Sylvester Stallone Hid His Struggles for Decades. Now He’s Coming Clean.

Sylvester Stallone reflects on his life and career, detailing the traumatic childhood experiences that fueled his relentless ambition and eventual rise to Hollywood stardom. He recounts the emotional and physical abuse he endured from his parents, which shaped his "tough guy" persona and his obsessive drive to succeed. The conversation delves into his breakthrough with *Rocky*, his complex relationship with fame, and his struggles with body image and substance use to maintain a specific physique. Stallone also addresses the profound grief following the death of his son, Sage, and his shift from being an avatar for war in the *Rambo* franchise to adopting an anti-war stance. Throughout the discussion, he emphasizes the therapeutic role of his characters in processing his personal history and his ongoing commitment to his craft at age 80.