Sylvester Stallone Reveals Steroid Use and Bulimia While Filming Rocky III

Sylvester Stallone built his legend on Rocky, but a new New York Times profile reveals the brutal cost of becoming the ultimate 80s action star. Stallone says that while preparing for Rocky III, he used steroids and struggled with bulimia, dropping to 2.6 percent body fat. He described the mindset as an obsessive body worship, and admitted it got to the point where he became bulimic. The extreme dieting and training weren’t just a personal choice either. He says a six-week steroid cycle, followed by six weeks off, was considered mandatory for actors chasing those physiques at the time.

What makes the confession so striking is the timing. For decades, Stallone’s body was the blueprint for action hero success, and millions of fans hit the gym chasing a version of it without knowing what was happening behind closed doors. He also noted that the cycle took a terrible toll on his body, a price he kept paying because the roles demanded it.

Things eventually shifted for Stallone. He credits his 1997 film Cop Land with allowing him to step back from the extreme standards, trading the oiled-up physique for a more grounded character. Today he leads the Paramount+ series Tulsa King and was recently named a special Hollywood ambassador by President Trump, alongside Jon Voight and Mel Gibson.

Does Stallone’s story change how you look back at those classic 80s action movies? Tell us in the comments.