Sylvester Stallone’s portrayal of John Rambo in the *First Blood* franchise is iconic, a performance that left an indelible mark on Hollywood action cinema. Rambo, a tortured Vietnam War veteran with lethal combat skills, became synonymous with Stallone, just as Rocky Balboa had done years earlier. However, what many fans don’t know is that Stallone was not the first actor to bring Rambo to life on screen. This revelation may surprise even the most ardent fans of the franchise.

The Origin of Rambo

Rambo’s origins can be traced back to David Morrell’s 1972 novel *First Blood*, which introduced readers to the character of John Rambo. The novel tells the story of a Vietnam War veteran who finds himself at odds with local law enforcement after being mistreated and pushed to his psychological breaking point. Rambo becomes a symbol of alienation and the hidden scars of war.

Before the novel made its way to the big screen, Rambo had already made a brief appearance—on television. However, it wasn’t part of a major motion picture or even an adaptation of Morrell’s book. It was a brief, obscure performance that has largely been forgotten or overlooked by fans of the character. To fully understand how this happened, it’s essential to look back at the production history of *First Blood* and the journey the character took before Stallone eventually stepped into the role.

Early Attempts to Adapt *First Blood*

*First Blood* had a long and winding journey to the big screen. Even though David Morrell’s novel garnered attention in Hollywood soon after its release, it wasn’t an easy adaptation. The book’s complex narrative, which was more focused on the psychological trauma of war rather than the explosive action sequences that would later define the film franchise, posed a challenge for filmmakers. Several scripts were written, studios changed hands, and numerous actors were considered for the role of Rambo before it finally reached Stallone.

Actors like Clint Eastwood, Robert De Niro, and even Paul Newman were reportedly considered for the role at various stages. However, there was one unexpected moment when Rambo actually made it to the screen before Stallone’s famous portrayal.

The Forgotten Rambo: A TV Adaptation

While *First Blood* was still in development hell, there was an obscure television production that featured a version of Rambo before the world ever saw Stallone’s take. The project in question was a 1975 TV adaptation of *First Blood*, produced as a pilot for a potential series that ultimately never got picked up. The actor chosen to play Rambo was an unknown actor named Robert Tessier. Tessier was a character actor known for his tough-guy roles and menacing presence on-screen, often cast as a villain in various films and TV shows of the 1970s.

Tessier’s Rambo was far less complex than the one Stallone would later popularize. He was more of a straightforward action hero, with the nuances of his psychological torment and trauma downplayed, likely due to the limitations of network television at the time. The show never gained traction, and after the pilot failed to garner interest, the project was shelved, with Tessier’s portrayal fading into obscurity.

While this version of Rambo was short-lived and ultimately forgettable, it remains a curious footnote in the character’s history, a glimpse into an alternate take on the story that was never fully realized.

Stallone Steps In

By the late 1970s, the rights to *First Blood* had changed hands multiple times, and the project found its way to Ted Kotcheff, who eventually directed the film. When the film entered pre-production, producers sought a lead actor who could bring both physicality and emotional depth to the role. That’s when Sylvester Stallone, fresh off his success with *Rocky*, became involved.

Stallone wasn’t just an actor hired for the role; he became instrumental in shaping the film’s final vision. He reworked significant portions of the script, transforming Rambo from the unrelenting killer depicted in the novel into a more sympathetic character, one that the audience could root for despite his violent outbursts. This creative shift was pivotal in making the character of Rambo both relatable and iconic.

Stallone’s performance in *First Blood* (1982) was a departure from the gritty realism of his earlier work in *Rocky*. Rambo was silent, brooding, and detached, yet beneath the surface, he was vulnerable—a man deeply scarred by his wartime experiences. The film was a success, grossing over $125 million worldwide, and it launched the Rambo franchise, cementing Stallone’s status as one of Hollywood’s biggest action stars.

Legacy of Stallone’s Rambo

In the years since *First Blood*, Rambo has become an enduring character, representing a specific era of 1980s action films. The subsequent sequels—*Rambo: First Blood Part II* (1985), *Rambo III* (1988), *Rambo* (2008), and *Rambo: Last Blood* (2019)—solidified the character as a global icon of the action genre. However, each installment evolved Rambo in different ways, showcasing his ongoing struggle with his past while turning him into an unstoppable force on the battlefield.

While Stallone’s Rambo is the version most people know and remember, it’s fascinating to think that the character nearly took a very different path on-screen. Robert Tessier’s forgotten portrayal is a reminder that Hollywood often experiments with multiple versions of a character before landing on one that resonates with audiences. Stallone’s Rambo, of course, is the one that ultimately endured, but Tessier’s brief stint as the original on-screen Rambo remains an interesting chapter in the character’s long history.

Conclusion

Sylvester Stallone’s portrayal of John Rambo is, without question, one of the most iconic performances in action cinema history. However, as with many famous characters, the journey to the big screen was filled with twists, turns, and unexpected developments. While Stallone may be the face of Rambo today, it’s surprising to learn that he was not the first to play the character on screen. Even though Robert Tessier’s version has largely been forgotten, it serves as an intriguing footnote in the story of how one of Hollywood’s most enduring action heroes came to life.