Sylvester Stallone receives tributes from Arnold Schwarzenegger and family on 78th birthday

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Sylvester Stallone, born in New York on July 6, 1946, celebrates his 78th birthday, receiving congratulations from his former rival Arnold Schwarzenegger and beloved family members.

Stallone's illustrious career took off in 1976 with his iconic portrayal of boxer Rocky Balboa in the first of the successful 'Rocky' franchise.

The following year, he achieved a milestone by becoming just the third actor in history to earn nominations for both Best Original Screenplay and Best Actor at the Academy Awards, a testament to his critical and commercial success.

Sylvester Stallone receives heartfelt wishes from Arnold Schwarzenegger

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester once had a long-standing rivalry that has now evolved into a close friendship over the years, as per DailyMail.

'The Terminator' actor, aged 76, referred to the 'Rocky' star as a "champion" in a post shared on his primary Instagram page. 

Alongside three images, Arnold extended birthday wishes to Sylvester, saying, "Happy birthday, my friend @officialslystallone."

“You are a champion and a legend. You inspire me and billions of people around the world,” he concluded.

One photo showed them side by side, ready to carve pumpkins placed before them.

Another snapshot captured the two stars from years ago, both wearing Planet Hollywood T-shirts. Additionally, he included a nostalgic outdoor photo of them posing together, joined by others.

Sylvester Stallone’s family pays tribute on his 78th birthday

Stallone received heartfelt tributes from his children and a loving message from his wife, Jennifer Flavin, on his 78th birthday.

Stallone shares daughters Sophia, 27, Sistine, 26, and Scarlet, 22, with Jennifer. He also has sons Seargeoh, 44, and Sage from his previous marriage to Sasha Czack. Sadly, Sage passed away in 2012 at the age of 36 due to heart disease.

Sistine reminisced about her childhood with a collection of throwback photos on her Instagram stories.

"Happy birthday to the greatest dad I feel so lucky to have you," she wrote, accompanied by a white heart emoji.

One photo captured them practicing golf swings in the shade, while another showed Sistine as a young girl sitting beside her father in a red race car.

She also shared a nostalgic image of Stallone on the set of 'Rocky,' with a camera on his shoulders, and another where they both smiled cheerfully together. "LOVE YOU!!!" she added.

Additionally, the media personality, who has 1.7 million followers, posted a short reel featuring her father in a black shirt that said, "Boss," with a playful twist underneath.

Sophia also joined the celebration by posting photos on her Instagram stories for Sylvester's birthday, including a childhood picture with the caption, "Happy Birthday Dad!!"

In one photo, Stallone grinned broadly as Sophia and her sibling wore comfortable white robes. Another showed him relaxing in a blue chair with a cocktail.

Sophia also shared a sweet father-daughter photo of them together in a spacious living room.

Scarlet added to the birthday tributes with a throwback photo of her and Stallone striking a funny pose, writing, "happy birthday dad."[sic]

Jennifer, whom Stallone married in 1997, dedicated a heartfelt post on her main page, expressing, "Happy Birthday my love!! You bring so much laughter, love, adventure, and strength to our family. I'm having more fun with you now than I've ever had! Excited to keep loving you forever! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️"

One of Jennifer's photos showed her and Stallone posing with their three daughters. Another captured their loving kiss on their wedding day, and there was also a nostalgic shot from a past magazine or newspaper feature.

Social media users, including 'Real Housewives Of Atlanta' alum Kim Zolciak, joined in celebrating, with Kim writing, "Happy Birthday @officialslystallone. I know wifey and the girls are going to spoil you rotten!!! to a million more."