Sylvester Stallone was turned down for Godfather extra

He may be one of the most popular stars of Hollywood, but actor Sylvester Stallone was once turned down as an extra in The Godfather.

The 69-year-old actor, who became a star after writing and starring in the Oscar-winning film Rocky, said he was surprised to not to get a role of an Italian in the Francis Ford Coppola-directed film, reported People magazine.

“I couldn’t even get cast as an Italian. I’ll never forget, there’s a party scene — it’s 300 guests! They said no. I said, ‘What part of me didn’t pass the Italian identification aspect ,” Stallone said. At the time, Stallone said he felt like “God is telling me something.” The actor said instead of giving up after the rejection, he decided to take control of the situation and write his own screenplay for Rocky. “I just didn’t understand how the rules of life were played at that point but this character I understood,” he explained. Despite receiving a $360,000 offer for the script, Stallone refused to sell unless he could star as the film’s titular character. Rocky received 10 Oscar nominations at the 1977 Academy awards, winning three, best picture, best director and best film editing. Nearly four decades later, Stallone is back in the Oscar race for his turn in the Rocky revival film Creed, directed by Ryan Coogler and starring Michael B. Jordan. Now, nominated again for the first time since 1977, Stallone could not be happier to celebrate the movie’s success.