Oscars 2016: Sylvester Stallone Loses Supporting Actor to Mark Rylance in Upset

Upset. Sylvester Stallone lost the Oscar to Mark Rylance in the category of Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the 88th annual Academy Awards on Sunday, February 28. Stallone was favored to win the Oscar for his portrayal of Rocky Balboa in Creed, nearly four decades after first starring as the iconic Philly boxer in 1976’s Rocky, but Rylance edged him out instead.

Sentimental fave Stallone, 69, who was last nominated 40 years ago, has yet to win an Oscar. The competition was especially stiff in the supporting actor category, with Rylance edging out Stallone, Christian Bale (The Big Short), Tom Hardy (The Revenant) and Mark Ruffalo (Spotlight).

Sylvester Stallone and Mark Rylance — Sylvester Stallone (left) and Mark Rylance attend the 88th Annual Academy Awards.

“It’s a wonderful time to be an actor,” Rylance told the crowd inside the Dolby Theatre. “And I’m proud to be a part of it.”

Mark Rylance accepts his award for best supporting actor in ‘Bridge of Spies’ on stage at the 88th Oscars.

ABC’s camera didn’t pan to Stallone, but his reaction was captured by the audience cam. The internet, meanwhile, reacted with shock and outrage on Sunday night.

Stallone winning was what I was most invested in tonight. Rocky has done so much for people#Robbery #PeoplesChamp pic.twitter.com/CnAEnnTfUc

— Mario Lopez (@MarioLopezExtra) February 29, 2016

Mark Rylance is wonderful!! I just assumed Sylvester Stallone would win

— Mia Farrow (@MiaFarrow) February 29, 2016

@officialslystallone To me, you’re the best, no matter what they say.

A post shared by Arnold Schwarzenegger (@schwarzenegger) on Feb 28, 2016 at 7:45pm PST

I’m going take a bathroom break and congratulate #SylvesterStallone now. #Oscars

— Josh Gad (@joshgad) February 29, 2016

The feeling when you realize you won’t hear Sylvester Stallone’s acceptance speech… #Oscars #Rocky pic.twitter.com/zN7BxO8sAg

— Good Morning America (@GMA) February 29, 2016

Stallone nearly boycotted the show this year due to the ongoing #OscarsSoWhite controversy, telling reporters at the official luncheon earlier this month that he consulted with his Creed director, Ryan Coogler, and costar Michael B. Jordan before deciding to attend. (Sly garnered the acclaimed film’s sole nomination.)

Michael B. Jordan and Sylvester Stallone in 'Creed' — Michael B. Jordan (left) and Sylvester Stallone in ‘Creed.’

“I remember I spoke with Ryan Coogler when this happened. I said, ‘Ryan, how do you want to handle this? Because I really believe you are responsible for me being here,’” Stallone recalled to Us Weekly and other reporters. “I said, ‘If you want me to go, I’ll go. If you don’t, I won’t.’ He said, ‘No, I want you to go.’ That’s the kind of guy he is. He wants us to go and represent the film.”

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