Monday, September 28, 2026 - Sylvester Stallone has opened up about the physical and personal cost of maintaining the muscular physique that became central to his action-star image.
In a new interview published by The New York Times, the 80-year-old actor revealed that his intense focus on staying lean and muscular became an unhealthy obsession, eventually leading to bulimia.
Stallone said he reached an extremely low body-fat level while preparing for Rocky III and struggled with keeping food down as he became fixated on maintaining his appearance.
Stallone also spoke openly about using steroids during his career and said the pursuit of his physique came with serious consequences. He revealed that years of demanding training, physical roles and performing stunts contributed to nine back operations, two shoulder operations and three neck fusions.
Looking back, he described the physical cost as “terrible” and said he would have approached his career differently, particularly when it came to performing dangerous stunts himself.
The revelations have put a fresh spotlight on the pressure surrounding extreme physiques in Hollywood and the lengths performers can go to meet demanding on-screen expectations.
Stallone's comments also show a very different side of the action-star image audiences have seen for decades: behind the muscles and physical performances were injuries, restrictive behaviour and a relentless drive to maintain a particular appearance. His candid admission is now drawing attention well beyond his film career.
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