I’d be mighty surprised if anyone who reads this text doesn’t know who Sylvester Stallone is.
There are few Hollywood stars still working today that can claim to be as famous as Sly Stallone – he’s quite literally been an action movie icon for decades.
But have you ever heard of Sylvester’s mother, Jackie Stallone? In fact, Sly’s mother has an incredibly fascinating life story of her own, and a lot about her dramatic time on this earth came to light after her tragic death in 2020.

A huge personality and a mother of show business, Jackie Stallone was known for many things. We’ll say here and now that most people will probably remember her for her many plastic surgery procedures.
Towards the end of her life, however, Jackie opened up regarding her surgeries, giving people quite the surprise with her honest answers …

Ran away as a 15-year-old
Her parents first met when Jackie’s father participated in the First World War. They fell in love while John was stationed in France and serving in the U.S. Navy.
As a young girl, Jackie was very active, and she had been inspired by the bodybuilder Charles Atlas when she was little. For some reason, the famous muscleman lived with Jackie’s family, and helped train them in gymnastics and weight lifting. Jackie was awestruck.

At 15 years old, she escaped from her parents’ home to join the Flying Wallenda’s act for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailly Circus. She had decided to become an acrobat. Only, her father wasn’t happy with his teenage daughter’s career move.

”My father, who was a wealthy lawyer, wanted me to go to law school. But I wanted to be onstage,” Jackie told The Times of London in 2005.

In her youth, Jackie worked as a trapeze artist. She also pursued a career on Broadway, working as a chorus singer before moving home to Washington.

Back in the capital, she started an exercise program on a local TV station. Today, it may not sound like much to the world – but the fact is that Jackie broke barriers and was ahead of her time.