Sylvester Stallone is famous all over the world for his tough guy roles in movie franchises like Rocky and Rambo, but his old dog, Butkus, was his biggest fan before he made it big in Hollywood.
The actor recently paid tribute to his beloved Bull Mastiff, sharing how his best friend helped him through difficult times and inspired his story of a struggling boxer who achieves success.
“When I was 26, I was totally broke, going nowhere VERY fast, owned two pairs of pants that barely fit, shoes with holes in them, and dreams of success were as far away as the sun,” Stallone writes on Instagram. “But I had BUTKUS, my best friend and confidant, who always laughed at my jokes and put up with my mood swings, and was the only living thing who loved me for who I was!”
Stallone continued his story, revealing that while working on Rocky, he made a heartbreaking decision.
“Because I never went out, I relied on his companionship, and it was actually his idea to write Rocky, but don’t tell anyone,” Stallone writes. “Years later, when things got even worse, I had to sell him for $40 in front of a 7-Eleven because I couldn’t afford food. Then, like a modern-day miracle, the screenplay for Rocky sold, and I could buy him back, but the new owner knew I was desperate, and charged me $15,000… He was well worth the money!”
Butkus would later have an acting role in the film and would never work with Stallone again.
Here are some Rocky clips featuring Butkus.
It’s been a long time since Stallone said his final farewell to his old dog, who died more than 30 years ago. Butkus appears to be alive and well in his friend’s heart.
