Sylvester Stallone regrets doing his own stunts after nine back operations

The ‘Rocky’ star says injuries from his action career have left him feeling he has never fully recovered

Sylvester Stallone has admitted he has serious regrets about performing his own stunts throughout his action film career, revealing that years of injuries and major surgeries have taken a lasting toll on his health.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, the Rocky star described the physical consequences of his work, saying he had accumulated countless injuries over the years. He recalled undergoing nine back operations and three neck fusions after working on The Expendables, alongside injuries affecting both shoulders and his eyes.

Stallone said the repeated procedures had left him feeling that he was never quite the same again. His comments offer a candid look at the physical cost of maintaining an action hero image over several decades.

The actor also reflected on an accident while filming The Expendables, the 2010 action film he directed and starred in alongside Jason Statham and Mickey Rourke. During a scene involving WWE wrestler Steve Austin, Stallone was tackled and suffered serious injuries, including a fractured neck. He subsequently required spinal procedures and had a metal plate inserted into his neck.

Looking back, Stallone said aspiring performers should allow trained professionals to handle dangerous sequences rather than attempting to prove themselves by doing everything personally.

“Let the pro do it,” he advised, warning that the physical consequences of a stunt can follow an actor long after filming has ended.

He also dismissed the idea that he should feel proud of the damage he sustained, describing his decision to continue performing dangerous stunts as foolish.

Stallone shared similar reflections while discussing his memoir, The Steps, with The New York Times. He said his approach to pushing his body had come at a terrible price and suggested he would make different choices if he could revisit his career.