Sylvester Stallone's new documentary, Sly, is now available to stream on Netflix, and in amongst the personal stories the Hollywood star tells is one of a harrowing near-death experience.
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Stallone describes how, when he was filming Rocky IV opposite Dolph Lundgren, Lundgren "pulverised" him in the ring, leading to medical complications.
He said: "Dolph Lundgren... he pulverised me. Later that night, my heart started to swell – which happens when the heart hits the chest – and then my blood pressure went up to 260, and they thought I was going to be talking to angels.
"Next thing I know I'm in intensive care, where I'm surrounded by nuns, and I thought, 'OK, that's curtains.'"
Sylvester Stallone in Sly. Netflix
He continued: "Dolph Lundgren put me in hospital for nine days. [But] when you're beaten to the ground and you're praying someone knocks you on the chin so you just don't suffer anymore, there's a small voice inside of you that says, 'Give me one more round.'"
Touching on the incident, Lundgren has joked: "All I did was obey orders. He was the boss. I did what he told me."
Also, as per The Hollywood Reporter, on the day of the fight scene, Stallone told Lundgren to ignore the planned choreography. "Just go out there and try to clock me," he said. "For the first minute of the fight, it is going to be a free-for-all."
The new documentary covers all aspects of Stallone's life, including the passing of his oldest child, Sage Stallone, who died at the age of 36.
Stallone has already opened up recently in Paramount+ reality show The Family Stallone, which saw the star welcome a film crew into his home, following his daily life, as well as the lives of his wife Jennifer Flavin and his daughters Sophia, Sistine and Scarlet.
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James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.
