Stallone reveals bulimia and steroid use during Rocky III physique obsession

Sylvester Stallone has spoken candidly about the physical extremes he pursued during the peak of his action career, disclosing that he developed bulimia and used steroids while preparing for the 1982 film Rocky III.

In an interview with The New York Times, the actor said his drive to build a lean, athletic body for his screen roles turned into an obsession. He described wanting a physique that was less bulky than Arnold Schwarzenegger's and more agile and aggressive, comparing the aim to the build of a big cat.

That fixation, he said, grew severe enough that he began purging. Stallone recalled reaching 2.6 per cent body fat while working on Rocky III, and said he could not keep food down — or chose not to — because he was determined to remain at that level of fitness, which he characterised as a form of body worship.

Stallone also addressed steroid use directly. In his view, the level of fitness he was chasing could not be achieved without drugs or other additives, and he dismissed suggestions to the contrary. Asked whether he had taken steroids, he said it was unavoidable, and described cycling them six weeks on and six weeks off.

He acknowledged that the practice caused lasting harm, saying it took a severe toll on his body and that his overall approach to training at the time was masochistic.

The actor said his relationship with his body shifted when he took on the 1997 crime drama Cop Land, in which he played a partially deaf, overweight character described as the weakest person in the room. That role, he said, felt liberating, though he added that his career fortunes later changed and he fell out of favour in Hollywood.

Reflecting on the damage, Stallone said he had abused his body and listed the surgeries he has undergone, including nine back operations, two shoulder operations and three neck fusions. He said his body is now held together with baling wire, even as he still hopes to stay in decent shape.

Looking back, Stallone said he would make different decisions if given the chance, suggesting he would let others carry the banner and avoid performing his own stunts. He summed up the cost of his choices in stark terms, saying they had come at a terrible price.