Sylvester Stallone Remembers Butkus, the Dog That Inspired ‘Rocky’

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In the ultimate Throwback Thursday, Sylvester Stallone penned a touching tribute to his former dog Butkus on Instagram yesterday. The 70-year-old actor gushed about his old bullmastiff — his co-star in Rocky and “best friend” in real life.

He wistfully recalled Butkus as a pal that “always laughed at my jokes, and put up with my moods, and was the one living thing that loved me for who I was!”

I absolutely love pictures like this. When I was 26, totally broke, going nowhere VERY fast, owned two pair of pants that barely fit, shoes that had holes in them and dreams of being successful were as far away as the sun… But I had my dog, BUTKUS, my best friend, my confidant, Who always laughed at my jokes, and put up with my moods, and was the one living thing that loved me for who I was! #man's best friend#BullMastiff #Loyalty #NewYorkCity#AmericanDreams

A post shared by Sly Stallone (@officialslystallone) on Mar 30, 2017 at 9:21am PDT

Stallone shared a second vintage photo from 1971 remembering a time when they were both “thin, hungry and living in a flophouse above a subway stop.”

He even credits his furry friend with the idea of writing his most iconic character. He wrote: “It was his idea to write Rocky, but don’t tell anyone….”

1971… Since we're on the subject of " man's best friend" this is myself and Butkus as a puppy , we were both , thin , hungry and living in a flophouse above a subway stop, I used to say this apartment had " … Hot and cold running roaches" anyway there was not much to do except spend time with each other and that's where I started to learn the craft of screenwriting. Since I never went out, I relied on his companionship , And actually it was his idea to write Rocky, but don't tell anyone…. Years later when things got even worse I had to sell him for $40 in front of a 7-Eleven store,because I couldn't afford food, then like A modern day miracle, the screenplay for Rocky sold, and I could buy and buy him back, but the new owner knew I was desperate, and charged me $15,000 … He was worth every penny! #New York City #HellsKitchen #BullMastiff #It'sADogsWorld. #MoreToCome#inspiration #ThunderingYourHeart #GoingThedistance

A post shared by Sly Stallone (@officialslystallone) on Mar 30, 2017 at 9:42am PDT

He went on to reveal that in a time of desperation he was forced to sell his beloved canine for $40 in front of a 7-11 because he “couldn’t afford food.” But before you think this story has a super-depressing ending and Sly is heartless … he followed up with this: “Then like a modern-day miracle, the screenplay for Rocky sold, and I could … buy him back, but the new owner knew I was desperate, and charged me $15,000 … He was worth every penny!

Butkus, named after Chicago Bears linebacker Dick Butkus, sadly passed away in 1981. But the question remains: Why didn’t Rocky yell “Butkus” instead of “Adrian” in his most notorious scene?

For once, we are calling Beyoncé cheesy:

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