Arnold Schwarzenegger is some birthday love to Sylvester Stallone — from one action movie icon to another!
On Saturday, July 6, the former California governor, 76, shared a thoughtful Instagram post in honor of his friend’s 78th birthday, featuring a few images of the pair throughout the years.
“Happy birthday my friend, @officialslystallone,” Schwarzenegger captioned the post. “You are a champion and a legend. You inspire me and billions of people around the world.”
The Terminator star included snaps of himself and Stallone carving pumpkins together, smiling at a Planet Hollywood event back in the day and posing in some very ’80s outfits.
“The greatest standing side by side with the greatest,” TV host Marcos Mion commented under the photos.
In April, Stallone and Schwarzenegger discussed their past rivalry with each other on TMZ Presents: Arnold & Sly: Rivals, Friends, Icons. Schwarzenegger admitted that Stallone “was very helpful in my career because I had something that I could chase,” while Stallone said that when Schwarzenegger “came along I was like, ‘Finally, something to motivate me.’ ”
“As soon as I saw him, it was like bang, two alphas hitting,” Stallone added. “If we walked into a party we’d be staring at each other for a few seconds and then, ‘I gotta get that guy. He didn’t do anything wrong but he will.’ ”
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As for his birthday, Stallone also got some love from his family, including daughters Sistine, Scarlet and Sophia, as well as his wife, Jennifer Flavin. Among the birthday shout-outs from his girls, Sistine shared some wholesome throwback snaps on her Instagram Stories, where she called the actor “the greatest dad.”
“I feel so lucky to have you,” she wrote, before uploading a few other clips and moments with her dad — including a video where he hilariously posed while Doja Cat’s “Boss Bitch” played in the background.
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Flavin also got sentimental on Instagram, posting a carousel of photos of herself and her husband, including a throwback snap from their 1997 wedding.
“Happy Birthday my love!! ???,” she captioned the post.
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“You bring so much laughter, love, adventure and strength to our family,” Flavin, 55, continued. “I’m having more fun with you now than I’ve ever had! Excited to keep loving you forever! ??????????.”
The First Blood star also makes sure to extend birthday wishes to his kids on social media. Just last week, he shared a post dedicated to Sistine as she turned 16, including a collection of photos that featured several cute father-daughter bonding moments.
“Happy birthday to @sistinestallone our amazing daughter, who brings nothing but happiness,” he wrote. “So so proud to be your father!”
Sistine thanked him in the comments section, writing, “I love you dad!!! ????.”
In addition to sharing Sistine, Scarlet, 22, and Sophia, 27, with Flavin, Sylvester has two sons, Seargeoh, 44, and Sage, who died in 2012, with ex Sasha Czack.
