“The face behind the fighter.” 🥊 While he became a Hollywood legend, few know the story of his mother — a trailblazing TV fitness star who built gyms for women and never hid her plastic surgery journey. Her dramatic look still sparks debate today. See her rare photos in the article below 👇
Millions adore this American actor and filmmaker whose career spanned over 5 decades. He achieved his first critical acclaim and overall recognition for his role as boxer Rocky becoming the third actor to be nominated for two Academy Awards for Best Original Screenplay and Best Actor. He became one of the highest-paid Hollywood actors well-known for his roles in «Cobra» and «Tango and Cash».
The future star was born in the New York City’s Manhattan borough in 1946. He became the eldest son of celebrity astrologer and women’s wrestling promoter Jacqueline and hairdresser Francisco. She opened hair salons in Maryland. There were complications during his birth which became life-changing. Because of using two pairs of forceps, they severed a nerve in the process which resulted in the paralysis of the left side of his face.
This led to a slurred speech as well as gave him his signature look that sets him apart among other action movie stars. The bitter consequences of this were violence towards him at school which prompted him to go into bodybuilding. Most of his childhood years were spent in foster and boarding care. In the 1950s the future star relocated to his mother’s native Washington.
Concerning his mother, she was the first woman to have a daily TV show on exercise and weight lifting who later opened her women-only gym named Barbella’s. The woman lived relatively quietly for most of her life and stayed unknown even after her son’s breakthrough role. She has never denied having undergone plastic surgeries some of which were really unsuccessful.
What can you say about her?
