Sylvester Stallone
Unbeknownst to most, six years before writing and starring in Rocky, Sylvester Stallone was the lead in a soft core porn film. In this episode, Kaytlin takes a deep dive into Stallone’s past and analyzes the different ways in which being a former sex worker affect men.
Sylvester Stallone is a famous actor, writer best known for his iconic role in the Rocky franchise and action movies. But did you know that six years before he wrote and starred in Rocky, he was the lead in a softcore porn film? In 1970, Sylvester Stallone starred in a little-known erotic film called The Party at Kitty and Stud’s, which was rereleased as the Italian Stallion in 1976.
The film was shot on a shoestring budget of only $5,000 and was only shown in a handful of pornographic theaters in 1970 and 1972. Stallone was hired to play the lead role of Stud, a handsome and well-endowed Italian-American who is the center of attention at a wild party thrown by Kitty, a wealthy woman and Stud’s girlfriend. The film features several steamy scenes of Sylvester Stallone engaging in sexual acts with various women. The final product is an introspective, meandering, softcore film.
In interviews Stallone claims that he was paid $200 a day for two days of shooting and did the gig out of desperation, having recently become homeless and was sleeping at a bus station in the middle of winter.
The film was released in 1970 under the title The Party at Kitty and Stud’s, and it played in theaters for a short time before disappearing into obscurity. After the success of Rocky the producers offered to sell the film to Stallone to avoid it’s re-release. Stallone said that he wound’t buy it for two dollars. The film was rereleased in 1976 as Italian Stallion, to capitalize on the stars recent fame.
For many years, Sylvester Stallone was embarrassed by his role in the film and did his best to distance himself from it. In interviews, he would often deny that he had ever appeared in a pornographic film, claiming that he had only done some nude modeling to pay the bills.
However, in recent years, Sylvester Stallone has become more open about his past and has even discussed his role in The Party at Kitty and Stud’s in interviews. He’s said that while he is not proud of the film, he recognizes that it was a part of his journey as an actor and that he has learned to embrace his past, warts and all.
It’s worth noting that Sylvester Stallone’s experience is not uncommon in the entertainment industry. Many actors, both male and female, have done erotic or pornographic films early in their careers as a way to make ends meet or to gain experience in front of the camera. Some, like Stallone, have gone on to have successful mainstream careers, while others have remained in the adult industry or found careers outside of entertainment.
Sylvester Stallone’s early career in softcore porn did not hinder his success in Hollywood. If anything, it may have helped him develop the confidence and screen presence that would later make him a household name. So the next time you watch Rocky or Rambo, remember that Sylvester Stallone’s journey to Hollywood success included a stint working in the oldest profession.