A character that was filled with complexities and nuance turned out to be easier than Sylvester Stallone’s tenure as Rambo.
While Sylvester Stallone’s stature on the big screen was largely defined by his larger-than-life depictions of Rocky and Rambo, he has done an immaculate job of highlighting one overlooked attribute in his arsenal with Tulsa King. Although the show has its fair share of issues and isn’t exactly one of the most revered pieces of media that Stallone has been part of, his portrayal of Dwight is undoubtedly one of Stallone’s best, in terms of sheer acting.
Interestingly, stepping out of his comfort zone wasn’t a huge deal for the Rocky star, as according to Stallone, his nuanced take on the mob boss was comparatively easier than his action endeavors, especially Rambo.
Playing Dwight was no big deal for Sylvester Stallone
Given Stallone’s feats in the action landscape, one would assume a mob boss who doesn’t fit the stereotypical image of a gangster and often engages in lengthy monologues would be foreign soil for the actor. Surprisingly, the role of Dwight proved to be a lot easier for the Tulsa King star, who was closely associated with the characterization of the Manfredi patriarch.
Ironically, it was Rambo that turned out to be an arduous affair for Sylvester Stallone, as channeling the character’s inner rage ended up translating into his everyday schedule (via IndieWire).
When you’re doing Rambo, after a while it’s like [groans] — you want to attack the pancakes in the morning, you want to throw your coffee against the wall, you actually breathe that kind of anger. If you keep it going, it reflects in your eyes. So this one here was not bad at all.
This isn’t to say his portrayal of Rambo was confined to a single dimension, far from it, especially when it comes to First Blood, which remains notable for putting his dramatic chops to the forefront.
Dwight was the missing piece in Sylvester Stallone’s illustrious career
Despite being one of the most celebrated actors when it comes to action, Stallone was rarely allowed to put his comedic and monologue skills to the test. This finally changed with Tulsa King, which he deemed the missing piece in his illustrious career, finally allowing him to excel in those departments.
One of the first things he said when we met is that people know him as Rocky or Rambo and that ‘I don’t think people even know that I can actually talk.’ So the idea that he has these big monologues and chunks of comedy, it was really a pleasure for him. When he read the pilot, he said, ‘This fits me like a tailor-made suit. This is who I am in real life — if I were a mobster.’
It’s easy to see why the First Blood star was enamored by Dwight from the get-go, as on top of delivering in the shoes of the mob boss, Stallone also remains highly involved in the creative side of things.
Tulsa King is available to stream on Paramount Plus.