There’s nothing Hollywood likes better than a good comeback story — and who better to deliver one in this awards season than the man who brought the world the perennial underdog Rocky Balboa?
Coming into the Golden Globes, Sylvester Stallone was widely considered the sentimental favorite to win the award for supporting actor in a motion picture for his understated return, in “Creed,” to his signature role. When his name was announced, the 69-year-old actor took the stairs to the strains of the “Rocky” theme, as the audience gave him a standing ovation.
In his acceptance speech, Stallone noted that his win came nearly 40 years after he was nominated for actor and screenplay awards at the Globes for the original “Rocky” in 1977 — back when the Globes were a far less widely watched affair. “I got hit by a tumbleweed,” he joked. “It was a long time ago and a different situation. The view is so beautiful now.”
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Golden Globe winners, including Rachel Bloom with her Golden Globe for Actress in a TV Series, Comedy or Musical, stop by the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards press room at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 10, 2016.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Actor Sylvester Stallone, winner of Supporting Performance in a Motion Picture for “Creed,” poses in the press room at the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards show at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 10, 2016.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Kate Winslet accepts her Golden Globe for Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture at the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards show at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 10, 2016.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Director Alejandro González Iñárritu, left, and actor Leonardo DiCaprio pose with awards for Best Motion Picture, Drama; Best Director, Motion Picture; and Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama, for “The Revenant” in the press room at the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards show at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 10, 2016.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Winner Oscar Isaac for Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television at the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards show at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 10, 2016.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Taraji P. Henson in the press room with her Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama at the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards show at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 10, 2016.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Matt Damon, winner for Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy, at the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards show at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 10, 2016.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Producers Mark Pybus, left, Colin Callender and Rebecca Eaton, winners of Miniseries or Television Film for “Wolf Hall,” pose in the press room at the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards show at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 10, 2016.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Jimmy Naples, left, and Sam Smith, winners of the Best Original Song in a Motion Picture for “Writing’s On The Wall” from the movie “Spectre”, at the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards show at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 10, 2016.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Aaron Sorkin, winner of Screenplay - Motion Picture for “Steve Jobs” at the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards show at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 10, 2016.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Director Laszlo Nemes, center, actor Geza Rohrig, second from left, and other members of the “Son of Saul” team pose with the award for best foreign-language film for “Son of Saul,” in the press room at the 73rd Golden Globe Awards show at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Jennifer Lawrence won the award for lead actress in a motion picture comedy for “Joy.”
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Christian Slater took home the prize for actor in a supporting role in a series, limited series or motion picture made for television, for “Mr. Robot.”
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Gael Garcia Bernal of “Mozart in the Jungle” wins for actor in a TV series, musical or comedy.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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“Mr. Robot” creator Sam Esmail, center, and the cast pose together after winning the Golden Globe award for best TV series drama.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Maura Tierney holds her Golden Globe for supporting actress in a limited series/TV Movie for “The Affair.”
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Jon Hamm holds his Golden Globe for “Mad Men.”
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Winners of the best motion picture musical or comedy for “The Martian”: Simon Kinberg, left, Ridley Scott and Michael Schaefer.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Pete Docter, left, and Jonas Rivera, winners of the best animated feature film for “Inside Out.”
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Lady Gaga with her Golden Globe for actress in a miniseries or a motion picture. She will perform the national anthem at Super Bowl 50.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Gael Garcia Bernal, Bernadette Peters and Lola Kirke share the Golden Globe for TV series comedy for “Mozart in the Jungle.”
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
In the intervening years, even as Stallone became one of the industry’s biggest stars, he was often treated like a punching bag for what many deemed his limited acting range and tendency to play monosyllabic characters in mindless action films. But the role of Rocky, to which Stallone returned in a series of sequels, remained a touchstone for him and an audience favorite.
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“Rocky is the one thing I’ve done right,” Stallone told The Times recently. “I’d say my life is about 96% failures, but if you just get that 4% right, that’s all you need.”
In 1997, Stallone received strong reviews for his quiet turn as a small-town sheriff in the drama “Cop Land,” but the film didn’t lead to the kind of validation and acting opportunities for which he had hoped. “I was hoping it would be a game-changer, but the feedback from the studio was that it confused people,” Stallone said. “I didn’t mean to confuse people — I was just trying to stretch. That began a long doldrum.”
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Comedian and host Ricky Gervais opened the show with jokes that made some laugh hysterically, and others cringe.
(Paul Drinkwater / Associated Press)
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Jennifer Lawrence accepts the award for actress in a motion picture comedy for her role in “Joy.” “Every time I’m up here, it’s because of you,” Lawrence said of her director David O. Russell.
(Paul Drinkwater / Associated Press)
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In the final award of the night, Alejandro G. Inarritu accepts the honor for motion picture drama for his film “The Revenant.”
(Paul Drinkwater / Associated Press)
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Brie Larson accepts the award for actress in a motion picture drama for her role in “Room.” After a long list of folks to shout out, she said, “I’m sorry to anyone I forgot, I’ll write you a thank you card.”
(Paul Drinkwater / Associated Press)
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As Taraji P. Henson walked to the stage to accept her award for actress in a TV drama, she passed out cookies to those around her, including one to Lady Gaga. “Cookies for everyone tonight, my treat,” she said for her winning role playing a character named Cookie in “Empire.” And just as she was asked to wrap up her speech, she refused. “I waited 20 years for this,” Henson said.
(Paul Drinkwater / Associated Press)
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After being announced as a two-time Golden Globe award winner, Jim Carrey made it known that he isn’t just a regular person, he is a two-time Golden Globe award winner. Though, of course, his dreams won’t be fulfilled, as he said, until he becomes a three-time Golden Globe award winner.
(Paul Drinkwater / Associated Press)
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Presenter Morgan Freeman announces the nominees for directing.
(Handout / Getty Images)
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Alejandro G. Inarritu accepts the award for director for “The Revenant.”
(Paul Drinkwater / Associated Press)
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Presenter Andy Samberg sparks laughs.
(Paul Drinkwater / NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
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Michael Keaton takes the stage to present an award.
(Paul Drinkwater / Associated Press)
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Sophia Bush, left, and Kate Bosworth present an award onstage.
(Paul Drinkwater / Associated Press)
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Maggie Gyllenhaal introduces the nominated film “The Room.”
(Paul Drinkwater / Associated Press)
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Music, what music? Ridley Scott made sure to get in all this “thank yous” while accepting the award for motion picture comedy for “The Martian.”
(Paul Drinkwater / Associated Press)
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In accepting his Globes trophy, Stallone thanked his “imaginary friend” Balboa for being “the best friend I’ve ever had.” In a slip, however, he forgot to thank “Creed” director Ryan Coogler or his costar, Michael B. Jordan. Even as the apparent slight was spreading across social media, Stallone ran back onstage to do so, but the moment wasn’t aired.
Coogler, who was inspired to bring back the boxing franchise by his father’s deep love of Rocky, wasn’t bothered in the least.
“I don’t know what’s happening on Twitter, but I love Sly,” Coogler said.
“And what he said was so nice!”
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Without question, Amy Adams is enjoying the evening.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Steve Carell and his wife, Nancy, were among the A-listers at the event.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Gina Rodriguez smiles for the cameras as she enters the room.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Christian Slater, left, and Rachel McAdams join the festivities.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Taraji P. Henson, one of the award winners, has reason to smile.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Jeffrey Tambor and Kasia Ostlun make their arrival.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Helen Mirren graces the affair with he presence.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Michael B. Jordan, center, arrives at the party.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Brie Larson was a winner for the movie “Room.”
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Amy Schumer and sister Kim Caramele pause amid the hubbub backstage.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Queen Latifah arrives at the party.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Natalie Dormer makes her way to the celebration.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Terrance Howard and Michelle Ghent-Howard join the festivities.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Brian Wilson arrives.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Backstage in the press room, Stallone said he was so swept up in the moment, he didn’t even realize he’d gotten a standing ovation when he walked to the podium like Rocky ascending the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
“I was promising myself that I would be very aware the whole time, but as you can tell, I got very caught up in emotion. Just the mere act that they were applauding, it makes me realize that in life, it’s never really over until it’s over.”
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Josh Rottenberg covers the film business for the Los Angeles Times. He was part of the team that was named a 2022 Pulitzer Prize finalist in breaking news for covering the tragic shooting on the set of the film “Rust.” He co-wrote the 2021 Times investigation into the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. that led NBC to pull the Golden Globe Awards off the air while the organization underwent major reforms. A graduate of Harvard University, he has also written about the entertainment industry for the New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, Fast Company and other publications.
Susan King is a former entertainment writer at the Los Angeles Times who specialized in Classic Hollywood stories. She also wrote about independent, foreign and studio movies and occasionally TV and theater stories. Born in East Orange, N.J., she received her master’s degree in film history and criticism at USC. She worked for 10 years at the L.A. Herald Examiner and came to work at The Times in January 1990. She left in 2016.
