Sylvester Stallone is a Hollywood icon and heavyweight champion of the acting world, best known for portraying boxing underdog Rocky Balboa and no-nonsense army veteran John Rambo.

A physical specimen on and off the screen, he has also inspired generations of people to hit the gym. The toned, muscular movie characters he played have become legends in their own right, making Stallone an iconic masculine figure admired by many.

Outside of maintaining his washboard abs, Stallone has always made time for premium cigars.

Let’s look back at Sylvester Stallone’s acting career and explore some of his favorite cigars.

Born July 6, 1946, Stallone’s life got off to a rocky start, with birth complications causing partial facial paralysis. However, this would result in his signature perennial snarl and slightly slurred speech. Although he was subject to bullying from other children due to these defects, he’s now revered worldwide for his persistence and perseverance.

He used acting and bodybuilding as an escape to cope with the bullying, with his first starring role coming in a softcore pornography film. Paid $200 for two days’ work, Stallone later admitted he took the role out of desperation after being evicted from his apartment and becoming homeless for a short while.

Before stumbling across a casting notice for the film, he found refuge at New York’s Port Authority Bus Terminal, where he slept for three weeks. Ironically, the film was released several years later as Italian Stallion, jumping on Stallone’s newfound fame following his breakthrough 1976 film, Rocky.

In between this time, he moved to the Big Apple to share an apartment with his girlfriend. He took on several jobs, including zoo cleaning and movie ushering, all while regularly visiting the library to improve his writing skills. After being rejected for a job as an extra in The Godfather, Stallone was at the end of his tether and on the verge of packing up acting for good. Instead, he ended up relegated to an almost-invisible background role in another Hollywood hit, What’s Up, Doc? (1972).

Thankfully, a significant breakthrough arrived two years later when Stallone won critical acclaim for his starring performance in the gang street drama, The Lords of Flatbush (1974). Global success followed with Rocky in 1976, with Stallone writing the movie’s screenplay in just three days after being inspired by a heavyweight title fight between Muhammad Ali and Chuck Wepner.

Stallone has since enjoyed a phenomenal career, with his biggest achievements including the Rambo and Rocky franchises. Creed (2015), a spin-off to Rocky, has also punched its way to impressive numbers — both films have a combined gross of $387 million worldwide. Creed III is due for release at the beginning of March 2023. It will be the ninth installment in the Rocky series and the first film not to feature Stallone as Rocky Balboa, with the 76-year-old instead taking on producing duties.

Stallone voiced King Shark in The Suicide Squad (2021), which topped the box office on its opening weekend. This success gave ‘Sly’ the honor of being the only actor to have a number-one film in six consecutive decades.

If that wasn’t enough, we can also add Golden Globe winner, an inductee into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, and a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame to Stallone’s incredible legacy.

An avid cigarette smoker early in his career, Stallone turned to the more refined taste of cigars during filming for the hard-hitting drama F.I.S.T. (1978) and never looked back.

Stallone believes smoking should be experienced away from the madding crowd. Whether savoring a stogie in solitude or lighting up alongside his friend, fellow actor, and cigar enthusiast Arnold Schwarzenegger, his number one choice is the Arturo Fuente Fuente Opus X.

The first-ever Dominican Puro is made with a glorious, shimmering Corojo Cuban-seed wrapper cultivated in the mineral-rich soils of the Dominican Republic. Regarded as the pinnacle of cigar perfection, it burns with luscious caramel, honey, leather, and wood flavors.

If you like the magic of Dominican Republic tobacco and want something similar to Stallone’s favorite, we’d recommend the Ashton VSG Wizard. This full-bodied cigar will cast its spell on you for over an hour, with a rich bouquet of cedar, earth, and mocha.

During the day, Stallone drops to something more lightweight — the Partagas Serie D No.4 Robusto. Measuring 124mm by a 50-ring gauge, this classic, full-bodied Cuban Robusto has strong earthy, and nutty tones with a hint of spice.

If you crave the short and thick Robusto shape, check out the No.1 Robusto from My Father Cigars. Starting with a signature Pepin pepper blast, its filler mix of Nicaraguan tobaccos is showcased by a hearty earth profile that includes black coffee and cocoa notes melded with woody nuances.

Another smoke you can expect to find in Stallone’s humidor is the Romeo y Julieta Cedros De Luxe No.2. It has the peculiarity of being wrapped in a beautiful cedar wood sleeve that adds a wonderful scent to the box and is sealed by an affixed band. Ideal for beginner smokers, it delivers a flurry of soft, sweet spice, and flavorful coffee, cocoa, and hazelnut charms.

Stallone is undoubtedly one of the greatest action icons of all time, and now we know he’s also a cigar legend. Whether you desire a slow-burner that goes the full 12 rounds or something a little more punchy, browse our knockout choice of premium cigars at jrcigars.com.