Why Sylvester Stallone Walks With a Cane: The Real Story

Sylvester Stallone has long been a fixture in the world of action films, but the physical demands of his career have left their mark. When he turned up at the Kennedy Center Honors gala leaning on a gold-plated cane, plenty of punters started asking questions. The bloke himself has since opened up about the toll his work has taken, revealing he’s had eight back surgeries so far, with another one on the cards.

Stunt Work and Lasting Injuries

Stallone’s reputation for doing his own stunts is legendary. He copped real punches in the Rocky films and threw himself into every role, often at the expense of his own wellbeing. Ironically, the injury that’s caused him the most grief didn’t come from his early classics, but from a more recent project—The Expendables.

While directing and starring in the first Expendables film, Stallone pushed himself hard, determined to get the perfect shot. He’s admitted that one particular slam during filming changed everything for him. The aftermath wasn’t pretty—multiple surgeries followed, and he’s said he’s never quite bounced back.

I did stupid stuff. I was directing Expendables and, like an idiot, I’m doing take 10, take whatever, and I remember one slam and I could actually feel one bang… I never recovered from [Expendables]. After that film, it was never physically the same… So I warn people: ‘Don’t do your own stunts.’

Decades of Wear and Tear

Years of physically demanding roles have caught up with him. The chronic pain and ongoing health issues are a direct result of his commitment to authenticity on screen. It’s no wonder the effects are showing now, after decades of putting his body on the line for the sake of entertainment.

Despite all this, Stallone’s not one to sit back and take it easy. He’s made it clear he’s not interested in retiring, even if he’s had to give up the more dangerous parts of his job. His recent work in Tulsa King has shown he’s still got plenty to offer, even if the action scenes are a bit less full-on these days.

Refusing to Slow Down

Stallone’s attitude towards retirement is pretty straightforward. He’s said he doesn’t really get the idea of giving it all away and settling into a quiet life. Instead, he reckons he’s built for what he calls “creative war,” and he’s keen to keep working as long as he can.

Forget it. Because I don’t know the concept of retiring. I thought I did. Wouldn’t it be great to mow your lawn every day and chase bees off the roses or whatever you do? And I go, ‘No.’ I’m just not — I’m built for war. You know what I mean? Creative war.

With another season of Tulsa King in the pipeline, even if there’s a bit of uncertainty behind the scenes, Stallone looks set to stay in the game for a while yet.