The Life of Hollywood Action Hero Sylvester Stallone

In 1974, Stallone earned one of his first meaningful film roles as Stanley Rosiello in The Lords of Flatbush. The movie followed a group of leather-jacketed Brooklyn friends, and his rough presence fit naturally into the world of the story.

The role gave him more visibility than the scattered bit parts that came before it. He also received credit for additional dialogue, hinting at the writing instincts that would later change everything for him. For the first time, he was not just waiting for a break.