Why Sylvester Stallone's Dwight Uses A Cane In Tulsa King Season 4

Published Nov 1, 2026, 6:30 AM EST

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Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for Tulsa King season 4, episode 3.Sylvester Stallone's Dwight Manfredi began using a cane to walk in Tulsa King season 4, episode 3, and there's a real-life reason for the change. Though Sylvester Stallone has been leading the cast of Tulsa King for four years now, the legendary actor hasn't slowed down at all. In fact, he's actually getting better. Between the great reviews for Tulsa King season 4 that praise Stallone's performance and the quick turnaround between seasons, Stallone is at the top of his game.

While Stallone is just as good as ever, Dwight Manfredi seems to be slowing down a touch. He's already grieving the devastating death of Margaret Devereaux in the premiere, and Governor Clark is trying and succeeding in shutting down Dwight's many illegal streams of income. In this week's episode, Dwight began walking with a cane. Several of his friends and subordinates pointed out his cane with concern, and it's clear it's here to stay.

Tulsa King season 4, episode 3 didn't do much to outright explain Dwight's new cane. There are, however, reasons for the new cane from both an in-universe perspective and in the real world. Unfortunately, Dwight gave a few conflicting accounts of why he's using a cane when his friends and family asked about it. Here's everything we know about the decision to give Dwight a cane in Tulsa King season 4.

Sylvester Stallone Uses A Cane In Real Life Following A Back Surgery

Steve Swisher/Paramount+

The main reason Dwight is using a cane to walk in Tulsa King season 4 is because Sylvester Stallone uses a cane in real life. Stallone's representative said in late 2025 that he began using a cane following back surgery, as he presumably needs it to walk (via Miami Herald). On top of that, Stallone is now 80 years old, and many seniors need mobility aids like a cane to be able to walk normally.

Sylvester Stallone is also a unique case, however. After all, he spent decades of his life as an action star performing at least some of his own dangerous stunts. During an episode of his reality show, The Family Stallone, Stallone claimed that he suffered a dislocated shoulder and a fractured neck from being body slammed by Stone Cold Steve Austin in The Expendables in 2010. He claimed he "never recovered" from the injury and reportedly had seven different back surgeries from that injury, which almost certainly led to his use of a cane today (via People).

Stallone's acting-related injuries also extend further back than The Expendables. Stallone did his own stunts for years, suffering broken and bruised ribs from First Blood, Rocky, and several other films. Those injuries stack up, and after decades of being an action star, Stallone's body is now paying the price. Since he needs a cane to walk in real life, it had to be written into Tulsa King out of necessity to let Stallone move around in scenes.

How Tulsa King Explains Dwight’s Use Of A Cane

Paramount+

Dwight's cane may be a necessity due to Sylvester Stallone's many injuries and surgeries, but Tulsa King did do a bit to explain its presence. Unfortunately, those explanations were quite inconsistent. Dwight first tells Mitch that he got stabbed in the back in prison and that the old injury flared up, causing him to use a cane. He tells Spencer that he fell down in the shower, and he tells Musso that he has a bad leg.

Tulsa King Season 4 Release Schedule
Episode #	Release Date (Fridays @ 3 a.m. ET on Paramount+)
1	October 16
2	October 23
3	October 30
4	November 6
5	November 13
6	November 20
7	November 27
8	December 4
9	December 11
10	December 18

Clearly, Dwight is lying about why he's using a cane. Even lies tell a bit of the truth, though. Since most of Dwight's lies have been about specific injuries, it seems like he's trying to hide the fact that he's simply getting older and weaker. A mob boss like Dwight never wants to appear weak, so claiming he's using a cane after being shanked in prison makes him look tough. He's also likely lying, in part, to keep people from worrying about him.

Tulsa King season 4 probably isn't going to give us a definitive explanation for Dwight's use of a cane. It does seem to boil down to age-related health issues. Like Sylvester Stallone, Dwight is well into his seventh or eighth decade, and his joints and back aren't what they used to be. The General is just slowing down, and Tulsa King is showing that.

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  Dwight 'The General' Manfredi

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  Martin Starr

  Lawrence 'Bodhi' Geigerman