Sylvester Stallone Says ‘Don’t Do Your Own Stunts’ After ‘Expendables’ Injury Led to Fractured Neck, Seven Back Surgeries: ‘I Never Recovered’
variety.comZack Sharf Digital News Director Sylvester Stallone revealed on “The Family Stallone” Season 2 premiere that he never recovered from an injury he endured during the making of “The Expendables” (via People).
The stunt gone wrong occurred during a scene in which Stallone got tackled by co-star and WWE legend Steve Austin. It left Stallone with dislocated shoulders and a fractured neck that have since required seven back surgeries and counting.
Stallone needed a metal plate inserted into his neck and spinal fusions. “I did stupid stuff,” the actor said while discussing the need for his seventh surgery. “I was directing ‘Expendables’ and, like an idiot, I’m doing take 10, take whatever, and I remember one slam and I could actually feel one bang.
Steve knew. “I never recovered from [‘Expendables’],” Stallone added. “After that film, it was never physically the same. So I warn people, ‘Don’t do your own stunts.’ ” Stallone’s wife, Jennifer Flavin, said it’s a “scary time” whenever the actor has to go in for surgery related to his “Expendables” injury and added: “He doesn’t like people to know he’s had so many back surgeries … I hope this is the one to help him live a more comfortable life.” “It’s really hard to see my father go through yet another painful operation,” Stallone’s daughter Scarlet said during the episode. “My whole childhood, he was in pain.
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