A Rocky road to Hollywood: What Sylvester Stallone reveals in his new memoir

Sylvester Stallone has bared his soul in his new memoir The Steps, which tells the story of his unlikely rise to Hollywood superstardom.

From a difficult relationship with his parents to cleaning the lion cage at Central Park Zoo, here are some of the most shocking revelations from Sly's book.

A Tough Upbringing

Stallone details his "derelict" childhood in the memoir, recalling the verbal and physical abuse he received from his parents.

He recalls how his mother and father told him that he had ruined their lives and tells the story of how his dad Frank threw him off a horse during a polo match when he was 13 years old.

'Divine Intervention' when writing Rocky

Stallone famously penned the screenplay for the original Rocky movie, which catapulted him to fame as he also portrayed the titular boxer Rocky Balboa.

He completed the screenplay in just three days and felt that he was been guided by a higher power during the process.

Stallone wrote: "I said, 'Is this your plan to like, torture me? To this-and-that to test me? All right, I've come this far, I refuse to break.'

"And I went back in and I finished the last few pages of Rocky. I really felt as though something guided my hand, because I've never been able to do it since. So, that's why I have to give credence to some sort of divine guidance."

Selling his dog

Stallone recalls the heartbreaking moment in which he was forced to sell his beloved bullmastiff Butkus because he could no longer afford to feed the pooch as he struggled to make ends meet before Rocky.

He wrote: "It's the only thing I could sell. It was like, that was it."

Happily, Stallone was later able to buy the dog back and Butkus went to appear alongside Sly in the first two Rocky films.

I Play Rocky

Stallone recalls how he turned big-money offers from producers who wanted the script for Rocky – on the proviso that they could cast another actor in the lead role – as he knew it was his best shot at making it in the movie business.

He wrote: "I said, pass, I can't do it.

"I've literally crawled through every gutter in New York. I've slept in every alleyway. I have paid my dues, and I know this it. I will never have this opportunity again. I don't know if you believe in destiny, but I think in some cases, it happens."

Mother didn't join him at the Oscars

Stallone invited his mother Jackie to attend the 1977 Academy Awards ceremony – where Rocky took home the Best Picture prize – but was left heartbroken when she declined the offer as she couldn't bring her hairdresser to the show.

When Sly informed her she had just one seat left, she replied: "Then I can't go. I'll watch it on TV."