In a recent documentary about the production of “Rocky IV,” Sylvester Stallone opened up about a violent on-set incident that landed him in the hospital.
The iconic actor said that Dolph Lundgren, who played the massive Soviet boxer Ivan Drago in the film, gave him a brutal beating.
According to Stallone, the impact was similar to being thrown against a steering wheel following a vehicle accident. He didn’t notice anything different at first, but then he started feeling uneasy in his chest. He had no notion it would result in a health scare.
Stallone stated: “They thought I was going to be talking to angels when my blood pressure shot up to 260.” He was immediately airlifted from Canada to St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica, California, due to the importance of quick medical treatment. Stallone spent four days in the intensive care unit with nuns.
Despite this terrible occurrence, Stallone’s persistence and grit led him back to the set and completed the film.
He could not imagine ignoring the episode in which Lundgren struck him in the chest. It was an important part of the story, demonstrating Rocky Balboa’s struggles when fighting Drago.
Stallone reprises his role as the tenacious warrior Rocky Balboa in “Rocky IV,” the fourth installment of the beloved “Rocky” trilogy. Balboa has already established himself as the world boxing champion in the film. He travels to the Soviet Union to confront the mighty Drago to exact retribution for his buddy Apollo Creed’s murder.
We now have a greater understanding of the dedication and sacrifices required to create a legendary film like “Rocky IV” thanks to this behind-the-scenes look at Stallone’s experience.
