Sylvester Stallone Opens Up About Painful Childhood on Daughters’ Podcast

Hollywood legend Sylvester Stallone, 78, recently shared a deeply personal side of himself during

an emotional appearance on the Unwaxed Podcast, hosted by his daughters Sophia and Sistine.

Best known for tough-guy roles in Rocky and Rambo, Stallone revealed that his painful childhood profoundly shaped his life and art.

He explained that a heated scene in Rocky II—where Rocky yells at his trainer Mickey—was inspired by his own unspoken rage toward his father.

“I was terrified of him,” Stallone admitted. Writing the scene became therapeutic, helping him release years of buried pain.

He also described a traumatic early life, including being left in a boarding house for his first four and a half years.

He recalled cruel comments from his mother, including one that he was only alive because “the hanger didn’t work”—a line he once thought was a joke.

Emotionally withdrawn as a child, Stallone escaped into comic books and imaginary heroes, even wearing superhero costumes

under his clothes for strength. That pain would later fuel his creative fire, leading to Rocky—a global symbol of resilience.

Today, Stallone remains active in film and is set to star in the upcoming thriller Armoured, continuing to inspire with his vulnerability and perseverance.