Sylvester Stallone to Receive CinemaCon's 2012 'Career Achievement Award'

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Sylvester Stallone will receive the "CinemaCon® Career Achievement Award," it was announced today by the convention's managing director, Mitch Neuhauser. CinemaCon, the official convention of The National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO), the largest and most important gathering of cinema owners and operators from around the world, will be held April 23 - 26, 2012 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Stallone will be presented with this special honor at the "CinemaCon Big Screen Achievement Awards" ceremony to take place on Thursday evening, April 26, in The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. The Coca-Cola Company, the official presenting sponsor of CinemaCon, will host the final night gala awards program.

"Sylvester Stallone has proven himself time and time again to be a prolific actor, writer and director over the years," says Neuhauser. "Throughout his incredible career spanning nearly 40 years, Sylvester has established his ability to continually captivate his audiences. We are very thrilled to acknowledge his remarkable career by honoring him with our ‘CinemaCon® Career Achievement Award.'"

Stallone can next be seen in Liongate's highly anticipated sequel, "The Expendables 2." On August 17, 2012, the star-studded cast is back when Mr. Church (Bruce Willis) enlists the Expendables to take on a seemingly simple job. The task looks like an easy paycheck for Barney (Stallone) and his band of old-school mercenaries. But when things go wrong and one of their own is viciously killed, the Expendables are compelled to seek revenge in hostile territory where the odds are stacked against them. Hell-bent on payback, the crew cuts a swath of destruction through opposing forces, wreaking havoc and shutting down an unexpected threat in the nick of time. Joining Stallone are the newest cast members Liam Hemsworth, Scott Adkins, martial arts legends Chuck Norris and Jean Claude Van Dame, and Chinese actress Yu Nan as the first female Expendable. Reprising actors include Stallone, Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Terry Crews, Dolph Lundgren and Randy Couture.

Stallone, the only actor to open a number one box office hit across five decades, escalated to icon status with his stunning portrayal of prize fighter Rocky Balboa in the seminal motion picture "Rocky." The film grew to a franchise of five sequels that ended in 2006 when Stallone concluded the series with "Rocky Balboa," a critical and audience success which resolutely confirmed both Stallone and Rocky as iconic cultural symbols. In addition to his most recent release, "The Expendables," Stallone has written, directed and starred in "Rambo," "Rocky II" and "Paradise Alley." As actor and co-writer, Stallone filmed "F.I.S.T.," "First Blood," "Rambo: First Blood Part II" and "Rambo III." He co-wrote, directed and produced "Staying Alive," and starred in "Nighthawks," "Victory," "Tango & Cash," "Cop Land," "Demolition Man" and "Lock Up." Stallone has also appeared in other films such as "Get Carter," "Driven" and "Avenging Angelo." He is presently filming a starring role in "The Tomb."