Career: After deciding to become an actor, Stallone struggled to find decent roles. After running out of money and being made homeless he appeared in soft-porn flick The Party at Kitty and Stud's and had bit parts in several mainstream movies before writing Rocky. He persuaded producers Robert Chartoff and Irwin Winkler to not only buy it, but also let him star in it. The film was a massive success, won three Oscars and was followed by five sequels. He's directed several other movies and had hits with the Rambo series, Cliffhanger and Cop Land. Other films include a remake of Get Carter, Paradise Alley and Judge Dredd. More recently he's starred alongside other macho stars in The Expendables and its sequel. He was also behind TV series The Contender.

Career: By 2000, Ventimiglia landed a recurring role in the series Opposite Sex, and also won a part in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. He also starred in long-running TV comedy-drama Gilmore Girls. In 2006, Sylvester Stallone cast him as his son in Rocky Balboa, and he became an international star in the Bafta-winning American series Heroes between 2006 and 2010. Further movie roles include Gamer, Armored, and Order of Chaos.