Sylvester Stallone struggled early in his career, taking small roles before writing and starring in Rocky (1976), which became a cultural phenomenon and earned him Academy Award nominations for Best Actor and Best Original Screenplay. The film won Best Picture and launched Stallone into stardom. He later created the Rambo franchise, portraying a Vietnam War veteran, cementing his reputation as an action hero.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Stallone was one of Hollywood’s highest-paid actors, starring in films like Cobra (1986), Cliffhanger (1993), and Demolition Man (1993). He revived his career with Rocky Balboa (2006), Rambo (2008), and The Expendables series (2010–present). In 2015, he returned to the Rocky universe with Creed, earning a Golden Globe Award and another Oscar nomination, proving his lasting influence in cinema.