Hollywood has been home to numerous off-screen incidents, some of which can be as dramatic as the scenes portrayed in movies. Sylvester Stallone’s revelation about a hazardous episode during the filming of Rocky IV is one of those tales that prove truth can be as captivating as fiction.
The Punch that Almost Ended Stallone
During the filming of Rocky IV, a boxing sequence between Stallone and Dolph Lundgren, who played the formidable Ivan Drago, escalated into an unexpected real-life confrontation. Instead of sticking to the choreographed punches and jabs, Lundgren, in the heat of the moment, delivered a punch that landed Stallone in the hospital. Discussing the incident in his YouTube video, The Making of Rocky vs. Drago by Sylvester Stallone, the veteran actor reminisced, “I didn’t feel it in the moment but, later that night, my heart started to swell, my blood pressure went up to 260 and I was going to be talking to angels. Next thing I know I’m on this emergency, low-altitude flight. I’m in intensive care surrounded by nuns.”
The gravity of the situation became clear when Stallone shared that he had to be airlifted from Canada to an intensive care unit in California, emphasizing the severity of his injuries. While any other individual might have considered retreating from such a taxing project, Stallone’s spirit remained unyielding.
Stallone’s Unwavering Commitment to Cinema
Despite the life-threatening ordeal, Stallone returned to complete the film, demonstrating an unwavering dedication to his craft. The irony? The very punch that caused such trauma didn’t make the final cut of the film. This oversight, however, inspired Stallone to create a director’s edit of Rocky IV showcasing the brutal punch that almost took his life. Recollecting the event, Stallone said, “I was surprised that the punch, which had sent me to the hospital, was absent from the movie’s final edit.”
Rocky IV emerged as a box-office behemoth in 1985, raking in an impressive $300 million globally. The film’s success, combined with the off-screen tales of resilience, further cements Stallone’s legacy in Hollywood. Not only did he survive a potentially fatal incident, but he also revisited the traumatic experience, turning it into a cinematic triumph.
