Sylvester Stallone Reveals Life-Threatening Moment During Rocky IV Filming
Actor and filmmaker Sylvester Stallone recently shared a dramatic and little-known story from the set of Rocky IV, shedding light on just how intense—and dangerous—the filming process became.
In a recent documentary appearance, Stallone opened up about a terrifying incident during a fight scene that landed him in intensive care.
The scene in question involved Dolph Lundgren, who played the fearsome Soviet boxer Ivan Drago. While the punches were meant to be choreographed, one hit from Lundgren proved to be alarmingly real.
Stallone compared the force of the punch to crashing into a steering wheel at full speed. Although he initially brushed off the pain, within hours he began experiencing severe chest discomfort.
Doctors quickly realized the seriousness of his condition when his blood pressure spiked to a dangerous 260, prompting an emergency airlift from Canada to St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica. He spent the next four days in the ICU, describing the surreal experience of waking up surrounded by nuns.
Despite the near-fatal encounter, Stallone returned to the set with unwavering determination. He not only continued filming but insisted on keeping the scene in the final cut of the movie, believing it captured the true intensity of the battle between Rocky Balboa and Ivan Drago. The moment, he felt, symbolized the brutal physical and emotional challenges his character had to endure.
Rocky IV, a defining chapter in the iconic franchise, follows Rocky’s emotional journey as he heads to the Soviet Union to avenge the death of his friend Apollo Creed and face Drago in the ring. The film blends raw emotion, Cold War tension, and some of the most memorable training montages in movie history.
Stallone’s revelation not only adds a layer of realism to the film’s legendary fight scenes but also underscores his incredible dedication to authenticity. His willingness to put his own health on the line shows just how much passion went into making Rocky IV a cinematic milestone.