RIP Jackie Stallone: 5 reasons Sylvester’s hilarious 98-year-old astrologer mother was comedy gold
If 2020 wasn’t bad enough, the world was robbed of an icon on September 21 when 98-year-old Jackie Stallone passed away in her sleep.
As the mother of Sylvester “Rocky” Stallone, singer Frank Stallone and actress Toni D’Alto, the eccentric Jackie became famous in her own right as an astrologer, Celebrity Big Brother contestant, businesswoman and even gym owner – but it was her love of plastic surgery that really made her stand out on the red carpet.
As we bid farewell to Jackie this week, we remember five reasons why she will forever be engraved in our memories.
And if this is your first introduction to the original mother of showbiz, then prepare to be dazzled.
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Her ‘unique’ aesthetic
If there was one thing Jackie was known for, it was her plastic surgery procedures over the years.
When asked in a 2013 interview by Reveal magazine if she still underwent procedures, she said: “I do, and actually I’ve got too much. I look like I’ve got a mouthful of nuts … I feel I look like a chipmunk.
“I know it isn’t normal. The papers in London are the worst. They say, ’She’s the world’s worst’, that I look like a pet bulldog. I really do. I’ve seen too much bad work.”
Celebrity Big Brother
When Jackie entered the UK’s Celebrity Big Brother house in 2006 as a surprise contestant, she instantly became a fan favourite thanks to her hilarious one liners (“Yeah, Jackie” is still at the top of our list).
Jackie was placed in the house to cause friction with her former daughter-in-law, Brigitte Nielsen, who was previously married to Sylvester Stallone. Sadly for producers, the two women got along without any drama, but Jackie did turn out to be television gold thanks to her outrageous comments and requests.
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She stayed fit until the end
Ever seen GLOW on Netflix? Well, Jackie appeared on the original Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling back in 1986 as the GLOW owner and manager of the Good Girls.
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In fact, much like her son Sylvester, Jackie took fitness very seriously. She was the first woman to have a television show on exercise and weightlifting in Washington, and she even opened a women-only gym called Barbella’s.
Even in her final days – at the grand old age of 98 – Jackie showed one of her workouts on her Instagram account (take that in, next time you want to cancel your gym session).
She was referenced In the very first episode of Ab Fab
In British comedy series Absolutely Fabulous’ very first episode, called “Fashion” in 1992, daughter Saffy mistakes £300 worth of royal jelly for honey and eats it on toast, to which mother Edina replied, “This is the stuff that Jackie Stallone would kill for”.
The show went on to become a cult classic that ran for many years, much like Jackie herself.
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She was an astrologer who read people’s behinds
Back in the 90s, Jackie wrote a series of astrology books, made television chat show appearances, and even set up a psychic hotline.
Best of all, she also coined the term “rumpology” which, is basically like palm reading, but examining pictures of people’s rear ends, instead.
She also once claimed that she could consult animals about the future.
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Mother of Rocky star Sylvester Stallone, singer Frank Stallone and actress Toni D’Alto, Jackie Stallone was the original showbiz mother – a huge personality, a plastic surgery devotee, and still doing Pilates in her make-up until the very end