It seems that action heroes are not just tough on the big screen, but also in real life. Recently, there has been a surge of actors revealing the extreme physical toll they endured while filming their action-packed movies. Russell Crowe shared how he continued to shoot Robin Hood despite breaking both of his legs, and now Sylvester Stallone has disclosed the harrowing injuries he sustained during The Expendables.

Stallone, known for his iconic roles in action films, revealed on the launch of a new season of his reality show, The Family Stallone, that he dislocated his shoulders and fractured his neck so severely during a scene with wrestler Stone Cold Steve Austin that he required seven back surgeries, a metal plate in his neck, and spinal fusions. His dedication to doing his own stunts took a heavy physical toll, leaving him with lasting injuries.

Stallone’s revelation comes in the midst of a growing trend in Hollywood, with actors emphasizing the importance of practical effects and their commitment to delivering an authentic experience to audiences. Director Edward Zwick, in his autobiography Hits, Flops, and Other Illusions, highlighted the significance of practical effects, lamenting the modern reliance on CGI and its potential loss of authenticity.

With these recent disclosures, it raises the question of how far actors should go in pursuit of realism and whether the physical risks they undertake are truly necessary for the art of filmmaking. Stallone’s warning to others not to do their own stunts serves as a cautionary tale, shedding light on the hidden sacrifices made by actors in the name of entertainment.

As audiences continue to demand high-octane action and immersive experiences, the pressure on actors to deliver jaw-dropping stunts and adrenaline-pumping sequences remains. However, the revelations from Stallone and Crowe serve as a sobering reminder of the toll such demands can take on the individuals behind the characters we admire on screen.