Sylvester Stallone's Gray Hair Transformation Has Stunned His Fans

Jul 19, 2021

Sylvester Stallone was born Michael Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone, and he is an American actor, writer, producer, and director. Stallone's greatest critical and commercial achievement was the success of the "Rocky Balboa" franchise. The character was created by Stallone and is still one of the actor's most beloved roles he's ever written or starred in. Rocky Balboa is an underdog boxer who trains and faces multiple brutal opponents on his journey to winning two world heavyweight championships. 

In 1977, Stallone became the third performer in history to ever be nominated for two Academy Awards, one for Best Original Screenplay and the other for Best Actor. "Rocky Balboa" has been inducted into the National Film Registry, and props from the film series have been memorialized at the Smithsonian museum. Stallone was even voted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in the non-participant category. 

The other role Stallone is most known for is the John Rambo series, beginning with "First Blood" in 1982. The film was co-written by Stallone and Ted Kotcheff and is about a misunderstood Vietnam veteran with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder named John Rambo, who relies on his military training and survival skills to make it out alive after he is pursued in a massive manhunt. 

Stallone has more recently been involved with "The Expendables" film series in which he plays the lead role: a mercenary named Barry Ross. The actor also returned to the Rocky series with the spin-off "Creed." Reprising the role of Rocky in 2015 won Stallone a Golden Globe Award and a third Academy Award nomination. Read on to learn more about Stallone's legendary career and to see how he looks now after spending five decades in the industry.

Stallone was born in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of New York City on July 6, 1946. His father was Francesco "Frank" Stallone Sr., a hairdresser and beautician, and his mother was an astrologer, dancer, and promoter of women's wrestling named Jacqueline "Jackie" Stallone. Stallone said to GQ about his father, "I inherited a kind of feistiness that I can definitely feel in Rambo. That's where it really comes out, that kind of…primal rage. My father would fight with anybody."

In the same interview, he recalled the rare time his mother ever showed him affection, with a single kiss. "Once. Once, fleetingly. I think it was when there was a divorce. I hope you put this in: I don't hold it against her, because she was treated that way, so she didn't know any better. But yeah, that was.."

He continued, "There's no closure for things that happen during your childhood. You're wet clay, and that's a dent that's been put in the clay. You can't buff or sand it out; it'll always have that fissure. So you've got to be careful, what you say to a kid; it buries itself in the heart like a hatchet. And you can't fix the wound. I don't care how much loving and kissing and adoration."

According to a 1999 interview with "Inside the Actors Studio," when Stallone was born, the misuse of forceps severed a nerve and caused partial paralysis in his face, as well as facial scarring. This paralysis affects the lower left side of his face as well as the lips, tongue, and chin. 

This accident also caused his slurred speech, something he was bullied for as a child. When asked what he is most insecure about by GQ, Stallone said, "My voice. I have an impediment, and growing up it was pretty bad, so it was constant harassment. I hate my voice."

Despite not having an easy time growing up, Stallone remains positive. "I didn't have a perfect childhood, but I'm a believer in this, too: I wouldn't be here with a perfect childhood. So whatever trials and tribulations, it provided me with enough ammunition and anger and competitiveness and insecurity to keep forging ahead. So I tell people, Embrace your frustration, your fears, because that's what makes life interesting. Nobody likes perfection; I want that flawed guy. He's there in spite of the flaws. And the hurts never go away. You can't get rid of memory," Stallone said.

Rocky

Stallone began his career acting in stage plays before being discovered by an agent and landing a role in the film "The Lords of Flatbush." This role gave him some credibility in the industry. He continued to play small roles in films and television series until he sold the story of "Rocky. " 

Stallone told GQ, "A lot of actors were presented with wonderful projects, and they rose to the occasion. I had to write my own material. I didn't have a pedigree, like how DeNiro came through Brian De Palma. I was this outsider. And in some way I still sort of am. I live here, but I've never felt comfortable. I wish I were. I used to say to my wife, 'I would love just to be able to act and have wonderful scripts and wonderful directors.' It just has never been my lot in life. It's always been do-it-yourself."

Rocky is one of Stallone's most beloved roles. He said in the same interview, "One of the toughest days of my life was that last day making Rocky Balboa. I said, 'I'm never gonna find this friend again.' It's like I am losing part of my soul. I'll never be able to voice myself the way I was able. Because this guy was allowed to do that. I lost the greatest character I'll ever come close to."

Stallone also explained that audiences love how accessible the Rocky franchise is to Variety. He said:

"It was like the first 'Rocky.' There's something about the perseverance of being so overwhelmed by life and still driving through it. People can relate to it on a subliminal level. Rocky is very touchable. He was the most insecure fighter ever. He just had no belief in himself whatsoever, and I think a lot of people feel that way. They see the character in the film overcome it, and they say, "You know, I could do that too." So I think the relatability and lack of guile he has (is what appeals)."

Stallone agrees that Rocky is his legacy as an actor and writer. "It is. It's like my brother. It's the only voice that I can say what I want without being ridiculed, or being silly, or being precious or sentimental, because he is that way. Rocky can't keep quiet. He just talks and talks and spills his guts. And as a writer, if you do that quite often, it looks as though you're just lost in the world of exposition. But he's actually saying something, and because of the way he speaks and his naiveté and gentle quality, you listen. Rocky can say things that my other characters can never say," Stallone said to Variety.

Knowing how much the film franchise means to Stallone, it is surprising to learn that he does not have an ownership stake in the series. He told the magazine, "I mentioned it a few times because after 'Rocky I' came out and made a ton of money and then 'Rocky III' hit and made more than all of them, I said I'd like to have some ownership since I invented it. And that never happened. So I have zero ownership of 'Rocky.'"

Stallone was not happy with the way things turned out with the ownership. The star continued, "I was very angry. I was furious. 'Rocky' is on TV around the world more than any other Oscar-winning film other than 'Godfather.' You have six of them, and now you have 'Creed' and 'Creed II.'"

The actor said he was told receiving a stake for the films could not happen, and he blames the way the industry works. Stallone added, "I love the system — don't get me wrong. My kids and their kids, they're taken care of because of the system. But there are dark little segues and people that have put it to ya. They say the definition of Hollywood is someone who stabs you in the chest. They don't even hide it."

The Expendables 

The first film in the series, "The Expendables," came out in 2010, after Stallone's career began to see another upswing. The entire series is an action movie lover's dream, featuring many high-profile action stars like Jason Statham, Jet Li, Terry Crews, and Stone Cold Steve Austin. The first film went on to have two sequels, "The Expendables 2" and "The Expendables 3."

Stallone told Collider, "That's the hardest thing about doing sequels, people think it's easy – it's not. Because you've lost the element of surprise. And so how do you keep on stacking the deck, how do you put on layers without being too pretentious or trying too hard. But actually we've got a blend here and you've got yourself a very very serious film. And then you have adult humor; we're not going for the cheap laughs. You gotta work for the laughs a little bit."

The actor also said he doesn't think being typecast or having baggage from other films is a bad thing. "You know people always talk about 'oh, I have baggage, my baggage.' Baggage is the best thing you can have, because that means you've got something to sell, something to bring along with you. So all these guys have big time bags, you see what I mean? They're developing baggage (laughs). A lot of time people are like, 'oh my God, you're stereotyped.' Good, then you're known for something. The NFL is stereotyped for playing football," Stallone explained. 

Stallone also said:

"Everyone has this conjecture that action films are somewhat less prestigious than dramatic films. Nothing could be further from the truth. I've done them both and this is hard and dangerous. I mean, Jason (Statham) nearly drowned to death—lucky he's a great swimmer. All of us would've been walking on the bottom of the Black Sea by now—well, not really walking, probably floating—and that's some serious stuff. Things happen here. It's very, very unique. They're not going to make films like this much longer because it takes a certain person that's willing to commit and go for it and have an aura."

He continued, "The hardest thing is to find an action star. I don't give a damn what anyone says, stars they come and go. An action star, you can count on one hand, because it's a very interesting element. And I think all these guys have that potential, otherwise they wouldn't be here. And they all blend. It's something I'm very, very proud of. All these guys do things that are highly unique and they've become specialized and rare."

Transformation

Stallone just turned 75, and he is looking as good as ever. The star posted photos and videos of his hair looking all silver in early 2020. Previously, he had always had dark-colored hair, but it began to turn gray as he got older, and Stallone later decided to stop coloring it altogether.

People magazine reported that the initial video was a short clip of Stallone encouraging his fans and telling them to "Keep punching." He was wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt in the video. "Sometimes when I wake up I feel like doing nothing. Just relaxing. Just very true. If anyone says different, they're lying — it's human nature. Then you roll over, get a little mad at yourself, and realize to get anywhere you've got to make a deposit in the GOAL BANK," wrote Stallone in the caption on Instagram. 

Fans of the actor could not get enough of his new look. According to People, one Instagram user wrote in the comments, "Proud of you with the silver hair," while another wrote:

"Stay true to the gray!! Looks good on ya!"

Another fan replied to Stallone's post, writing, "Stay gray, my friend. Stay gray #staygold." We think the new look is amazing on him and wish him all the best.

Sylvester Stallone is now a member of the silver fox club. Do you think Stallone looks distinguished with his silver hair? Are you a fan of his films? Let us know what you think, and be sure to pass this story along to your friends and family.