds the Oscar she accepted for her late husband Peter Finch, who was named best actor for his performance in ‘Network’. On the right, Faye Dunaway holds her Best actress Oscar for Network’.

6 of 23

‘FIST’

‘FIST’ — Sylvester Stallone was the star of the 1978 crime drama ‘F.I.S.T.’. The film was about a rebellious Cleveland warehouse worker who rises through the ranks of a trucking industry union to become union president. Eventually, his organized crime links cause his downfall.

7 of 23

Sylvester Stallone On ‘the Muppet Show’

Sylvester Stallone On ‘the Muppet Show’ — Sylvester Stallone looks hunky while on ‘The Muppet Show’ in 1979. He was joined by another suave gentleman, who happened to be a pig.

8 of 23

Sylvester Stallone In 1981

Sylvester Stallone In 1981 — Sylvester Stallone looks handsome at London’s Dorchester Hotel on Seo 4, 1981. He was in the UK to film ‘Escape to Victory’.

9 of 23

‘First Blood’

‘First Blood’ — Sylvester Stallone played John Rambo in 1982’s ‘First Blood’. The classic action flick was about a veteran Green Beret who is forced to flee into the mountains and wage an escalating one-man war against his pursuers. It spawned 4 sequels.

10 of 23

‘Rhinestone’

‘Rhinestone’ — Sylvester Stallone looks cool in a scene from 1984’s ‘Rhinestone’. Sly wrote the screenplay for the flick, where a country music star, played by Dolly Parton, must turn an obnoxious New York cabbie (Stallone) into a singer in order to win a bet.

11 of 23

Sylvester Stallone In 2000

Sylvester Stallone In 2000 — Sylvester Stallone presents an award at the Laureus Sports Awards on May 2, 2000 in Monaco. He looked very handsome.

12 of 23

Sylvester Stallone At The Premiere Of ‘Battlefield Earth’

Sylvester Stallone At The Premiere Of ‘Battlefield Earth’ — Sylvester Stallone holds wife Jennifer Flavin’s hand while hanging out with Verona Feldbusch at the premiere of ‘Battlefield Earth’ in 2000.

13 of 23

‘Get Carter’

‘Get Carter’ — Sylvester Stallone and Michael Caine have a heart-to-heart in 2000’s ‘Get Carter’. The film, a remake of a 1971 British mob movie starring Michael Caine, was about a Las Vegas mob enforcer who travels back to his hometown to investigate his brother’s mysterious death.

14 of 23

Sylvester Stallone In ‘Get Carter’

Sylvester Stallone In ‘Get Carter’ — flopped at the box office, with worldwide earnings of approximately $19 million against a production budget of nearly $64 million flexes his tattooed arms in a scene from ‘Get Carter’. The movie flopped at the box office, earning approximately $19 million against a production budget of nearly $64 million.

15 of 23

Sylvester Stallone & Rachel Leigh Cook In ‘Get Carter’

Sylvester Stallone & Rachel Leigh Cook In ‘Get Carter’ — Sylvester Stallone appears with Rachael Leigh Cook in a scene from ‘Get Carter’. She plays his niece in the movie

16 of 23

Sylvester Stallone At A 2005 Book Signing

Sylvester Stallone At A 2005 Book Signing — An author too! Sylvester Stallone signs his book ‘Sly Moves’ in LA on May 14, 2005. He looked proud of the publication, which was a fitness and weightloss guide.

17 of 23

Sylvester Stallone & Family In 2010

Sylvester Stallone & Family In 2010 — Sylvester Stallone appears with his wife Jennifer Flavin and daughters at the 14th Annual Hollywood Awards Gala on Oct. 25, 2010. He and third wife Jennifer married in 1997.

18 of 23

Sylvester Stallone & Wife At AFI Film Festival

Sylvester Stallone & Wife At AFI Film Festival — Sylvester Stallone and Jennifer Flavin attend the closing night gala of AFI Film Festival 2010 on Nov. 11. The festival closed with the premiere of the film ‘Black Swan’.

19 of 23

Sylvester Stallone & Robert De Niro In 2013

Sylvester Stallone & Robert De Niro In 2013 — Double trouble! Sylvester Stallone and Robert De Niro attend the world premiere of ‘Grudge Match’ on Ddec. 16, 2013.

20 of 23

Sylvester Stallone At The 2016 National Board of Review Awards Gala

Sylvester Stallone At The 2016 National Board of Review Awards Gala — Sylvester Stallone is ultra dapper in pinstripes at the 2016 National Board of Review Gala. The event took place at Cipriani 42nd Street.

21 of 23

Sylvester Stallone & Arnold Schwarzenegger In 2018

Sylvester Stallone & Arnold Schwarzenegger In 2018 — Tough guys! Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone team up for the launch of the luxury photobook ‘Rocky. The Complete Films’ at TASCHEN Beverly Hills on Dec. 11, 2018.

22 of 23

Sylvester Stallone & Daughter Sistine Watch Polo

Sylvester Stallone & Daughter Sistine Watch Polo — Sylvester Stallone and Sistine Stallone (left) attennd a polo game in Wellington, Florida on Jan. 2, 2022. He enjoyed a drink while she watched the match.

23 of 23

Sylvester Stallone In London In 2022

Sylvester Stallone In London In 2022 — Sylvester Stallone is handsome as he arrives at the Chiltern Firehouse in London for a dinner hosted by Chris McCarthy & David Glasser on Jun. 21, 2022. The event was held to celebrate the UK launch of Paramount+.

ad