**From Baseball to Big Screen: Anthony Ippolito’s Journey to Portraying Sylvester Stallone**
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Anthony Ippolito, known for his role as the young Sylvester Stallone in the recently released film *I Play Rocky*, is making a notable impact in the entertainment industry. However, before he stepped into the world of acting, Ippolito had a passion for baseball that he balanced with his burgeoning career.
In a recent interview with PEOPLE, the 27-year-old actor reflected on his time as a young baseball player, underscoring the life lessons the sport imparted. “I would say just getting comfortable with failure — or not necessarily failure, just not necessarily getting what you think,” Ippolito explained, relating the experience of chasing dreams in sports to the world of acting. His character in *I Play Rocky* dramatises Stallone’s early struggles in Hollywood as he endeavoured to create the iconic film *Rocky*, and Ippolito believes the hurdles faced in both careers share striking similarities.
The actor noted that in baseball, achieving a batting average of .300 is often deemed Hall of Fame-worthy. “They say if you get three hits out of every 10 at bats, you’re a Hall of Famer, right? And so with acting, you go on so many auditions that you just don’t hear anything,” he said. Ippolito emphasised the necessity of developing a thick skin in both domains, attributing his resilience to the lessons learned during his formative years in baseball.
Ippolito’s acting career began in 2006 with his debut in the film *Bella*. Over the years, he has appeared in various projects, including *You Have the Right to Remain Violent*, *The English Teacher*, and the 2015 film *Pixels*. Despite his budding career in acting, he continued to pursue his love for baseball while growing up in New York City.
Recalling how he first gravitated towards acting, Ippolito remarked, “I kind of got into it at a pretty young age by happenstance, and when I was about 17, I really started to appreciate certain movies and performances… I started falling in love with it over time.” His fascination gradually evolved into a serious ambition to act, demonstrating his early commitment to the craft.
Ippolito’s baseball journey took him to Baruch College, where he played outfield for the college baseball team during his first year. However, his athletic career faced a setback due to an injury, a disappointment that he approached with a mix of humour and nostalgia. “In that way, I wasn’t thrilled. It felt painful… It was a part of my life growing up and it was a huge passion of mine and it was tough. But I had a lot of fun playing baseball,” he shared with a laugh.
As his baseball days concluded, Ippolito’s acting career was blossoming. By 2020, he was found starring in the Netflix series *Grand Army*, and two years later, he took on the role of Al Pacino in the miniseries *The Offer*. These performances marked significant milestones in his journey, helping to solidify his place in Hollywood.
*I Play Rocky*, which features an ensemble cast including AnnaSophia Robb, Kiki Seto, and Toby Kebbell, provides a glimpse into the determination and resilience that characterise Stallone’s early life. The film is currently showing in theatres and showcases the challenges and triumphs faced by the iconic actor.
With a promising trajectory ahead, Ippolito’s transition from a young baseball player to a burgeoning actor underscores a unique journey, one filled with lessons from the diamond that have resonated on the silver screen. As he embraces his new role and the opportunities it brings, audiences can expect to hear more from this multifaceted talent in the years to come.
*I Play Rocky* is now in theatres, offering viewers a compelling narrative that intertwines the worlds of sports and cinema through the lens of one man’s relentless pursuit of his dreams.
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