‘My mother never hugged me’: Sylvester Stallone on growing up in a dysfunctional home. Rocky star recalls how his abusive father kicked him in the stomach

Sylvester Stallone needs no introduction. The Hollywood icon shot to fame with the 1976 Academy Award-winning movie Rocky, earning the reputation as a global action star. But his childhood was far from a bed of roses, filled with violence and zero affection. For the unversed, Stallone released his memoir, The Steps, on September 29 but revealed in a recent discussion that he deliberately left out some dark chapters of his youth because he didn’t want readers to pity him.

Sylvester Stallone on his painful childhood

Sylvester Stallone, in an interview with The New York Times, opened up about his traumatic childhood days marked by an abusive father and an emotionally unavailable mother. Stallone said that after his parents separated, he lived with his father, Francesco Stallone Sr., who would burst into anger and then give a young Stallone the silent treatment.

Elaborating on the matter, Sylvester Stallone shared that his father could turn aggressive whenever he disagreed with him. Stallone added that even a simple difference of opinion could quickly escalate the tension at home, with his father displaying clear signs of anger before physically lashing out.


This prompted a young Sylvester Stallone to notice the warning signs well in advance. He became accustomed to anticipating the violence and instinctively trying to protect himself whenever his father's temper escalated.

Rocky star on his abusive father and unaffectionate mother

In the same conversation, Sylvester Stallone recalled one particular incident that left a painful imprint on him. He and his father were supposed to go to the church. Before they went, his father asked Stallone to bring home bread from a nearby store. Distracted by his friends, Stallone, however, returned with a sandwich spread.

The innocent mistake made his father so furious that he kicked a young Stallone in his stomach before driving off to the church alone, leaving his son on the street, covered in mayonnaise. ‘He kicked me in the stomach, laid me out, got in the car and went to church. I’m there in the street with mayonnaise. It’s unbelievable,’ the actor said.

Sylvester Stallone confessed that he also had a strained relationship with his mother. As per the 80-year-old, childhood affection was largely absent from his life. He claimed that his mother, Jackie Stallone, never hugged him or his brother Frank. ‘My mother never — and my brother will attest — hugged me. Ever, ever,’ he stated.

Sylvester Stallone built a family of his own. He married Jennifer Flavin in 1997, and they have three daughters, Sophia, Sistine and Scarlet. With his first wife, Sasha Czack, he has two sons, Sage and Seargeoh. Sage died in 2012 at 36.