Sylvester Stallone Allegedly Called 'Tulsa King' Background Actors 'Ugly'

By Andrew Sanford | TV | April 9, 2024 |

By Andrew Sanford | TV | April 9, 2024 |

Background actors work hard. They work long days, have to be ready at a moment’s notice, and may not get paid that much — depending on whether or not they are SAG. Still, they are integral to the film and television business. They can make an onscreen world feel real and populated. Frames will feel fuller, crowds will feel more active, and stories appear more alive the more background actors a film or show can hire.

To put it mildly, background actors deserve respect. It’s not just because they are important to the industry. They’re human beings. People deserve basic respect. They should not have to worry about being belittled by their boss. That is true in any industry. Allegedly, that was never made clear to Tulsa King star Sylvester Stallone.

Rose Locke Casting of Atlanta was supplying background actors for the Taylor Sheridan series, which finds Stallone playing a mafioso who relocates to Oklahoma after more than two decades in prison. The company announced on Facebook that they had parted ways with the show. “We wanted to send you an update on the happenings here in our casting world. We have chosen to part ways with Tulsa King. We will be finishing up next week and the 12th will be our last day. We send well wishes to whomever takes over the show. We thank all of you great background artists for your continued support,” the company shared.

According to Deadline, Rose Locke Casting’s exit involves the treatment of their actors by Stallone and an unnamed director. Allegedly, the pair called some of the actors “ugly,” “tub of lard,” and “fat guy with a cane.” The demeaning behavior didn’t stop there, as Stallone recommended there should be “pretty young girls to be around me” instead of the actors on set. The man with the cane would later say the comment “hurt his soul.”

If true, this is despicable behavior. Unfortunately, it may blow over, even with the casting company quitting. We live in a world where actors can kick background actors in the head, get sued, and not see more than a scathing article or two. Stallone may never even address this. It will just be one in a long line of stories about actors being jerks to those they view as beneath them.