Sylvester Stallone Reveals How Kirk Douglas Really Punched Him on the Set of ‘Oscar’

Sylvester Stallone once shared a behind-the-scenes story from the set of the 1991 comedy film Oscar that involved a surprising moment with legendary actor Kirk Douglas. Speaking at the American Film Institute, Stallone recalled a scene where Douglas, who played his father, was supposed to give him a staged “movie slap.”

“Kirk was playing my father. The scene was supposed to be him lying in bed and giving me a ‘movie slap’. He’s lying there with his eyes closed, and they’re closed very tight, and he’s swinging, and he’s missing,” Stallone said.

Wanting to push the scene further, Stallone challenged Douglas in between takes. “I said, ‘Look, Kirk. Ever since I made Rocky, you’ve been dying to take a shot at me. I tell you what? Go for it. I can take it. Let me have your best.’”

Stallone noted that Douglas was aware of his rise to fame, including Stallone landing the role of Rambo, another part Douglas had been considered for but ultimately didn’t take due to a falling out with studio executives. By the time they filmed Oscar, any past tension had passed, but Douglas still brought his full energy to the set.

“I was joking about having his best, but Kirk wasn’t. He gave me back hand, right hand, everything. Then the director said, ‘that’s beautiful, let’s do another one’. I was saying, ‘are you crazy? I’m suffering brain damage over here,’” Stallone recalled.

Despite the pain, Stallone expressed deep respect for Douglas. “Out of all the heroes that I saw on the screen growing up, no one had a greater impact than [him]. That’s probably one of the main contributing factors that made me want to go into films. And wherever Michael [Douglas] is, don’t mess with your father.”

Stallone’s story offers a rare glimpse at the mix of fun and intensity on classic Hollywood sets, showing both the humor and respect between actors of different generations.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!