Monday, August 31, 2009

a iniesta

Andrés Iniesta

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Andrés Iniesta
Andrés Iniesta 2006
Personal information
Full name Andrés Iniesta Lujan
Date of birth 11 May 1984 (1984-05-11) (age 25)
Place of birth Fuentealbilla, Spain
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)[1]
Playing position Midfielder / Winger
Club information
Current club FC Barcelona
Number 8
Youth career
1994–1996 Albacete
1996–2000 FC Barcelona
Senior career*
Years Club Apps† (Gls)†
2000–2003 FC Barcelona B 54 (6)
2002– FC Barcelona 181 (16)
National team‡
2000 Spain U15 2 (0)
2000–2001 Spain U16 7 (1)
2001 Spain U17 4 (0)
2001–2002 Spain U19 7 (1)
2003 Spain U20 7 (3)
2003–2006 Spain U21 18 (6)
2006– Spain 35 (6)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of April 11, 2009.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of April 11, 2009
This is a Spanish name; the first family name is Iniesta and the second is Luján.

Andrés Iniesta Luján (born 11 May 1984 in Fuentealbilla, Albacete, Castile-La Mancha) is a Spanish football attacking midfielder who currently plays for Spanish La Liga club FC Barcelona. His willingness to play anywhere on the pitch, coupled with a natural humility, has earned him the sobriquet El Ilusionista, El Anti-Galáctico and most recently San Andrés[2] or Don Andrés from the Catalan press.[3] After the 2009 UEFA Champions League Final, Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney asserted that he believed the midfielder to be the best player in the world.[4]

Contents

[hide]

[edit] Club career

[edit] Early career

Initially, the 12-year-old Iniesta's parents travelled to Barcelona and took a look at the FC Barcelona youth school, La Masia. The trip resulted in Iniesta's enrollment in the Barça youth ranks. Like fellow La Masia graduate Cesc Fàbregas, Iniesta originally started as a volante or holding midfielder[5] but his balance, close control and skill on the ball saw him make progress as an attacking midfielder. From that moment on he worked his way up the club ranks. Louis van Gaal handed him his debut on 29 October 2002, a UEFA Champions League game against Club Brugge He appeared eleven times in the league in 2003–04, mostly as a deputy for Camp Nou favourite Ronaldinho, scoring once as Barça sealed second place behind Valencia CF.

[edit] 2004–2007

In the 2004–05 season Iniesta successfully secured a permanent slot in the first team and figured in 37 of 38 league games — more than any other player. He displayed an unselfish attitude by regularly aiding forwards Samuel Eto'o and Ronaldinho but performed poorly in front of goal — denied by the woodwork on several occasions, he found the net just twice.

Iniesta with FC Barcelona.

Iniesta's improvement as a player continued in the 2005–06 season, and because of the absence of Xavi due to injury, he was given regular starts in midfield. The increased playing time offered to him at the highest level gave him the opportunity to blossom into a superb midfielder. His contribution to the team was praised by manager Frank Rijkaard as Barcelona won a league and Champions League double.

The 2006–07 season saw Iniesta's profile continue to rise and earned plaudits for his willingness to play in any position for his team. On August 22, 2006 Andres lifted the Joan Gamper Trophy as the captain of the team after defeating German side Bayern Munich 4–0. He played for the first time as a striker for Barcelona in two Champions League matches against Levski Sofia, finding the net twice. In the first knock out stage of the same competition, he played at left-back against Liverpool. Despite being moved around the pitch by manager Frank Rijkaard, the 2006–07 season remains Iniesta's highest scoring thus far.

According to the Spanish football magazine Don Balón, a member of European Sports Magazines, Iniesta has been one of the most consistent performers in the last two seasons of Primera Division, placing fifth in 2006–07,[6] and fourth in 2007-2008[7] on their annual rating system Ranking Don Balón. He also placed 9th in the 2008 FIFA World Player of the Year voting, gaining 37 total points.[8] Barcelona team-mates Lionel Messi, Samuel Eto'o and Xavi also featured in the top ten.

[edit] 2008–present

Iniesta training with FC Barcelona.

On 24 September 2008, Andrés Iniesta was chosen as one of the new Barcelona captains, with the former vice-captain Ronaldinho departing for AC Milan. According to local newspaper El Mundo Deportivo, Iniesta will be the Barça fourth-choice captain, behind fellow Spaniards, Carles Puyol (1st-choice), Xavi (second-choice), and Víctor Valdés (third-choice). This new achievement by Iniesta has been welcomed by all Culés worldwide, and, especially, by the pro-Barcelona press throughout Spain. In mid November 2008, Iniesta suffered a leg injury and was expected to return to action in 6 weeks. Iniesta, however, did not want to come back until he was 100 percent and finally returned to action on 3 January 2009 as a 65th minute substitute against RCD Mallorca. After only 10 minutes he scored a crucial goal and completed a Barcelona comeback in front of the Camp Nou.[9] His performances in the 2008–09 season have been highly lauded, receiving standing ovations both in Barcelona at the Camp Nou, as well as from rival supporters in away matches.[10]

On 5 February, Iniesta made his 250th appearance for Barcelona in the Copa del Rey match against Mallorca. Iniesta once again got injured in Barcelona's home match against Málaga CF, but returned to action for the first leg Champions League quarter-final clash against Bayern Munich, which Barcelona won 4–0.

His current contract with Barcelona ends in June 2014.[11] On July 19 2007, he was linked with a move to rivals Real Madrid, with reports in newspapers suggesting Real was prepared to pay €60 million for him,[12] which would trigger his release clause. Iniesta disregarded the rumours and reiterated his desire to remain with Barça by saying "I can’t do anything about it but I’d like to insist once again that I want to stay here. When I say I want to retire in Barça, I say it with all my heart."[13] Iniesta's release clause has since been raised to €150 million, to dissuade possible suitors.

Former teammate Samuel Eto'o described Iniesta as being 'the best player in the world; whenever Iniesta is on the pitch he creates a spectacle’.[14]

On 6 May 2009, Iniesta scored the equalizing goal of Barcelona's semi-final against Chelsea, in the third minute of injury time, breaking Chelsea supporters' hearts. This goal sent Barcelona through to the 2009 UEFA Champions League Final against defending champions Manchester United[15], in which he had a very influential role (providing the assist for the first goal scored by Samuel Eto'o) as his team went on to win 2–0. After the game, Wayne Rooney described Iniesta as the best player in the world.[16] Don Balón rated him as the most consistent performer in the 2008-09 La Liga season, ahead of team-mates Xavi and Lionel Messi.[17]

[edit] International career

Iniesta playing for Spain during Euro 2008

Iniesta burst on to the international scene in 2001, helping Spain win the UEFA European Under-16 Championship, and was in the squad that claimed the UEFA European Under-19 Championship the following year. Since then, he became a regular choice for the then youth coach Juan Santisteban. In 2003 he formed part of the Spanish side that reached the FIFA World Youth Championship final in the United Arab Emirates, and was named in the FIFA all-star team. During his spell with the Spain U21s side, Iniesta was named captain on several occasions.

Originally a fringe player, he was called up to represent Spain at the World Cup 2006 on 15 May 2006, much to the surprise of many. Iniesta won his first cap for Spain when he was brought on at half-time in a friendly against Russia on 27 May 2006.

He scored his first goal for Spain in a friendly against England on 7 February 2007. His long range effort, hitting the underside of the crossbar on the way in, gave Spain the lead on 63 minutes. Iniesta proceeded to play a pivotal part in Spain's qualification for Euro 2008 by scoring goals against the likes of Sweden and by assisting the strikers. Iniesta usually played in the middle of the pitch, but he was also trusted with roles further up the pitch when Spain was away from home, most notably in the game against Denmark where he was given an advanced left wing position.

Iniesta was selected in Spain's squad for UEFA Euro 2008 in Austria and Switzerland. Though a stomach bug somewhat hampered his performances, he still played an integral part in the midfield. He played in the first two of Spain's group stage matches and proved an important part of the team providing a particularly notable pass for David Villa's second goal against Russia. He was not rested, unlike most of Spain's regulars, for the final group game against Greece (which Spain won 2-1 thanks to a fantastic volley from Rubén de la Red and a late winner from Daniel Güiza), and returned for the quarter final as Spain beat Italy on Penalties. Iniesta was substituted before the penalties as in his other starts. In the semi-final against Russia he played the entire 90 minutes and produced a quality cross which Xavi converted to open the scoring. The Technical Study Group named him the Man of the Match.[18] He played the full duration of the final in Spain's 1–0 win over Germany. Iniesta was named in the Team of the Tournament alongside fellow Spain midfielders Xavi, Cesc Fàbregas and Marcos Senna and 5 other teammates.

Iniesta did not participate in the 2009 Confederations Cup in South Africa due to a thigh muscle injury.[19]

[edit] All-time club performance

As of 28 August 2009 [20][21]

Club Season League Cup Europe Other [22] Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
FC Barcelona B 2000–01 10 0 - - - - - - 10 0
2001–02 30 3 - - - - - - 30 3
2002–03 14 3 - - - - - - 14 3
Total 54 6 - - - - - - 54 6
FC Barcelona 2002–03 6 0 0 0 3 0 - - 9 0
2003–04 11 1 3 1 3 0 - - 17 2
2004–05 37 2 1 0 8 0 - - 46 2
2005–06 33 0 4 0 11 1 1 0 49 1
2006–07 37 6 6 1 8 2 5 0 56 9
2007–08 31 3 7 0 11 1 - - 49 4
2008–09 26 4 6 0 11 1 - - 45 5
2009–10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 181 16 27 2 55 5 6 0 269 23
Career totals 235 22 27 2 55 5 6 0 323 29

[edit] International goals

[23]

# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 7 February 2007 Old Trafford, Manchester, England England 0–1 0–1 International Friendly
2. 28 March 2007 ONO Estadi, Palma de Mallorca, Spain Iceland 1–0 1–0 UEFA Euro 2008 qualification
3. 2 June 2007 Skonto stadions, Riga, Latvia Latvia 0–2 0–2 UEFA Euro 2008 qualification
4. 8 September 2007 Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland Iceland 1–1 1–1 UEFA Euro 2008 qualification
5. 17 November 2007 Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid, Spain Sweden 2–0 3–0 UEFA Euro 2008 qualification
6. 15 October 2008 King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium Belgium 1–1 1–2 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification

[edit] Honours

[edit] FC Barcelona

[edit] Spain

[edit] Individual

[edit] References

Source national teams caps and goals: HISTORIA DEL FÚTBOL ESPAÑOL, SELECCIONES ESPAÑOLAS (Spanish) ISBN 978-84-8229-12-3-9

  1. ^ [1] FC Barcelona official website. Retrieved on 2009-05-19.
  2. ^ http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/138/spain/2009/05/07/1250897/barcelona-hero-andres-iniesta-in-raptures-after-breaking-chelsea-
  3. ^ http://euro2008.uefa.com/tournament/players/player=58031/index.html
  4. ^ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/5398387/Manchester-United-v-Barcelona-Wayne-Rooney-backs-Andres-Iniesta-for-Ballon-dOr.html
  5. ^ FCBarcelona.cat. "Andrés Iniesta Lujan". http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/futbol/temporada_07-08/plantilla/jugadors/iniesta.html. Retrieved 17 March 2009.
  6. ^ donbalon.com. "RANKING DB 2006-2007". http://www.donbalon.com/front/default.asp?OPT=RER&RERID=1964. Retrieved 1 May 2007.
  7. ^ www.donbalon.com. "Ranking DB 07-08". http://www.donbalon.com/front/default.asp?OPT=RER&RERID=2005. Retrieved 1 May 2008.
  8. ^ fifa.com. "FIFA World Player Gala 2008". http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/classic/awards/99/15/28/resultsmenforfifa.combyplayer.pdf. Retrieved 10 January 2009.
  9. ^ Goal.com. "Iniesta Enjoys Barcelona Return Against Mallorca". http://www.goal.com/en/news/1706/barcelona/2009/01/04/1039882/iniesta-enjoys-barcelona-return-against-mallorca. Retrieved 4 January 2008.
  10. ^ Goal.com. "Player Ratings: Almeria 0-2 Barcelona". http://www.goal.com/en/news/12/spain/2009/03/15/1157494/player-ratings-almeria-0-2-barcelona. Retrieved 15 March 2009.
  11. ^ www.footballdatabase.com
  12. ^ Real Madrid chasing Barcelona midfielder Iniesta
  13. ^ FCBarcelona.cat
  14. ^ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1173336/Samuel-Etoo-exclusive-Sign-team-England-Why-I-quit-best.html
  15. ^ "Chelsea 1-1 Barcelona (agg 1-1)". BBC Sport. 6 May 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/8010840.stm. Retrieved 2009-05-07.
  16. ^ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/5398387/Manchester-United-v-Barcelona-Wayne-Rooney-backs-Andres-Iniesta-for-Ballon-dOr.html
  17. ^ http://www.donbalon.com/front/default.asp?OPT=RER&RERID=2357
  18. ^ euro2008.uefa.com - Fanzone
  19. ^ Injured Iniesta to miss Confederations Cup
  20. ^ Official site statistics
  21. ^ Soccernet player statistics
  22. ^ Includes other competitive competitions, including the Supercopa de España, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup
  23. ^ Fútbol en la Red(Spanish)
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rhoma irama

Rhoma Irama

Dari Wikipedia bahasa Indonesia, ensiklopedia bebas

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Rhoma Irama

Biodata
Lahir 11 Desember 1946 (umur 62)
Asal Tasikmalaya, Indonesia
Genre Dangdut
Pekerjaan Penyanyi, Aktor
Situsweb http://www.rajadangdut.com

Raden Oma Irama yang populer dengan nama Rhoma Irama (lahir di Tasikmalaya, 11 Desember 1946; umur 62 tahun) adalah musisi dangdut dari Indonesia yang berjulukan "Raja Dangdut".

Daftar isi

[sembunyikan]

[sunting] Sekilas

Pada tahun tujuh puluhan, Rhoma sudah menjadi penyanyi dan musisi ternama setelah jatuh bangun dalam mendirikan band musik, mulai dari band Gayhand tahun 1963. Tak lama kemudian, ia pindah masuk Orkes Chandra Leka, sampai akhirnya membentuk band sendiri bernama Soneta yang sejak 13 Oktober 1973 mulai berkibar. Bersama grup Soneta yang dipimpinnya, Rhoma tercatat pernah memperoleh 11 Golden Record dari kaset-kasetnya.

Berdasarkan data penjualan kaset, dan jumlah penonton film- film yang dibintanginya, penggemar Rhoma tidak kurang dari 15 juta atau 10% penduduk Indonesia. Ini catatan sampai pertengahan 1984. "Tak ada jenis kesenian mutakhir yang memiliki lingkup sedemikian luas", tulis majalah TEMPO, 30 Juni 1984. Sementara itu, Rhoma sendiri bilang, "Saya takut publikasi. Ternyata, saya sudah terseret jauh."

Rhoma Irama terhitung sebagai salah satu penghibur yang paling sukses dalam mengumpulkan massa. Rhoma Irama bukan hanya tampil di dalam negeri tapi ia juga pernah tampil di Kuala Lumpur, Singapura, dan Brunei dengan jumlah penonton yang hampir sama ketika ia tampil di Indonesia. Sering dalam konser Rhoma Irama, penonton jatuh pingsan akibat berdesakan. Orang menyebut musik Rhoma adalah musik dangdut, sementara ia sendiri lebih suka bila musiknya disebut sebagai irama Melayu.

Pada 13 Oktober 1973, Rhoma mencanangkan semboyan "Voice of Moslem" (Suara Muslim) yang bertujuan menjadi agen pembaharu musik Melayu yang memadukan unsur musik rock dalam musik Melayu serta melakukan improvisasi atas aransemen, syair, lirik, kostum, dan penampilan di atas panggung. Menurut Achmad Albar, penyanyi rock Indonesia, "Rhoma pionir. Pintar mengawinkan orkes Melayu dengan rock". Tetapi jika kita amati ternyata bukan hanya rock yang dipadu oleh Rhoma Irama tetapi musik pop, India, dan orkestra juga. inilah yang menyebabkan setiap lagu Rhoma memiiki cita rasa yang berbeda.

Bagi para penyanyi dangdut lagu Rhoma mewakili semua suasana ada nuansa agama, cinta remaja, cinta kepada orang tua, kepada bangsa, kritik sosial, dan lain-lain. "Mustahil mengadakan panggung dangdut tanpa menampilkan lagu Bang Rhoma, karena semua menyukai lagu Rhoma," begitu tanggapan beberapa penyanyi dangdut dalam suatu acara TV.

Rhoma juga sukses di dunia film, setidaknya secara komersial. Data PT Perfin menyebutkan, hampir semua film Rhoma selalu laku. Bahkan sebelum sebuah film selesai diproses, orang sudah membelinya. Satria Bergitar, misalnya. Film yang dibuat dengan biaya Rp 750 juta ini, ketika belum rampung sudah memperoleh pialang Rp 400 juta. Tetapi, "Rhoma tidak pernah makan dari uang film. Ia hidup dari uang kaset," kata Benny Muharam, kakak Rhoma, yang jadi produser PT Rhoma Film. Hasil film disumbangkan untuk, antara lain, masjid, yatim piatu, kegiatan remaja, dan perbaikan kampung.

Ia juga terlibat dalam dunia politik. Di masa awal Orde Baru, ia sempat menjadi maskot penting PPP, setelah terus dimusuhi oleh Pemerintah Orde baru karena menolak untuk bergabung dengan Golkar. Rhoma Sempat tidak aktif berpolitik untuk beberapa waktu, sebelum akhirnya terpilih sebagai anggota DPR mewakili utusan Golongan yakni mewakili seniman dan artis pada tahun 1993. Pada pemilu 2004 Rhoma Irama tampil pula di panggung kampanye PKS.

Rhoma Irama sempat kuliah di Universitas 17 Agustus Jakarta, tetapi tidak menyelesaikannya. "Ternyata belajar di luar lebih asyik dan menantang," katanya suatu saat. Ia sendiri mengatakan bahwa ia banyak menjadi rujukan penelitian ada kurang lebih 7 skripsi tentang musiknya telah dihasilkan. Selain itu, peneliti asing juga kerap menjadikannya sebagai objek penelitian seperti William H. Frederick, doktor sosiologi Universitas Ohio, AS yang meneliti tentang kekuatan popularitas serta pengaruh Rhoma Irama pada masyarakat.

Pada bulan Februari 2005, dia memperoleh gelar doktor honoris causa dari American University of Hawaii dalam bidang dangdut, namun gelar tersebut dipertanyakan banyak pihak karena universitas ini diketahui tidak mempunyai murid sama sekali di Amerika Serikat sendiri, dan hanya mengeluarkan gelar kepada warga non-AS di luar negeri. Selain itu, universitas ini tidak diakreditasikan oleh pemerintah negara bagian Hawaii.

Sebagai musisi, pencipta lagu, dan bintang layar lebar, Rhoma selama karirnya, seperti yang diungkapkan, telah menciptakan 685 buah lagu dan bermain di lebih 10 film.

Pada tanggal 11 Desember 2007, Rhoma merayakan ulang tahunnya yang ke 61 yang juga merupakan perayaan ultah pertama kali sejak dari orok, sekaligus pertanda peluncuran website pribadinya, rajadangdut.com.[1]

[sunting] Kontroversi

  • Pada tahun 2003, Rhoma kembali menjadi sorotan media karena mengkritik Inul Daratista, penyanyi dangdut yang sedang naik daun karena mengandalkan gaya tarinya yang dianggap mesum. Rhoma dengan mengatas-namakan organisasi PAMMI (Persatuan Artis Musik Melayu Indonesia), menentang peredaran album Goyang Inul yang dirilis Blackboard pada akhir Mei 2003. Pada saat itu Rhoma Irama kemudian dikecam sebagai seorang munafik oleh pendukung Inul.
  • Juga pada tahun 2003, Rhoma dalam sebuah pengerebekan, tertangkap basah beduaan di apartemen Angel Lelga, sekitar jam 11-4 pagi. Pengerebekan ini banyak ditayangkan media infotainment, dan menjadi permulaan turunnya pamor raja dangdut ini. Kejadian ini disanggah Rhoma dengan berdalih bahwa ia hanya memberikan nasehat dan petuah agar menghindarkan Angel Lelga dari jurang kenistaan, setelah beberapa waktu kemudian rhoma mengakui bahwa ia sebenarnya telah menikah dengan Angel Lelga.[2]
  • Pada November 2005, tayangan Kabar-kabari memberitakan Rhoma Irama mengatakan GIGI adalah band frustasi dan tidak kreatif. Komentar tersebut berhubungan dengan kesuksesan album rohani Raihlah Kemenangan yang dirilis GIGI. Menurut Rhoma, album yang sepenuhnya berisi lagu aransemen ulang itu mengesankan kelompok musik tersebut sebagai band yang frustasi dan tidak kreatif. Berita ini kemudian disanggah oleh Rhoma. (Sebenarnya berita ini sudah di ralat, setelah Rhoma Irama mengirimkan protes ke meja redaksi RCTI dan manajemen acara infotaintment KABAR-KABARI. Berita ini beredar karena kesalahan narator dalam menanggapi berita tentang pernyataan Rhoma Irama. Dan Rhoma Irama sendiri dengan band GIGI tidak ada masalah dan "santai" saja.[3]
  • Pada Januari 2006, kembali Rhoma di hadapan anggota DPR mengeluarkan pernyataan menentang aksi panggung Inul, dalam dengar pendapat pembahasan RUU Antipornografi antara DPR dan kalangan artis.

[sunting] Keluarga

  • Rhoma menikahi Veronica pada 1972, seorang wanita Nasrani yang menjadi muslim setelah dinikahinya, yang kemudian memberinya tiga orang anak, Debby (31), Fikri (27), dan Romy (26). Rhoma akhirnya bercerai dengan Veronica bulan Mei 1985.
  • Sebelum bercerai, sekitar setahun sebelumnya, Rhoma menikahi Ricca Rachim, juga seorang wanita Nasrani yang kemudian menjadi muslim setelah dinikahinya — lawan mainnya dalam beberapa film seperti Melodi Cinta, Badai di Awal Bahagia, Camellia, Cinta Segitiga, Pengabdian, Pengorbanan, dan Satria Bergitar. Hingga sekarang, Ricca tetap mendampingi Rhoma sebagai istri.
  • Pada tanggal 2 Agustus 2005, Rhoma mengumumkan telah menikahi artis sinetron Angel Lelga secara siri pada 6 Maret 2003, namun hari itu juga ia menceraikannya.
  • Veronica sempat menikah kembali (1991) kemudian sang suami yang seorang pejabat meninggal, Veronica sendiri meninggal di tahun 2005 dengan mengalami berbagai penyakit, anak-anaknya mengakui pada pers selama Veronica sakit Rhoma Irama lah yang menanggung semua biaya perawatan hingga ke Singapura mengingat Veronica bukan lagi artis yang produktif dan telah menjadi janda karena suaminya telah meninggal. Keluarga mencatat bahwa Rhoma tetap berperan dalam keluarga tersebut.
  • Pada saat Rhoma Irama digerbek oleh wartawan di Apartemen bersama Angel Lelga sebenarnya keduanya telah menikah secara siri, otak dibalik pengebrakan tersebut adalah Yati Octavia dan suaminya Pangky Suwito yang juga tinggal di Apartemen Semanggi dan turut hadir bersama wartawan pada saat pengebrekan. [4]

[sunting] Diskografi

(belum lengkap)

[sunting] Filmografi

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sylfaster stalon

Sylvester Stallone

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Sylvester Stallone

Sylvester Stallone at local awards.
Born Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone
July 6, 1946 (1946-07-06) (age 63)
New York, New York, U.S.
Occupation Actor, Director, Producer, Writer
Years active 1971–present
Spouse(s) Sasha Czack (1974–1985)
Brigitte Nielsen (1985–1987)
Jennifer Flavin (1997–present)
Official website

Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone[1] (born July 6, 1946), nicknamed Sly Stallone,[2] is an American actor, director, producer and screenwriter. One of the biggest box office draws in the world from the 1970s to the 1990s, Stallone is an icon of machismo and Hollywood action heroism. He has played two characters who have become a part of the American cultural lexicon: Rocky Balboa, the boxer who overcame odds to fight for love and glory, and John Rambo, a courageous soldier who specialized in violent rescue and revenge missions. During the 1980s, he was popular with the Rocky and Rambo franchises.

Stallone's film Rocky was inducted into the National Film Registry as well as having its film props placed in the Smithsonian Museum. Stallone's use of the front entrance to the Philadelphia Museum of Art in the Rocky series led the area to be nicknamed the Rocky Steps. Philadelphia has a statue of his Rocky character placed permanently near the museum, on the right side before the steps.

Contents

[hide]

[edit] Early life

Stallone was born in New York City,[3] the son of Frank Stallone, Sr., a hairdresser, and Jackie Stallone (née Labofish), an astrologer, former dancer and promoter of women's wrestling. Stallone's paternal grandfather, Silvestro Stallone, was an immigrant from Gioia del Colle, in the province of Bari (Apulia, Italy).[4] Stallone's mother was born in Washington, D.C.; her paternal grandparents were Jewish immigrants from Odessa and her mother was a Parisian socialite.[5]

Stallone's brother is the musician Frank Stallone.

Doctors used forceps during his birth that severed a nerve and caused paralysis in parts of Stallone's face, resulting in his signature slurred speech and drooping lower lip.[6] Between the ages of two and five Stallone was boarded in Queens, seeing his parents only on weekends. In 1951 he returned to live with his parents in Maryland where they operated a chain of beauty salons. In 1961 he was enrolled in Devereux Manor High School, a private school for problem children located in Berwyn, Pennsylvania and following graduation enrolled in a beauty school.

In the 1960s, Stallone dropped out of the beauty school after winning a scholarship for the American College of Switzerland in Leysin where he studied drama and was well received in school productions. Returning to America he enrolled in the Theater Arts Department at University of Miami for three years. He came within a few credit hours of graduation before he decided to drop out and pursue a career writing screenplays under the pseudonyms Q. Moonblood and J.J. Deadlock while at the same time taking bit parts in movies.

[edit] Career

[edit] Italian Stallion and Score

Stallone had his first starring role in the softcore pornography feature film Party at Kitty and Stud's (1970), which was later re-released as Italian Stallion (the new title was taken from Stallone's nickname since Rocky and a line from the film). He was paid US$200 for two days' work. An "uncut" version of the film was released in 2007, purporting to show actual hardcore footage of Stallone, but according to trade journal AVN, the hardcore scenes were inserts not involving the actor.[7] In 2008, scenes from Party at Kitty and Stud's surfaced in a German version of Roger Colmont's hardcore-film White Fire (1976).[8]

Stallone also starred in the erotic off-Broadway stage play Score which ran for 23 performances at the Martinique Theatre from October 28 - November 15, 1971 and was later made into a film by Radley Metzger.

[edit] Early film roles, 1971–1975

Stallone's other first few film roles were minor, and included brief uncredited appearances in Woody Allen's Bananas (1971) as a subway thug, in the psychological thriller Klute (1971) as an extra dancing in a club, and in the Jack Lemmon film The Prisoner of Second Avenue (1975) as a youth. In the Lemmon film, Jack Lemmon chases, tackles and mugs Stallone, thinking that Stallone's character is a pickpocket. He had his second starring role in The Lords of Flatbush (1974). In 1975, he played supporting roles in Farewell, My Lovely, Capone and Death Race 2000. He made guest appearances on the TV series Police Story and Kojak.

[edit] Success with Rocky, 1976

Main article: Rocky
Stallone in 1978

Stallone gained worldwide fame with his starring role in the smash hit Rocky (1976). On March 24, 1975, Stallone saw the Muhammed Ali–Chuck Wepner fight which inspired the foundation idea of Rocky. That night Stallone went home, and in three days he had written the script for Rocky. After that, he tried to sell the script with the intention of playing the lead role. Robert Chartoff and Irwin Winkler in particular liked the script (which Stallone submitted to them after a casting), and planned on courting a star like Burt Reynolds or James Caan for the lead role. Rocky was nominated for ten Academy Awards in all, including Best Actor and Best Original Screenplay nominations for Stallone. Rocky won the Best Picture, Best Directing and Best Editing Academy Awards.

[edit] Rocky, Rambo and new film roles, 1978–1989

Stallone in 1983

The sequel Rocky II which Stallone had also written (and directed, replacing John G. Avildsen, who won an Academy Award for directing the first film) was released in 1979 and also became a major success, grossing US$200 million.

Apart from the Rocky films, Stallone did many other films in the late 1970s and early 1980s which were critically acclaimed but were not successful at the box office. He received critical praise for films such as F.I.S.T. (1978), a social, epic styled drama in which he plays a warehouse worker who becomes involved in the labor union leadership and Paradise Alley (1978), a family drama in which he plays one of three brothers who is a con artist and who helps his other brother who is involved in wrestling.

In the early 1980s, he starred alongside British veteran Michael Caine in Escape to Victory (1981), a sports drama in which he plays a prisoner of war involved in a Nazi propaganda football (soccer) tournament. Stallone then made the action thriller film Nighthawks (1981), in which he plays a New York city cop who plays a cat and mouse game with a foreign terrorist, played by Rutger Hauer.

Sylvester Stallone with Brigitte Nielsen, Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan at the White House, 1985

Stallone had another major franchise success as Vietnam veteran John Rambo in the action adventure film First Blood (1982). The first installment of Rambo was both a critical and box office success. The critics praised Stallone's performance, saying he made Rambo seem human as opposed to the way he is portrayed in the book of the same name, First Blood and in the other films. Three Rambo sequels Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985), Rambo III (1988) and Rambo followed. Although box office hits, they met with much less critical praise than the original. He also continued his box office success with the Rocky franchise and wrote, directed and starred in two more sequels to the series: Rocky III (1982) and Rocky IV (1985). Stallone has portrayed these two characters in a total of ten films.

It was during this time period that Stallone's work cultivated a strong overseas following. He also attempted, albeit unsuccessfully, roles in different genres when he wrote and starred in the comedy film Rhinestone (1984) where he played a wannabe country music singer and the drama film Over the Top (1987) where he played a truck driver who enters an arm wrestling competition to impress his estranged son. For the Rhinestone soundtrack, he performed a song. These films did not do well at the box office and were poorly received by critics. It was around 1985 that Stallone was signed to a remake of the 1939 James Cagney classic Angels With Dirty Faces. The film would form part of his multi-picture deal with Cannon Pictures and was to co-star Christopher Reeve and be directed by Menahem Golan. The re-making of such a beloved classic was met with disapproval by Variety Magazine and horror by top critic Roger Ebert and so Cannon opted to make Cobra instead. Cobra (1986) and Tango and Cash (1989) did solid business domestically but overseas they did blockbuster business grossing over $100 million in foreign markets and over $160 million worldwide. The Rocky and Rambo franchises at the end of the decade were billion dollar franchises internationally.

[edit] 1990–2002

With the then recent success of Lock Up and Tango and Cash, at the start of the 1990s Stallone starred in the fifth installment of the Rocky franchise Rocky V which was considered a box office disappointment and was also disliked by fans as an unworthy entry in the series. It was intended to have been the last installment in the franchise at the time.

After starring in the critical and commercial disasters Oscar (1991) and Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot (1992) (which he claimed was the worst film he appeared in) during the early 90s, he made a comeback in 1993 with the hit Cliffhanger which was a moderate success in the U.S. but more successful worldwide, grossing over US$255 million. Later that year he enjoyed another hit with the futuristic action film Demolition Man which grossed in excess of $158 million worldwide. His string of hits continued with 1994's The Specialist (over $170 million worldwide gross).

In 1995, he played the comic book based title character Judge Dredd who was taken from the popular British comic book 2000 AD in the film of the same name. His overseas box office appeal saved the domestic box office disappointment of Judge Dredd with a worldwide tally of $113 million. He also appeared in the thriller Assassins (1995) with co stars Julianne Moore and Antonio Banderas. In 1996, he starred in the disaster film Daylight which made only $33 million in the U.S but was a major hit overseas taking in over $126 million, totalling $159,212,469 worldwide.

That same year Stallone, along with an all-star cast of celebrities, appeared in the Trey Parker and Matt Stone short comedy film Your Studio and You commissioned by the Seagram Company for a party celebrating their acquisition of Universal Studios and the MCA Corporation. Stallone speaks in his Rocky Balboa voice with subtitles translating what he was saying. At one point, Stallone starts yelling about how can they use his Balboa character, that he left it in the past; the narrator calms him with a wine cooler and calling him, "brainiac". In response, Stallone says, "Thank you very much." He then looks at the wine cooler and exclaims, "Fucking cheap studio!"[9]

Following his breakthrough performance in Rocky, critic Roger Ebert had once said Stallone could become the next Marlon Brando, though he never quite recaptured the critical acclaim achieved with Rocky. Stallone did, however, go on to receive much acclaim for his role in the crime drama Cop Land (1997) in which he starred alongside Robert De Niro and Ray Liotta, but the film was only a minor success at the box office. His performance led him to win the Stockholm International Film Festival Best Actor Award. In 1998 he did voice-over work for the computer-animated film Antz, which grossed over $90 million domestically.

As the new millennium began, Stallone starred in the thriller Get Carter — a remake of the 1971 British Michael Caine film of the same name—but the film was poorly received by both critics and audiences. Stallone's career declined considerably after his subsequent films Driven (2001), Avenging Angelo (2002) and D-Tox (2002) also underachieved expectations to do well at the box office and were poorly received by critics.

In 2000, Stallone received a special "Worst Actor of the Century" Razzie award, citing "95% of Everything He's Ever Done" rather than an individual movie. By 2000, Stallone had been awarded four Worst Actor Razzie awards for individual movies, a "Worst Screen Couple" Razzie, and a "Worst Actor of the Decade" Razzie for the 1980s.[10] He had been nominated for the Worst Actor award for nine consecutive years from 1984 to 1992.

[edit] 2003–2005

In 2003, he played a villainous role in the third installment of the Spy Kids trilogy Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over which was a huge box office success (almost $200 million worldwide). Stallone also had a cameo appearance in the 2003 French film Taxi 3 as a passenger.

Following several poorly reviewed box office flops, Stallone started to regain prominence for his supporting role in the neo-noir crime drama Shade (2003) which was only released in a limited fashion but was praised by critics.[11] He was also attached to star and direct a film about the murder of rappers Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls, entitled Notorious, but the film was shelved due to legal issues presented by the 2009 film of the same name.

In 2005, he was the co-presenter alongside Sugar Ray Leonard of the NBC Reality television boxing series The Contender. That same year he also made a guest appearance in two episodes of the television series Las Vegas. In 2005, Stallone also inducted wrestling icon Hulk Hogan, who appeared in Rocky III as a wrestler named Thunderlips, into the WWE Hall of Fame; Stallone was also the person who offered Hogan the cameo in Rocky III.[12]

[edit] Revisiting Rocky and Rambo, 2006–2008

Sylvester Stallone Hollywood Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

After a few years hiatus from films, Stallone made a comeback in 2006 with the sixth and final installment of his successful Rocky series; Rocky Balboa, which was both a critical and commercial hit. After the critical and box office failure of the previous and presumed last installment Rocky V, Stallone had decided to end the series with a sixth installment which would be a more appropriate climax to the series. The total domestic box office came to $70.3 million (and $155.3 million worldwide). The budget of the movie was only $24 million. His performance in Rocky Balboa has been praised and garnered mostly positive reviews.[13]

Stallone's newest release is the fourth installment of his other successful movie franchise, Rambo, with the sequel being titled simply Rambo. The film opened in 2,751 theaters on January 25, 2008, grossing $6,490,000 on its opening day and $18,200,000 over its opening weekend.

Its current box office stands at $42,653,401 in the US and $112,481,829 worldwide.

Asked in February 2008 which of the icons he would rather be remembered for, Stallone said "it's a tough one, but Rocky is my first baby, so Rocky."[14]

[edit] Upcoming films

Currently, Stallone is working on a film titled The Expendables, for which he will star, write and direct. Joining him in the film will be Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Terry Crews, Mickey Rourke, Randy Couture, Robert Knepper, Eric Roberts, David Zayas, and Stone Cold Steve Austin, with cameos from Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis. Stallone will also provide the voice of a lion in Kevin James' The Zookeeper. Stallone has also mentioned that he would like to adapt a Nelson DeMille novel, The Lion's Game. In addition, Stallone has continued to express his passion in directing a film on Edgar Allan Poe's life, a script he has been preparing for years. It has also recently been confirmed that Stallone will be making a fifth Rambo film after the success of the fourth one in 2008. Stallone makes his Bollywood début in Kambakkht Ishq where he plays himself.

[edit] Other film work

Stallone's debut as a director came in 1978 with Paradise Alley, which he also wrote and starred in. In addition, he directed Staying Alive (the sequel to Saturday Night Fever), along with Rocky II, Rocky III, Rocky IV, Rocky Balboa, and Rambo. In August 2005, Stallone released his book Sly Moves which claimed to be a guide to fitness and nutrition as well as a candid insight into his life and works from his own perspective. The book also contained many photographs of Stallone throughout the years as well as pictures of him performing exercises. In addition to writing all six Rocky films, Stallone also wrote Cobra, Driven and Rambo. He has co-written several other films, such as F.I.S.T., Rhinestone, Over the Top and the first three Rambo films. His last major success as a co-writer came with 1993's Cliffhanger. As of 2009, he is trying his hand in bollywood with Kambakkht Ishq star Akshay Kumar.

[edit] Filmography

Main article: Sylvester Stallone filmography

[edit] Competition with Arnold Schwarzenegger

Stallone has long been considered as a chief competitor to Arnold Schwarzenegger as an action hero actor. References to this have been made in both of their films. In Schwarzenegger's Last Action Hero, Stallone is depicted as playing the Terminator in a video advertisement in the film's alternate reality. In Stallone's Demolition Man, there is a futuristic reference to the Arnold Schwarzenegger Presidential Library. Also in the movie Twins, Arnold Schwarzenegger walks by a giant movie poster for Rambo III. He glances at the size of Stallone's biceps on the poster then feels his own and laughs at how much smaller Stallone's are. In addition to this Rambo reference, Schwarzenegger's wife in the movie True Lies says after she finds out he is a spy and after he saves her life "I married Rambo". According to both Stallone and Schwarzenegger, despite their rivalry, the duo are actually very close friends, much like fellow actors Al Pacino and Robert De Niro. While promoting the films Rocky Balboa and Rambo on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Stallone revealed that in the 1980s he and Schwarzenegger looked at each other as Cain and Abel. Stallone then said that, in the 1990s, he and Arnold became the friends they are today. They became one time business partners in Planet Hollywood. In 2009, Stallone asked Arnold to do a cameo in his upcoming film, The Expendables, which will be the first time the two will perform in the same movie.

[edit] Personal life

Handprints of Sylvester Stallone

Stallone has been married three times. At age 28, on December 28, 1974, he married Sasha Czack. The couple had two sons, Sage Moonblood (b. 5 May 1976) and Seargeoh (b. 1979). His younger son was diagnosed with autism at an early age. The couple divorced on February 14, 1985. The same year his divorce finalized, he married model/actress, Brigitte Nielsen, on December 15, 1985, in Beverly Hills, California. His second marriage only lasted two years. In May 1997, Stallone married Jennifer Flavin, with whom he shares three daughters: Sophia Rose (b. 27 August 1996), Sistine Rose (b. 27 June 1998), and Scarlet Rose (b. 25 May 2002).

Stallone has repeatedly used human growth hormone for its reputation of being anti-aging. In 2007, he was caught in Australia with 48 vials of the synthetic human growth hormone Jintropin; this led to concerns that the resulting publicity would increase usage of the drug.[15]

After Stallone's request that his acting and life experiences be accepted in exchange for his remaining credits, he was granted a Bachelors of Fine Arts (BFA) degree by the President of the University of Miami in 1999.[16]

Stallone made an appearance at an Everton FC game and appeared on the pitch wearing an Everton tracksuit and scarf before a home against since he is has close ties with the clubs owner. Reading in January 2007.[17] Stallone dated former Supermodel Janice Dickinson.[citation needed]

[edit] Politics

Although Stallone is registered as a Republican, he has donated $44,000 to Democratic Party candidates over the years, including $30,000 to the Democratic National Committee, as well as contributions to the campaigns of Bill Bradley and Joe Biden. However, he has also donated over $33,000 to Republicans over the years and publicly endorsed John McCain for president in 2008.[18]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Stallone proves there’s no show without punch, The Herald, January 29, 2007
  2. ^ Sly Stallone
  3. ^ Sylvesterstallone.com .:: the official website ::. Biography
  4. ^ Video of Stallone visiting Italy
  5. ^ Stewart, Will (2009-04-11). "Rambo-ski - Hollywood star Sylvester Stallone's Russian secret". Daily Mail. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1169252/Rambo-ski--Hollywood-star-Sylvester-Stallones-Russian-secret.html. Retrieved 2009-04-11.
  6. ^ The Biography Channel (2007). "Sylvester Stallone Biography". http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/biography_story/273:820/1/Sylvester_Stallone.htm. Retrieved January 28 2008.
  7. ^ 'The 'Italian Stallion' Hoax: Stallone Never Did Hardcore'
  8. ^ Another World Entertainment Releases Hardcore ‘Italian Stallion’
  9. ^ Your Studio and you (From Google Video)
  10. ^ "Complete RAZZIE History, Year-by-Year: 1980–2007". www.razzies.com. Published June 26, 2006. URL accessed June 5, 2008.
  11. ^ Shade at Rottentomatoes
  12. ^ Sylvester Stallone Rocky- Celebrity Scene Monthly By Don Aly Vol 36
  13. ^ Balboa at RottenTomatoes
  14. ^ Sylvester Stallone: Rambo Returns, video interview with STV
  15. ^ [1]
  16. ^ University of Miami Alumni Page
  17. ^ Stallone greeted by Everton fans
  18. ^ http://www.newsmeat.com/celebrity_political_donations/Sylvester_Stallone.php
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