He was celebrated by Philadelphians with the first Rocky Day holiday in honor of his 1976 Oscar-winning film Rocky.
But Sylvester Stallone also gave back when he delighted a young fan by joining him in reciting a speech from the 2006 sequel Rocky Balboa.
The 77-year-old actor and filmmaker was filmed in Philly on Sunday at the city's Rocky statue as a boy who goes by Ro began shouting an impassioned speech Stallone gave in the film, which was his last in the series in which he had the leading role.
The day was filled with other honors for Stallone, who received a key to the city.
The original speech was featured in Rocky Balboa when the title character tells his son – played by This Is Us star Milo Ventimiglia – how hard life can be.
Sylvester Stallone, 77, delighted a young boy named Ro when he joined him to recite a speech from Rocky Balboa (2006) while in Philadelphia to celebrate the first Rocky Day holiday on Sunday, December 3 .
Sly was standing next to Philly's Rocky statue when Ro, who was doing a similar video with Hulk Hogan, approached. He shouted out a speech Stallone gave in the film to his adult son
Sly's fan interaction was featured in a TikTok video from Ro's account. The actor was seen standing next to his statue, which shows a young Rocky in his boxing gear with his arms outstretched in triumph, as men held up umbrellas to keep him dry on the rainy day.
Then the young boy was escorted over, where he began shouting the speech.
A big smile appeared on Stallone's face and he looked visibly delighted at the display, before joining in in unison, although he soon dropped out and left Ro to continue on his own.
He interrupted to give a high five that turned into a handshake, then pulled the boy closer for a warm hug. Ro wasn't quite done yet, so he ended his speech before he and the older actor shared a final hug and beamed at the crowd around them.
The display is unfamiliar to the wrestling fan, who previously approached Hulk Hogan for a similar appearance.
Fittingly, Hogan even had a role in the Rocky franchise. 1982's Rocky III featured him as a professional wrestler – modeled after his WWF persona – named Thunderlips, who engages Rocky in a charity wrestling match, where he proceeds to demolish the boxer.
While speaking to Hogan in 2006, Stallone revealed that the hardest punch he ever received during the filming of the series was from Hogan, and that it was left out of the finished film due to how “traumatized” he was, saying his collarbone was damaged. shattered by the blow and would 'pierce my flesh' if he looked at it. Fortunately, he was not permanently injured by the blow.
In the Rocky Balboa clip that Ro quoted, Stallone is seen arguing with his son ahead of an upcoming boxing match.
Ventimiglia, whose character works as a lawyer, wearing a nice suit and overcoat while on the street with his father, urges Rocky not to retire from a fight with a younger heavyweight champion.
He mentions the advantages he has received in life because of his father's name, including his job, but then says that the publicity Rocky attracts could be detrimental to what he has built.
But Rocky reminds him how hard life can be – unlike how easy it was for him growing up with a famous father – as he reiterates his love for his son.
“Let me tell you something you already know: the world is not all sunshine and rainbows,” he says when given the chance to speak. “It's a very mean and nasty place, and I don't care how tough you are; it will knock you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me or no one will hit as hard as life.
“But it's not about how hard you hit, it's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can tolerate and keep moving forward. That's how you do it when you win!' Rocky shouts, before urging his son not to point fingers.
Sly was clearly tickled and beamed from ear to ear before joining in and shouting out the most passionate lines along with the child
After reaching the end, Stallone held out his hand for a high five that turned into a handshake, before pulling Ro closer for a hug.
Rocky Balboa (2006) was the sixth and final Rocky film starring Stallone. His son (Milo Ventimiglia, L) complained about how his return to fighting could hurt his career, prompting Rocky to give the speech about how tough the world can be
1976's Rocky, which Stallone also wrote, made him a star, becoming a huge box office hit and a critical sensation. The film won three Oscars, including Best Picture
The 2006 film was the sixth film in the Rocky series and the last to star Stallone. It was positively reviewed by critics and became a hit at the box office.
Stallone reprized his role in a supporting role in the first two Creed films, but sat out March's Creed III due to money problems.
The 1976 original made Stallone a star. He originally wrote the screenplay and went into intense negotiations with the studio to have him also star in the film, as the studio hoped to find a more established star while retaining his screenplay.
He held on and eventually nabbed the title role, and his strategy proved worthwhile after Rocky became the highest-grossing film of 1976 (and the second-highest-grossing film in 1977 behind Star Wars). The film was also nominated for ten Academy Awards and received three, including Best Picture.
