Before they became two of the biggest action stars in the world, Sylvester Stallone and Jackie Chan shared an unlikely common experience: both appeared in adult films early in their careers. And in both cases, the reason was the same—desperation.

In 1970, a 24-year-old Stallone was living in Hell's Kitchen, New York, working as a cinema usher and bouncing between menial jobs while trying to break into acting. After being evicted from his apartment, he found himself homeless and sleeping in a bus station. That's when he accepted a role in The Party at Kitty and Stud's, a softcore pornographic film that paid him just $200 for two days of work.

Stallone has been candid about the circumstances: "It was either do that movie or rob someone because I was at the end—at the very end—of my rope." The film went largely unnoticed until 1976, when Rocky made Stallone a household name. The producers quickly re-released it as The Italian Stallion to cash in on his newfound fame, even offering to sell him the rights for $100,000. Stallone refused, reportedly saying he "wouldn't buy it for two bucks."

Jackie Chan's Similar Struggle

Five years later and halfway across the world, Jackie Chan faced his own survival crisis. In 1975, the 21-year-old was an unknown stuntman in Hong Kong's brutal film industry, struggling to make ends meet. He appeared in All in the Family, a Hong Kong softcore adult film where he appeared naked, though not engaged in sexual acts.

Chan kept this quiet for decades until Hong Kong netizens tipped off local media in 2006. When confronted, Chan was unapologetic: "I had to do anything I could to make a living 31 years ago, but I don't think it's a big deal, even Marlon Brando used to be exposed in his movies." He added that "the porn movie at that time was more conservative than current films."

Important Context

It's worth noting that neither film was hardcore pornography—actors didn't engage in actual sexual acts. Both were softcore productions, essentially late-night cable fare by today's standards. Still, they were legitimately classified and marketed as adult films at the time.

What makes these stories compelling isn't the titillation factor—it's the reminder that even the most successful people often start from rock bottom. Both men faced a choice between compromising their dignity or going hungry, and both chose survival. Neither let shame about these early roles derail their ambitions.

The Aftermath

The contrast between these films and their later careers couldn't be starker. Stallone went from a $200 softcore paycheck to writing and starring in Rocky, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture and launched a billion-dollar franchise. Chan became one of the most recognizable faces in cinema and pioneered a new style of action comedy.

Today, both stars address their adult film pasts with a mixture of candor and humor. They're proof that your beginning doesn't determine your ending—and that sometimes the road to Hollywood glory passes through some decidedly unglamorous places. The fact that both mega-stars share this specific struggle makes it even more remarkable: desperate times really do call for desperate measures, regardless of which side of the planet you're on.

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