Sylvester Stallone revisits hardship and inspiration in memoir Steps

Sylvester Stallone has released his memoir Steps, offering reflections on the difficult experiences that preceded his rise in the film industry and the inspiration behind the character that helped define his career.

The book was released on Tuesday, after Stallone turned 80 in July. The actor and filmmaker said he had resisted writing about his life despite being approached several times.

“The one thing I didn’t want to write about is my life,” Stallone said, describing it as an uneven and sometimes unpleasant journey. He said he ultimately chose to focus on what he called the inspiration associated with a “minor miracle” in 1976 and on explaining how the character came into being.

A difficult past

Stallone also addressed the personal hardships he experienced before establishing himself in the film industry. He described himself as an unplanned and unwanted child and said revisiting those experiences was challenging.

“I spent 50 years burying that stuff,” he said, comparing the process of examining his past to becoming “your own spiritual archaeologist.” Stallone added that he did not want the memoir to present a “woe is me” account, saying that insecurity had both painful and motivating effects.

His comments place the memoir’s focus on the experiences that shaped his ambitions, rather than solely on the achievements that followed. Stallone said the character at the centre of the book was inspiring and that he wanted readers to understand the circumstances behind its creation.

Film explores the making of Rocky

Stallone also discussed Peter Farrelly’s I Play Rocky, described as a fictionalized and semi-authorized version of his story. The film was scheduled to reach cinemas weeks after the memoir’s release.

Stallone praised Farrelly and the wider team behind the project, although he said he initially had little confidence that it would succeed. He called the film “fantastic” and said the young actor involved had done a great job.

Reflecting on the project’s unusual timing, Stallone said it was surreal to see a film about his story being made while he was still alive and working. He also contrasted the fictional nature of Rocky with the real-life journey explored in I Play Rocky.

Stallone remains active professionally. His most recent featured role was mobster Dwight “The General” Manfredi in the Paramount+ series Tulsa King.