The Single Performer Sylvester Stallone “Refuses To Work With” Ever Again
Sylvester Stallone has collaborated with nearly every major action icon in the history of Hollywood cinema. He successfully recruited a massive lineup of legendary talent for his popular ‘The Expendables’ movie franchise over the years. However there is one specific veteran actor that he will likely never share a screen with again. Richard Gere and Stallone have maintained a legendary feud that has lasted for over five decades. This deep animosity traces back to their very early days in the film industry before either man was a household name.
The initial conflict began during the production of the 1974 film ‘The Lords of Flatbush’. Both men were relatively unknown at the time and were desperately looking for their first big break in the business. Stallone has been very vocal in the past about how the two performers simply did not get along from the very start. The tension on the movie set was palpable to everyone involved in the independent production. Stallone eventually noted that “We never hit it off” when describing their initial interactions during that period.
According to Stallone the issues started because of the specific attitude that Gere brought to the rehearsals. He felt that Gere was taking his character a bit too seriously and acting out in a way that bothered others. Stallone claimed that “He would strut around in his oversized motorcycle jacket like he was the baddest knight at the round table” during their time together. This perceived arrogance rubbed the future ‘Rocky’ star the wrong way almost immediately. The situation eventually reached a boiling point during a lunch break while they were filming on location.
The two actors were sitting together in the front seat of a Toyota Corolla while they were eating their food. Stallone was eating a hot dog and Gere climbed into the vehicle with a half chicken covered in mustard. Stallone warned his co-star that the mustard was inevitably going to drip all over the interior of the car and his own clothes. Gere allegedly told him not to worry about the mess in a very dismissive and confident tone. A few moments later a large glob of greasy mustard landed directly on Stallone’s thigh.
Stallone reacted immediately to the mess by elbowing Gere in the side of the head with considerable force. He then proceeded to push Gere out of the open door of the vehicle and onto the street. The director of the film was forced to intervene as the situation became physical between the two leading men. Stallone recalled that “The director had to make a choice, one of us had to go, one of us had to stay” following the physical altercation. Ultimately the production team decided to keep Stallone and they officially let Gere go from the project.
Gere was quickly replaced by the actor Perry King for the remainder of the shoot. This decision changed the trajectory of the film and the future careers of both men in significant ways. Stallone has maintained that the bad blood between them never truly went away after that day on the set. He mentioned that “Richard was given his walking papers and to this day seriously dislikes me” during later media interviews. This event created a permanent rift between the two Hollywood heavyweights that has never been repaired.
The feud took a stranger turn in the following decades with the emergence of a bizarre urban legend. A famous and strange rumor regarding Gere and a gerbil began to circulate throughout the entertainment industry. Gere reportedly believed that Stallone was the one who started the story to ruin his professional reputation. Stallone has denied these accusations many times but the suspicion has kept the fire of their rivalry burning. The two stars have gone out of their way to avoid each other at major industry events for many years.
Beyond his historical issues with Gere the career of Sylvester Stallone has been defined by extreme resilience. He became a global icon after writing and starring in ‘Rocky’ which eventually won the Academy Award for Best Picture. He followed that massive success with the ‘Rambo’ series which solidified him as the premier action star of the nineteen eighties. He has recently transitioned into the world of television with the hit series ‘Tulsa King’ on the Paramount Plus streaming service. The show features him as a mafia capo establishing a new criminal empire in the state of Oklahoma.
Stallone also currently stars in a reality television series titled ‘The Family Stallone’ alongside his wife Jennifer Flavin and their three daughters. This show provides fans with a look at his personal life away from the cameras of high budget action movies. He also recently returned to the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ franchise for a brief appearance in the third installment of the series. His production company Balboa Productions continues to develop new projects for both theatrical release and various streaming platforms. There are also ongoing rumors about a potential return to the ‘Cliffhanger’ universe for a new sequel.
Richard Gere found his own successful path to superstardom despite being fired from ‘The Lords of Flatbush’ early in his career. He became a major leading man in the eighties with iconic roles in ‘American Gigolo’ and ‘An Officer and a Gentleman’. His performance in ‘Pretty Woman’ alongside Julia Roberts remains one of the most famous romantic comedies ever made by a major studio. Gere has also been recognized for his work in the musical ‘Chicago’ which won him a Golden Globe Award for his acting. He has spent much of his later career focusing on independent films and various humanitarian efforts around the globe.
Gere recently starred in the film ‘Maybe I Do’ which featured an ensemble cast of veteran actors including Diane Keaton and Susan Sarandon. He continues to be a vocal advocate for various social and political causes that are important to him. His filmography includes diverse roles ranging from intense psychological dramas to lighthearted romantic comedies. He remains a very respected figure in the film industry even if he refuses to reconcile with his former co-star. The likelihood of the two men ever working together is virtually non-existent at this late stage of their lives.
Hollywood is full of famous rivalries but the Stallone and Gere conflict is particularly enduring and documented. Most actors tend to settle their differences after several decades pass and they gain more perspective. The physical nature of their confrontation over a simple lunch seems to have left a lasting mark on both parties involved. Neither actor has shown much interest in a public reconciliation or participating in a joint project together. Their story serves as a reminder that even the biggest stars have personal limits when it comes to their colleagues.
The legacy of ‘The Lords of Flatbush’ is now inextricably linked to this behind the scenes drama in the minds of many fans. It is interesting to wonder how the movie would have changed if Gere had stayed in the lead role. The chemistry between the cast would have been entirely different with two competing alpha personalities on the set every day. Perry King ended up being a great fit for the role and the movie became a minor cult classic. Fans still discuss the mustard incident whenever the history of these two legendary actors is brought up in conversation.
Stallone is currently preparing for the second season of his mob drama and several other new film roles. He shows no signs of slowing down his work schedule despite being in his late seventies. Gere is also staying active with selective projects that align with his current creative interests and personal beliefs. The two legends will likely continue their parallel paths in the industry without ever crossing each other again. It remains one of the most fascinating and petty stories in the long history of cinema rivalries.
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