Stallone Recounts Extreme Poverty and Survival Tactics in New Memoir 'The Steps'
Sylvester Stallone has detailed his pre-fame poverty in his new memoir, 'The Steps,' revealing that he showered in his clothes to save money on laundry and survived on raw eggs and cottage cheese. The 80-year-old actor described living in a cramped tenement in New York City with only $60 to his name, working odd jobs like cleaning lion cages at Central Park Zoo and cutting fish at a deli. Stallone stated that these extreme measures were necessary to pursue his acting dreams despite facing constant rejection and near-starvation, a narrative that aligns with the recent release of the biopic 'I Play Rocky.'
Key points
- Stallone arrived in New York City in 1969 with only $60, having $43.60 set aside for rent.
- He showered with his clothes on to avoid the cost of laundromats, using a single bar of soap for his body and garments.
- His diet consisted primarily of raw eggs and cottage cheese, which he stored on a windowsill to avoid buying a refrigerator.
- He worked as a movie usher, cleaning lion cages at Central Park Zoo, and cutting fish at Dover Delicatessen.
- Stallone was briefly arrested and held in 'The Tombs' detention facility after an altercation at the deli.
- The memoir details his refusal to give up on acting despite industry standards suggesting failure by age 30.
Background
This disclosure is part of a broader media campaign for Stallone's new memoir, 'The Steps,' and the biopic 'I Play Rocky,' which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. Previous coverage highlighted Stallone's difficult upbringing, including time in juvenile detention and his 2022 separation from wife Jennifer Flavin. The actor has also discussed discovering 'true love' at age 70 and facing limited life expectancy due to health issues, adding emotional weight to his retrospective on early struggles.
Why it matters
Stallone's account provides a raw, unvarnished look at the extreme sacrifices required to succeed in Hollywood during the late 1960s and early 1970s. By linking his personal survival tactics, such as eating raw eggs, directly to the character of Rocky Balboa, Stallone reinforces the authenticity of the 1976 film's underdog narrative. This narrative resonates with current audiences through the new biopic, which aims to capture the grit and determination that defined his career before mainstream success.
What to watch
The biopic 'I Play Rocky,' starring Anthony Ippolito as Stallone, is scheduled for a wide theatrical release on November 20, 2026, following a limited release in November. The memoir 'The Steps' is currently available for purchase, offering further details on Stallone's life, including his recent emotional reckoning and health challenges.
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