Sylvester Stallone admits bulimia, steroids during Rocky filming
Sylvester Stallone has disclosed in a New York Times interview that he developed bulimia and used steroids to achieve his physique for the Rocky franchise, describing the regimen as an obsession that took a severe…
Source: The Hollywood Reporter · September 27, 2026 at 12:02 AM · AI-assisted report
Single-sourceNEW YORK, 27 SEPTEMBER 2026 —
Sylvester Stallone has disclosed in a New York Times interview that he developed bulimia and used steroids to achieve his physique for the Rocky franchise, describing the regimen as an obsession that took a severe physical toll.
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The actor, promoting his memoir The Steps (published September 29), said his pursuit of an ultra-lean body for Rocky III—reaching 2.6% body fat—led to bulimic episodes, where he struggled to retain food. "It became an obsession," he stated. "Nobody does it without additives and drugs."
Stallone confirmed using steroids in a controlled cycle—six weeks on, six weeks off—to maintain his physique, though he acknowledged the long-term damage. "You don’t get that way naturally," he said, noting that his body now bears the scars: nine back surgeries, two shoulder operations, and three neck fusions.
His relationship with his physique shifted after Cop Land (1997), where he played a frail, overweight character. "I felt somewhat liberated," he said, adding that his Hollywood career declined around that time. He now regrets his approach, wishing he had avoided the physical risks.
The admission aligns with growing scrutiny of Hollywood’s demands on actors’ health, though Stallone’s candor—particularly on steroids—stands out amid broader industry conversations about the mental and physical costs of stardom. His memoir arrives as discussions on performance-related health risks intensify.
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