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Earlier this year it was announced that Academy Award-winning director Peter Farrelly (Green Book) would be tackling the subject of Sylvester Stallones Rocky for his next project, and now we have a few more details to share from the filmmaker himself. Released in 1976, Rocky would go on to win the Oscar for Best Picture and make a household name out of Stallone, but its how the film got made in the first place that will be at the center of Farrellys biographical pic, I Play Rocky.

Speaking with Variety, Farrelly was joined by his brother, Bobby, to discuss a number of topics, including the latters new Jack Black movie, Dear Santa. The siblings have worked together on a number of films in the past, including hits like Dumb and Dumber, Theres Something About Mary, and Shallow Hal. This time, Peter will be flying solo for I Play Rocky, which was penned by Peter Gamble.

Guy Fieri and Sammy Hagar’s joint tequila business suffered a huge setback after two trucks carrying about $1 million worth of their Santo Tequila were hijacked in a double heist in Texas during the weekend of November 9th.

According to a representative of Hagar, via Fox News, the trucks were hijacked over the weekend in Laredo, just after crossing the border into the United States. A total of 4,040 cases of tequila, including Santo blanco, reposado, and a special extra añejo — which took 39 months to make — were stolen.

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Hagar’s rep added that the double heist appears to be an “organized crime effort where the trucks were illegally double brokered to different carriers who transferred the product to their trucks” after crossing the border from Mexico into Texas. An incident report obtained by People stated that the company believes “the Gps tracking signal we were monitoring...

Sylvester Stallone Was So Broke While Filming Rocky That He Sold His Dog—Here’s the Full Story! ( Photo Credit – Flickr )

In the ’70s, Sylvester Stallone hit rock bottom, selling his dog Butkus for just $40 outside an 7-11—proving life’s ruff when hustling to make Rocky!

Stallone’s plight didn’t end there. After selling the script for Rocky, he found himself with a little more cash and a burning desire to reclaim his furry friend. He splashed out an astounding $15,000 to repurchase Butkus from his new owners. In his own words, Stallone declared it was “worth every penny.” That’s some profound love right there!

Butkus: The Four-Legged Inspiration

According to reports, Stallone’s bond with Butkus was inseparable. When he had to sell him, it was one helluva decision. “They weren’t thrilled, but I said, ‘Please,’” Stallone recalled. The dog had been his companion during those tough years,...

Sylvester Stallone is one of the biggest Hollywood stars of all time known for all the spectacular franchises he has starred in and co-created. Yet it is his Rocky franchise that remains the biggest and most influential in popular culture. While the actor is now famous and among the most influential celebrities, back before his fame, he was just a broke guy with an empty pocket.

Sylvester Stallone and Butkus in Rocky

With a baby on the way and no money for rent or food, the actor was forced to sell his beloved pet dog. But the moment he got paid for the Rocky script, the actor rushed back to buy his dog back,

The Story of Sylvester Stallone And Butkus

Sylvester Stallone with Butkus (via Instagram | @officialslystallone)

Every pet owner would relate to Sylvester Stallone after hearing the heartwarming story of his pet dog, Butkus. Way before the first Rocky film was made,...

Michael Chiarello, a restaurateur, chef and Food Network personality, has died. He was 61.

Chiarello died at Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa, Calif. after spending a week in treatment for an allergic reaction that led to anaphylactic shock, his company Gruppo Chiarello confirmed in a statement obtained by our sister site Variety.

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“Chef Michael Chiarello’s passion for food and life will forever be etched in our kitchens and our hearts,...

Football legend Dick Butkus, who played for the Chicago Bears, has passed away at the age of 80. He had a distinguished career, participating in eight Pro Bowls and being inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and NFL Hall of Fame. Butkus had a successful acting career, appearing in TV shows and movies such as Brian's Song, The Six Million Dollar Man, and Wonder Woman. Butkus had a long-lasting marriage with his high school sweetheart, Helen, and they had three children together. Their love story began while they were still in high school and continued throughout their lives.

NFL Hall of Famer Dick Butkus has died. The legendary sports star and actor passed away in his sleep, according to a statement provided by his family. Unlike many other athletes who have the privilege to go pro, Butkus enjoyed the luxury of playing in his home state of Illinois during...

The list of things you can call "all-American" and not mean it in a bad way grows smaller and smaller as time marches ever onward, but today the title solemnly fits: we lost a true all-American star in Dick Butkus. The trailblazing football player and Hall of Fame inductee, widely considered one of the best linebackers who ever lived, has died at the age of 80. The Butkus family released a statement earlier today announcing that Butkus had passed "peacefully in his sleep overnight." George H. McCaskey, the Chairman of Butkus' career-long team, the Chicago Bears, released his own statement shortly after memorializing Butkus thusly:

"Dick was the ultimate Bear, and one of the greatest players in NFL history. He was Chicago's son. He exuded what our great city is about and, not coincidentally, what George Halas looked for in a player: toughness, smarts, instincts, passion and leadership."

In their touching obituary,...

NFL linebacker legend Dick Butkus has died. The former footballer was 80 years old. In a statement released by the Butkus family, they revealed the pro-athlete died in his sleep overnight. “The Butkus family is gathering with Dick’s wife Helen. They appreciate your prayers and support,” the statement reads. According to TMZ, Butkus was found unresponsive when someone went to check on him at his home. Paramedics reportedly responded to a call for a patient in cardiac arrest. Butkus was declared dead at the scene. (Credit: Everett Collection) The Chicago Bears player was drafted as the number 3 overall pick in 1965 following his stint at the University of Illinois. Standing at six foot three inches, Butkus weighed roughly 245 pounds at the height of his football career. He played for the Bears from ’65 to 1973 racking in several individual awards including six All-nfl selections, two Defensive Player of the Year honors, and eight Pro Bowls.

Former Chicago Bears linebacker Dick Butkus, who also appeared in countless films, TV shows and commercials, died Thursday at the age of 80.

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Though an official cause of death was not released, Butkus’ family tells the Chicago Tribune that he died “peacefully in his sleep overnight at home” in Malibu, Calif.

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Along with his legendary career with the Bears, which spanned from 1965 to 1973, Butkus also cultivated an impressive acting resume,...

Dick Butkus, the legendary Hall of Fame NFL linebacker and character actor, has died at age 80.

Butkus was a linebacker for the Chicago Bears from 1965 to 1973 and was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1979.

“The Butkus family confirms that football and entertainment legend Dick Butkus died peacefully in his sleep overnight at home in Malibu, California,” the family’s statement shared to X read. They asked for “prayers and support” for Butkus’ wife, Helen.

He was remembered on social media by Bears chairman George H. McCaskey as “the ultimate Bear” and “one of the greatest players in NFL history.”

The statement shared to the team’s X account read, “He was Chicago’s son. He exuded what our city is about… toughness, smarts, instincts, passion and leadership.” McCaskey went on to say, “Dick had a gruff manner, and maybe that kept some people from approaching him, but he actually had a soft touch,...

Dick Butkus, the ferocious Chicago Bears middle linebacker who brought his reputation as an NFL barbarian to Hollywood for Miller Lite commercials, sitcoms and films, has died. He was 80.

A member of the Screen Actors Guild for more than four decades, Butkus died peacefully in his sleep overnight at his home in Malibu, his family announced Thursday.

From 1987-89, Butkus had a recurring role as cafe owner Ed Klawicki on My Two Dads, an NBC sitcom about two single men (Paul Reiser, Greg Evigan) raising a teenage daughter (Staci Keanan).

Butkus joined the NBC Saturday morning series Hang Time in 1998 as old-school Deering High Tornados basketball coach Mike Katowinski, taking over for former NBA star Reggie Theus, and he worked on that show for its final three seasons.

Earlier, Butkus was a regular on two short-lived, light-hearted network dramas: ABC’s Blue Thunder, which featured Dana Carvey and a gadget-filled helicopter,...

Dick Butkus, a Hall of Famer who was among the greatest, most respected and most feared players in NFL history and also had a long acting career in TV, film and commercials, died overnight in his sleep at his Malibu home. He was 80.

His family confirmed the news on social media.

After back-to-back All-America seasons at the University of Illinois, Butkus was picked No. 3 overall by his hometown Chicago Bears in 1965. A fearsome force on the field and rather gentle giant off of it, he spent his entire injury-shortened nine-season career with the club, redefining the linebacker position in the process.

Dick Butkus circa 1965

Active from 1965-73, Butkus was named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team for both the 1960s and ’70s and was selected for the All-Time NFL Team in 2000. A six-time All-nfl selection and two-time Defensive Player of the Year, he played in eight consecutive Pro Bowls and...

Dick Butkus, one of the most celebrated linebackers in NFL history who played eight seasons for the Chicago Bears before turning to a career as an actor and sports commentator, died Thursday in Malibu. He was 80 years old.

The Butkus family released a statement through the Chicago Bears organization, confirming his death.

“The Butkus family confirms that football and entertainment legend Dick Butkus died peacefully in his sleep overnight at home in Malibu, California. The Butkus family is gathering with Dick’s wife Helen. They appreciate your prayers and support,” the statement reads.

A Chicago native, Butkus was drafted by his hometown team in 1965 after a breakthrough college football career that saw him lead the University of Illinois to a Rose Bowl victory in 1963. During his time with the Bears, Butkus twice won defensive player of the year, appeared in eight Pro Bowls and was named to first-team All-Pro five times.

"Rocky" has become so synonymous with the American pop culture lexicon that you nearly forget about the journey it took getting to the screen to begin with. The classic underdog story was not only about a small-time Philadelphia boxer going the distance with the heavyweight champion, but a tale about how Sylvester Stallone turned himself into a household name. While writing "Rocky," he was living in a terrible apartment and could barely afford food. Stallone even had to sell his dog Butkus just to survive, before buying him back once he sold the screenplay.

The boxing drama went on to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards, which carved out a name for the titular fighter as well as Stallone. In many ways, "Rocky" was his baby. The "First Blood" star ended up making a good chunk of change on the back end, but it may surprise you to learn that,...

One of the benefits of making a legacy sequel is being able to bring back some of the original cast members in order to help usher in the new generation. That's how you get Sylvester Stallone to return as boxing champion Rocky Balboa for the "Creed" movies, in addition to Dolph Lundgren as the Soviet Union machine Ivan Drago ("Rocky IV"). But there are some instances where an actor's death in the real world prevents them from returning. Even more so than the actors themselves, it's highly unlikely that any of the animal performers live long enough to make their big screen return.

In "Rocky," the titular boxer falls for Butkus, a Bull Mastiff living among the other animals at the local pet shop. You may remember that Adrian (Talia Shire) gives him to Rocky as a Christmas present to accompany him on his runs, which brings a smile to the Italian Stallion's face.

Jennifer Flavin is reportedly seeking a divorce from her husband of 25 years, the actor Sylvester Stallone.

Flavin and Stallone first had an eight-year relationship until 1994 when the Rocky star told her he was having an affair with model Janice Dickinson. They later reconciled and married in 1997, but Flavin filed for divorce from Stallone in the state of Florida last week.

Flavin’s court docs reportedly said the marriage was “irretrievably broken,” and also made more serious allegations against Stallone than initial reports that they separated over an argument regarding adopting a rottweiler.

She said that Stallone’s spending caused a “waste of marital assets,” and she can only be “compensated and made whole” if she receives a higher portion of the estate.

Stallone said a statement, “I love my family. We are amicably and privately addressing these personal issues.”

The actor also commissioned a cover-up of a tattoo of Flavin...

Hollywood star Sylvester Stallone has hidden a tattoo of his wife Jennifer Flavin by covering it up with a picture of Rocky’s dog. After replacing the design on his right bicep with an inking of Butkus, the bull mastiff belonging to the fictional boxer in the blockbuster franchise, the 76-year-old actor played down speculation there could be marriage troubles, reports aceshowbiz.com.

“Mr. Stallone intended to refresh the tattoo image of his wife Jennifer however the results were unsatisfactory and, unfortunately, unfixable,” a representative for Stallone told MailOnline.

“As a result, he had to cover the original image with a tattoo of his dog from Rocky, Butkus. Mr. Stallone loves his family. The Stallones are presently filming a reality show together which will debut on Paramount+.”

Jennifer also sparked speculation about their marriage as she shared a photo of herself earlier this month hugging their three children.

She captioned the post,...

Sylvester Stallone has responded to claims he and his wife Jennifer Flavin are experiencing some turbulence in their relationship.

Stallone was seen in pictures shared by the Daily Mail covering up his arm tattoo of Flavin, instead replacing it with an image of Butkus, Rocky Balboa’s large pet dog in the hit films.

The tattoo was updated by artist Zach Perez, who posted pics of the inking last week. They appear to have since been taken down.

The Mail then picked up on the fact Flavin, whom Stallone married in 1997, had recently posted a photo of her and their three girls, writing “the 4 of us forever,” calling them her “priority.”

Read More: Sylvester Stallone Calls Daughter Sophia ‘Brave’ For Confronting Her Fear Of Spiders With Tarantula Encounter

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A post shared by Jennifer Flavin Stallone (@jenniferflavinstallone)

Stallone’s rep has since told the publication: “Mr.