SLY STALLONE, 77, CRIPPLED FOR LIFE
Seven surgeries & living in agony after breaking his neck in stunt
MOVIE he-man Sylvester Stallone has just undergone a seventh surgery for a spine injury suffered doing an action scene 14 years ago and now is urging other stars to avoid doing dangerous stunts.
The agonizing, crippling injury occurred during the 2010 shooting of his first Expendables action flick when 5-foot10, 190-pound Sly was body-slammed by 6-foot-2 pro grappler “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and suffered a fractured neck.
Now at 77, the actor is still going under the knife for the break, which prompted docs to put a metal plate in his neck.
“Sly puts a brave face on it, but his body’s taken a major battering and there are real fears about how he’ll fare as he gets older,” says an insider.
“The guy’s got the heart and soul of a gladiator, but he’s only human and all those aches and pains are starting to really bite. This new op was a big one, however much he tries to sugarcoat it.”
Following the procedure, Stallone was in good spirits, joking his body is so battered he should play the Hunchback of Notre Dame.
“Sly’s only half joking when he talks about playing the hunchback, since his body’s increasingly affected by all that wear and tear he’s put it through,” notes the source.
“He’s powering through the pain and getting the best medical care possible, which he needs — or risk winding up crippled for life!”
Sly recalls, “I did stupid stuff. I was directing and, like an idiot, I’m doing take ten, take whatever, and I remember one slam and I could actually feel one ‘bang.’ Steve knew. I never recovered from Expendables 1. After that film, it was never physically the same. I’ve warned people — don’t do your own stunts.”