We were all rooting for him, and so were the many critics who raved about his dramatic performance in last year’s Creed, but in a fairly shocking upset, Sylvester Stallone lost his well-deserved Best Supporting Actor award to Bridge of Spies‘ Mark Rylance tonight at the 88th Annual Academy Awards.
With scores of critics and reviewers certain for weeks that Sly would finally take home his Oscar for playing Rocky Balboa, it seemed even the audience at Hollywood’s Kodak Theater were stunned at his loss to Rylance.
Perhaps WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley said it best with his Tweet minutes after Stallone’s loss:
The @Oscars_Live had a chance to award a role that has really touched lives – and they blew it. @TheSlyStallone @creedmovie #Rocky
— Mick Foley (@RealMickFoley) February 29, 2016
Stallone ranks among an exclusive group of just six actors – including screen legends Paul Newman and Peter O’Toole – who have been nominated twice for playing the same role. Considered to be his best dramatic performance since 1997’s crime drama Cop Land, Sly’s emotionally revealing work in Ryan Coogler’s Creed created a movingly tender bookend to his original performance as Rocky Balboa back in 1976.
It’s one thing to win an Oscar, it’s another thing to be the creator of one of the most beloved and inspirational heroes of our time.
Sly attended the awards with his wife, Jennifer Flavin, and the gorgeous couple walked the red carpet earlier this evening, speaking to ABC’s Robin Roberts about their excitement. “I don’t want it to end,” a gracious Stallone said. Fans and spectators lining the red carpet actually chanted “Rocky, Rocky, Rocky!” as the Stallones walked past; Sly wearing a dark blue tuxedo with a black shirt and bow tie, Jennifer in a classic black gown with an Angelina Jolie-style slit.
#Oscars then & now… Sylvester Stallone in 1977 & 2016 pic.twitter.com/4ej8e0t8Eq
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) February 29, 2016
