In a heartwarming tale of perseverance and loyalty, iconic actor Sylvester Stallone’s beloved bull mastiff, Butkus Stallone, triumphantly returned to his owner’s side after a temporary separation

. An incident that tugged at the heartstrings of millions. Butkus, who played a pivotal role in the film Rocky as the faithful companion of the lead character, Rocky Balboa, became an integral part of the Stallone family since his adoption in 1969 when he was just a six-week-old puppy.

Sylvester Stallone and Butkus in Rocky
However, even in the face of Butkus’ significance in Stallone’s life and the film, the actor found himself in a financial predicament prior to the release of Rocky. To make ends meet during his struggle with poverty, Stallone made the incredibly difficult decision to part ways with his cherished companion.

Sylvester Stallone on how a man turned his dog into a ‘furniture’

In a bittersweet turn of events, Sylvester Stallone had to sell his beloved dog Butkus for a meager sum that highlights the extent of Stallone’s financial hardships at the time. Although, according to the Rocky actor it was the best decision at the time, it undeniably took a huge toll on his emotions.

While talking about the situation he found himself in, Stallone revealed on The Graham Norton Show that his low income had made it difficult for him to feed the dog. He said,
“I don’t know why even when I was totally broke, I always wanted to have an animal with me. I mean literally, I was an usher making 36 dollars a week, that was you know …”
Sylvester Stallone and his dog on the sets of Rocky
Hence, it forced Stallone to make the tough decision to sell his dog. However, after getting his first break in Rocky, Stallone went back to the buyer to get Butkus back. He revealed,
“So, finally, I get the job, I go back to the fellow I sold it to, who now won’t give it back and he’s a very short guy really, really short. He turned him into a piece of furniture, I mean he literally is the bed or something.”
However, to Stallone’s surprise, the buyer laid out a strange condition for the buyback.

Sylvester Stallone reveals the strange condition laid out by the man who bought his dog

During the production of the first Rocky film, the tight budget presented a challenge in providing a pet for the character Rocky Balboa. Determined to bring his vision to life, Stallone came up with a creative solution. Approached by the film’s producer, he was asked if he could bring his own dog, Butkus, to the set. This ingenious decision resulted in Butkus becoming an endearing part of the storyline, leaving an indelible mark on cinematic history.

However, the road to getting Butkus back was not that easy. Revealing the struggles he had to endure to get his beloved pet back, Stallone shared the strange condition the buyer of the dog laid out.
“So he paid me like 60 bucks for the dog. He’s like I’ll give you the dog back for $3000. I was like I don’t have $3000. He goes right, I want to be in the movie. So, I put him in the movie.”
Sylvester Stallone with his pet dog Butkus
Surprised by the condition, Graham Norton asked if Stallone actually cast him in the movie. To this the Expendables star replied,
“He’s the first guy, little scene …he goes like…I am walking…’How’d you do that?’ I said, ‘You should have been there.’ He said, ‘How’d you do that?’ I said ‘What are you deaf?’ He goes, ‘No, I am short!”
It can be said that Butkus stands as a symbol of resilience and unwavering companionship. His reunion with Stallone serves as a powerful reminder that sometimes, against all odds, dreams can come true, and the bonds forged between humans and their four-legged friends can weather even the harshest storms.

Source:The Graham Norton Show