Sylvester Stallone Says Superhero Movie Bodies Aren’t ‘Natural’ and Taking Steroids to Bulk Up Is Like ‘Putting on Part of a Costume’

Sylvester Stallone is sharing the story of how “Rocky” got made 50 years after its release in his new tell-all memoir, “Steps,” which hits shelves today. Part of the Oscar winner’s press tour brought him to New York 92nd Street Y for a 50-minute conversation with journalist Tracy Smith about his early career struggles, the legacy of the “Rocky” franchise and the physical toll of his action roles.

After making headlines for telling The New York Times that he was “bulimic” while filming “Rocky III” and discussing the “terrible toll” steroids took on his body, Stallone explained to Smith that he rationalized his drug use with his desire to push the Rocky Balboa character in a new direction.

“By the time they did ‘Rocky III,’ you’ve lost the element of surprise. Everyone knows what this guy is all about,” Stallone said. “I wanted him to develop serious narcissism. I wanted him to get his scars removed and be a totally different guy. That would be a story point. He became protected, he’s shielded and vain. And when he finally met Mr. T, or Clubber Lang, that’s where reality hit him. But to do that, I had to do a total body metamorphosis. So I went from like 50% body fat to 2.6%. I did it literally by eating tuna fish and [drinking] maybe 30 cups of coffee a day. And, of course, there’s steroids.”

When the audience responded with audible gasps, Stallone made light of the fact that he’s hardly the first and only Hollywood action star to use steroids and go to extreme lengths to achieve a certain bulked-up physique.

“Guys … you really think these guys are natural?” Stallone quipped. “If you’re trying to play a sort of superhero or a person that is above and beyond a normal guy, you can’t do it. It’s almost like putting on part of a costume. For six to eight weeks, you manifest that book. And then you shed it.”

When Smith asked when Stallone realized he could no longer continue using steroids and maintaining such an arduous workout routine, the actor recalled experiencing “a wake-up call” after having a heart valve replaced. His wife, Jennifer Flavin Stallone, insisted he get checked out after he appeared unwell. Stallone believes the examination “absolutely” saved his life.

“And I thought I was okay. I was lucky that my wife said, ‘I don’t like the way you look.’ [I said], ‘Oh, come on. I’m just getting old over here. Relax,’” he recalled. “Women have an extra sense. They really do.”

The live interview with Stallone marked the first installment of “CBS Sunday Morning at 92NY,” a new series of conversations featuring prominent figures from the worlds of arts, politics and culture before a live audience. The series serves as an extension of “CBS Sunday Morning,” the network’s long-running Sunday morning news program.

“For over 150 years, the 92nd Street Y has been a world-class beacon for culture, deep conversation and intellectual curiosity,” said 92NY CEO Seth Pinsky. “We are honored to work with ‘CBS Sunday Morning’ on this incredible new programming series. By bringing two great American institutions together, we are creating the kind of deeply engaging experiences our communities crave and expect.”

Stallone and Smith’s live conversation will begin streaming on CBSSundayMorning.com, YouTube and Paramount+ later this week.