The real height of Sylvester Stallone has been sparking a lot of debates from the time the Hollywood actor debuted on the screen. Sly can claim to be 5 feet 10 inches (177cm or 1.77 m) in one interview session, and the next time he is quizzed about his height, he will say 5 feet 10 1/2 inches. There was a time he claimed to be 5 feet 10 and ¾ inches tall, and when Cinema.com exposed him to be 5 feet 8 inches tall, he actually came out to joke that he may be shorter than people actually think.
With that said, we must acknowledge the fact that the Hollywood actor had ceased growing at the time of these conversations, which means that all the fluctuations in his height were not a result of his growth process. However, it soon came to the fore that the actor is the type that loves to give his natural height a boost by wearing lifts and has been doing that since the 1970s.
Summary of Sylvester Stallone’s Biography
- Full Name: Michael Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone
- Nickname: Sly
- Gender: Male
- Date of Birth: 6th July 1946
- Sylvester Stallone’s Age: 77 years old
- Zodiac Sign: Cancer
- Sylvester Stallone’s Height in Inches: 5 feet 8 inches – 5 feet 10 1/2 inches
- Sylvester Stallone’s Height in Centimetres: 172 cm to 177cm
- Height in meters: 1.72m to 1.77m
- Sylvester Stallone’s Weight: 185 lbs – 195 lbs
- Body measurements in Inches: 43-39-17 inches
- Body measurements in Centimetres: 112-99-43 cm
- Eye Color: Dark brown
- Hair Color: dark brown
- Abs: Yes
- Tattoo: Yes
- Distinctive features: Slight paralysis on the left side of his face and slurred speech
How Tall is Sylvester Stallone?
Sylvester Stallone’s real height has always been a subject of debate as the Rambo actor tends to confuse the public with the information he gives out. Talking to Longevity magazine in a 1991 interview session, Sly’s exact words were, “I’m 5’10”. Two years later, in 1993, he told New York Times, “I’m exactly 5 feet 10 1/2 inches”. Again, in a 1978 Playboy article, the movie icon pushed his luck, claiming to stand at “5 feet 10 and 3/4 inches.”
After meeting with Sly, Cinema.com said the entertainer was actually shorter than you would expect at 5 feet 8 inches, and Sly himself confirmed it when he said, “I’m shorter and leaner than you expected”.
Sylvester Stallone’s footwear became a source of serious contention in 1990 when a journalist from Chicago Times mentioned in his article that “The real-life Rambo is officially 5 foot 10 1/2 inches tall, however, that is with the substantial boost of what can be best described as elevator shoes”.
Recall that there was a time a professional Italian shoemaker revealed that he made Sly 4.5 inches taller for 16 long years. The entertainer’s penchant for wearing lifts started in the 1970s when actor Kevin Conway said that Sylvester’s real height was actually 5 feet 9 inches, but you would never know as he is constantly wearing lifts. Sylvester Stallone himself even cracked a joke about it when talking about his Rocky IV co-cast member, Dolph Lundgren. Making reference to Dolph’s height, Sly said he was fighting with elevator shoes on, and that is ridiculous.
If Sly is really within the neighborhood of 5 feet 10 inches, then he is not doing badly at all since the average height of actors is exactly that, 5 feet 10 inches.
Sylvester Stallone’s Height Compared to Other Famous Actors
Because of so much confusion surrounding Sylvester Stallone’s real height, it is quite difficult to compare him with other Hollywood stars, as the ones you think are shorter than him may actually be taller or of the same height.
Sylvester Stallone’s Height vs. Bruce Willis’s
Hollywood movie star Bruce Willis stands at 5 feet 11 inches, thus, he remains taller by a few inches, notwithstanding whatever Sly may quote as his height
Sylvester Stallone’s Height is Totally Dwarfed by Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger has pride of place as one of the Hollywood stars that stand above six feet. At 6 feet 2 inches, he towers above Stallone by more than four or five inches
Sylvester Stallone’s Height Compared To Antonio Banderas’ Height
In the 1995 movie Assassins, Sylvester Stallone and Antonio Banderas were part of the cast. Antonio’s official height is pegged at 5 feet 7 inches, and with that said, he should be mathematically shorted than Sly. However, the duo’s photographs often show them standing at almost the same height, but Sly would always appear taller in movie roles. Situations like this beg the question of Sly’s real height.
Sylvester Stallone’s Height and Michael B. Jordan’s Height Compared
Michael B. Jordan is Sly’s co-star in Creed, and on the set of the movie, both Hollywood stars seemed to be very close in height, but it is common knowledge that Jordan stands 6 feet tall, which gives him a few inches height advantage over Stallone.
Sylvester Stallone’s Height vs. Zhang Jin’s
Chinese movie star Zhang Jin was Sylvester Stallone’ co-star in Escape Plan: The Extractors, and his height is officially listed as 5 feet 7 inches. However, there appeared to be very little difference between his height and that of Stallone, even though Sly claims to be above 5 feet 10 inches.
Is Stallone taller than Tom Cruise?
The question of who has the height advantage between Tom Cruise and Sylvester Stallone may never find a satisfactory answer as both men love to wear heeled boots to boost their height. However, Cruse officially stands at 5 feet 7 inches, and if this is to be his real height, then Sly would be slightly taller.
Why Does Sylvester Stallone Need to Pad His Height?
If what is currently obtainable in Hollywood is anything to go by, then an actor ought to be taller than average to become successful. Almost all the lead roles call for actors with good height, thus, for Sylvester Stallone to be considered fit for playing leading roles in those blockbusters, he had to sport an above-average height.
Many have argued that he would not have been able to make his $400 million fortune if he had gone ahead with his natural height, as appearance is everything in Hollywood.
There was a story about Stallone being physically abused while growing and according to reports, this led the movie star to vow never to allow anything or anyone to shortchange him because of his small stature. From what is obvious, he was able to accomplish that.
Talking about Sly and his varying heights, Arnold Schwarzenegger said a taller stature gives the Rambo actor an added advantage as an action movie star. Arnold says Stallone’s real height would have made it possible for him to pass auditions for lead roles.
Perhaps because of the physical abuse he suffered as a child, Sylvester Stallone seems to be obsessed with always standing taller than others. He once shared a picture he took with his three beautiful daughters – Sistine, Scarlet, and Sophia and in the caption, the Hollywood star joked about their heights. His exact words were, “I am a very lucky man to have such wonderful and loving children who have brought me nothing but joy. Now I wish they would stop growing so tall! Lol.”
What Other Actors Have Said About Sylvester Stallone’s Deceptive Height
In the book titled, ‘About Lies Stars Tell’, screenwriter and author William Goldman said he had a lead that Sylvester Stallone was 67 inches tall. He said his source is a jogger who has similar body stature to Sly.
Goldman also narrated his swimming pool experience, where he met Sly already swimming. He said when both of them got out from the pool, Stallone stood 67 inches, dripping wet.
WWE wrestler Hulk Hogan also shared this estimation when he referred to Sly as “Five Six/Five Seven”. Again, an amateur boxer on the set of Rocky Rocky V narrated how shocked he was to realize that Sly was actually short and he (the boxer), at 5 feet 9 inches, even towered above the actor. The boxer describes how he always pictured the Rambo star as a big guy and had to change that view
Sylvester Stallone’s ex-girlfriend, Supermodel Janice Dickenson, also weighed in on the actor’s height discrepancy. In her publication titled, ‘Everything about me is fake’, Janice recalled when she first met Sly, and he was trying to win her over standing in his custom-made elevator. She said she found it hard to believe he was actually that short.
Movie star Melinda Dillon – from F.I.S.T told Chicago Tribune that she is actually taller than Stallone, and it bothers him. However, they often kid about it, and she may just oblige to take off her shoes in a few movie scenes as she cannot slouch.
Jean Claude Van Damme also compared his height to Stallone’s when he said, “I’m 5 feet 10 inches tall, a good size for films. If you happen to be too big a guy, it would be difficult to find good villains. That is why Sly always has good villains. He is short.”
What is Sylvester Stallone’s Current Weight?
Currently, Sylvester Stallone’s body mass is said to be between 185 to 195 lbs which is equivalent to 83.9 – 88.5 kg. Sly weight is all thanks to the actor’s built-up muscle tissues that are out of the ordinary. The Hollywood star wasn’t born with his buffy physique and extraordinary power. He worked very hard to get where he is today.
Apart from his well-publicized workout routine, Sly is constantly working at building muscle tissues in whatever situation he finds himself – moving weighty equipment, punching his opponents to death on movie sets. In fact, the movie icon pushes himself too hard with any task he is handling, and they all contribute to his exceptional buffy appearance.
Important to note that Sylvester Stallone’s weight has never remained constant throughout his Hollywood career. There are roles that would require him to pile up extra muscle tissues, and some of the characters he has played didn’t need such.
With that said, we must also recognize the fact that Sly’s hardcore exercise routine has succeeded in robbing off on his wife, Jennifer Flavin. During the actor’s 69th birthday, Jennifer was seen displaying some well-defined abdominals
Sylvester Stallone’s Other Body Measurements
Stallone’s other body statistics go down well with his height and weight. The actor measures 43-39-17 inches (or 112-99-43 cm) for the shoulder, hip, and biceps, respectively. He sports dark brown eyes, and his hair is also dark brown.
Sly has some serious abs that he constantly puts on display in his videos and pictures on social media.
While on the Hollywood actor’s physical features, we must not forget to mention that he suffered a deformity at birth that has stayed with him to date. According to reports, Sly’s mum had a difficult birth while trying to bring him into the world. This led the midwives to use forceps to pull him out, and it severed one of the nerves on his face, giving the actor permanent facial paralysis.
This is the reason behind his face that droops on the left side and his slurred speech. Reports said it was this problem that made it impossible for him to serve in the military, as he couldn’t pass the physical test.
Sylvester Stallone’s Workout Routine
Sylvester Stallone adheres to a strict walkout routine under the watch of A-list fitness instructors, including strength coach and personal trainer Gunnar Peterson. Gunnar is rated very highly in the fitness industry, with top celebrities like Olympic athlete Lindsey Vonn, actor Hugh Jackman, hockey star P.K. Subban, actor Matthew McConaughey, and actress Kate Beckinsale in his clientele list.
The actor’s strong, muscular, and ripped physique came from intense and hardcore workout sessions, and he makes sure to share some of his gym clips with fans on social media. Below is a detailed listing of his gym routine.
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday Mornings: Back, Chest, and Abs
• Incline Bench Press (4 sets, 8-10 reps)
• Dumbbell Flys (4 sets, 10-12 reps)
• Close-grip Bench Press (5 sets, 6-8 reps)
• Wide-grip Chin Ups (6 sets, 8-10 reps)
• Bent-over One-arm Lateral Raises (4 sets, 8-10 reps)
• Close-grip Seated Rows (4 sets, 10-12 reps)
• Raised Leg Crunches (3 sets, 8-10 reps)
• Seated Extension (3 sets, 8-10 reps)
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday Afternoon: Arms, Shoulders, and Abs
• Military Press (4 sets, 8-10 reps)
• Side Lateral Raises (4 sets, 10-12 reps)
• Bent-over Dumbbell-Flys (5 sets, 6-8 reps)
• Barbell Curls (3 sets, 8-10 reps)
• Seated Incline-dumbbell-curls (3 sets, 8-10 reps)
• Concentration Curls (4 sets, 10-12 reps)
• Lying Dumbbell-raises (3 sets, 8-10 reps)
• Bent-over One-arm Lateral Raises (3 sets, 8-10 reps)
• Cable Pull Downs (3 sets, 10 reps)
• Alternate Leg Raise (3 sets, 8-10 reps)
• Decline Bench Sit-ups (3 sets, 8-10 reps)
• Oblique Crunches (3 sets, 6-8 reps)
Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning: Thighs and Calves
• Seated Calf-raises (4 sets, 8-10 reps)
• Standing Calf-raises (4 sets, 10-12 reps)
• Standing Barbell Alternate Calf-raises (5 sets, 8-12 reps)
• Incline Leg-press (4 sets, 8-10 reps)
• Squats (4 sets, 8-10 reps)
• Seated Leg-extensions (4 sets, 8-10 reps)
• Leg Curls (4 sets, 10-12 reps)
• Leg Extensions (4 sets, 10-12 reps)
• Stiff Leg Deadlift (4 sets, 10-12 reps)
Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Afternoon: Traps, Rear Deltoids, and Abs
• Bent-over Dumbbell Rear-Delt Raise (4 sets, 8-10 reps)
• Cable Crossovers (4 sets, 10-12 reps)
• Reverse Pec-deck Flyes (5 sets, 8-12 reps)
• Barbell Shrugs-front (4 sets, 8-10 reps)
• Barbell Upright-rows (4 sets, 8-10 reps)
• Flat-bench Cable-rows to Neck (4 sets, 8-10 reps)
• Ab Crunch (4 sets, 8 reps)
• Oblique Crunches (4 sets, 10 reps)
• Cable Crunch (4 sets, 10-12 reps)
He has Added and Lost Weight for Movie Roles
Though he is in his 70s, Sylvester Stallone has not relented in training extremely hard for his movie roles. The Movie star sported his most shredded physique on the set of Rocky III, and he had to follow an additional workout routine on a daily basis to achieve that body. Below is a list of the extra work he put in
- 20 rounds of sparring
- Two hours of weightlifting
- Two miles of jogging
- A lot of jump roping
Stallone was already 60 when he was featured in Rocky Balboa, and before he started filming for his role, the movie superstar had to hit the weights to achieve a “bulkier and heavier” look. For this particular role, Sly had to go toe-to-toe with a younger boxer depicted by James Tarver, and he really had to prepare for it. Below is a list of the additional work he had to do in the gym to fit into the role.
Mondays:
- Chest, shoulder, triceps
- Abs
- Cardio before and after weight training
Wednesdays:
- Back and Triceps
- Cardio before and after weight training
Fridays:
- Full body workout
- Abs
- Cardio before and after weight training
Is Sylvester Stallone on any Special Diet Plan
In there same way that the Hollywood star adheres to a pretty rigid workout routine, he also has a strict dietary plan, though sly said he would always leave room for cheat days. Get his dietary plan below
Pre-breakfast
- A glass of liquid aminos
Breakfast
- 3 egg whites
- Half an egg yolk
- Irish Oatmeal
- Toasted pumpernickel bread
- Fresh papaya
- A handful of fruit such as figs
Lunch
- Roasted squash
- Broiled chicken without the skin,
- Salad, figs, or berries
Dinner
- Salad
- Broiled fish
- High-fiber toasted bread with veal on occasion
Just like other bodybuilders of his ilk, Sly eats throughout the day, however, his recommended diet is a bit less intense.
