These days, the true mark of success in Hollywood is whether or not you're facing a lawsuit. Sly Stallone has just settled one, he's paying to shut this particular detractor up.
The suit involved Chuck Wepner, a 67-year-old former heavyweight challenger acknowledged by Stallone as the inspiration for his original, 1976 Rocky film. Apparently for the first thirty years or so, Wepner was content with simply being flattered that someone thought enough of him to base a movie on him. But with old age settling in, it seems he decided it was time to get paid.
Exactly how much Sly is paying this guy remains unknown, but Rocky won three Academy Awards and made more than $969 million worldwide. The Associated Press says Wepner had hoped to milk $15 million out of Stallone if the case made it to court. Somehow, I don't think Rocky would approve.
