Sylvester Enzio Stallone, born Michael Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone, July 6, 194, is an American actor, screenwriter, director, and producer. Because of his parents' difficult relationship, he spent considerable time in foster care until he was five and moved in with his father. After his beginnings as a struggling actor for a number of years upon arriving to New York City in 1969 and later Hollywood in 1974, he won his first critical acclaim as an actor for his co-starring role as Stanley Rosiello in The Lords of Flatbush. Stallone's Rocky films were box office successes, and he is the only actor in US cinema history to have regularly starred in box office successes over 50 fifty years.