Sylvester Stallone is one of the most respected Hollywood actors. However, back in the 1960s, this wasn't the case. You've probably heard about his struggles in the early years as a struggling actor. In fact, you might have read the story of Stallone needing to sell his dog to feed his family, which is pretty much Hollywood folklore at this point and one that's true, as confirmed by Sly himself on numerous occasions.
Thankfully, Sly's fortune would soon change. He eventually came up with the script for Rocky, found a studio that let him star in his movie, and the rest, as they say, is history.
The Rocky franchise spanned multiple sequels, including the most recent release, 2018's Creed II. However, with Creed III probably ways away (and Stallone no longer in it), Sly has found a way to keep himself busy these past few years by working on a director's cut for 1985's Rocky IV.