Sylvester Stallone Opens Up About Bulimia, Steroids, and Body Obsession
Action star Sylvester Stallone opens up about the severe physical toll of his career, admitting to bulimia, steroid use, and the profound grief of losing his son.
Fifty years after first stepping into the ring as Rocky Balboa, action star Sylvester Stallone is opening up about the heavy physical and psychological toll of his legendary career. In a candid interview with The New York Times surrounding his memoir, The Steps, the 80-year-old actor detailed the grueling transformation he underwent to build his iconic movie physique.
The Price of Perfection
Stallone admitted that his muscular frame was initially meant to be a protective barrier. "It was my armor," he shared, reflecting on his transition from the ordinary-looking boxer in Rocky to the feral, athletic soldier in Rambo. "I wanted to design the body like a jaguar, like a cat—not as massive as Arnold, but more wild, aggressive, flexible, and athletic."
However, this relentless pursuit of a shredded appearance exacted a severe health toll. The actor confessed to developing bulimia during the height of his career, particularly while filming Rocky 3, where his body fat plummeted to an extreme 2.6 percent. He became so obsessive about maintaining that level of conditioning that he struggled to keep food down.
"I became bulimic," Stallone revealed. "I couldn't keep anything in my stomach, or I didn't want to keep it in, because I became so obsessive about maintaining that fitness level."
Steroids and Regrets
Stallone also addressed his use of performance-enhancing drugs and steroids, stating bluntly that achieving such physiques sustainably is impossible without assistance. He noted that he took them in controlled cycles of six weeks on and six weeks off, acknowledging that while it wasn't drug addiction in the traditional sense, it came with a terrible physical cost.
The only relief he ever felt from the crushing pressure of physical perfection came during a rare character role. In the 1997 crime drama Cop Land, where he played an overweight, half-deaf sheriff, Stallone felt genuinely liberated. Looking back, he expressed profound regret over his stubborn insistence on performing his own stunts and pushing his body to the absolute brink.
A Father's Grief
Beyond the physical self-destruction, Stallone opened up about the profound heartbreak of losing his son, Sage, who passed away at the tragic age of 35. Describing the agonizing aftermath, the actor recalled breaking down in total solitude.
"About a week later, I was alone in a room and a scream burst out of me," Stallone said. "I had never heard it before or since. There was such immense pain, grief, and guilt. He was a kind-hearted kid, and we could have done wonderful things together in the future."
