‘Tulsa King’ Star Sylvester Stallone Draws On His “Natural Rhythm” To Play Dwight Manfredi: “I’m Just Trying To Be Original”

Tulsa King is back for Season 3, and no one is more excited than star/EP/writer Sylvester Stallone. The hit Paramount+ crime dramedy follows Stallone’s Dwight Manfredi and his rag-tag crew as they expand their empire in the Magic City. After growing their weed business and buying a car dealership franchise, Manfredi’s outlet is now getting into the liquor business, thanks to its acquisition of Montague Distillers and $150M dollars’ worth of 50-year bourbon. However, a rival distiller, Jeremiah Dunmire (Robert Patrick), and the Dixie mafia plan to do whatever it takes (murder, robbery, etc) to get their hands on the Montague goods.

With a career in Hollywood spanning more than 50 years, Stallone is happiest when he is working. Even better, he describes the character of Dwight Manfredi as a “manifestation of [his] inner longing to play [himself] on screen.” Manfredi, a man of elegance, honor, strength, and wit, is such an easy fit for the Oscar winner. “I’m able to draw on my own experience and own natural rhythm for Dwight,” explains Stallone. “I’m not trying to chase some other actor’s performance as a mafia guy.” Stallone’s goal is to remain an “original,” which he achieves effortlessly with his powerful and layered performance in Tulsa King.

While he loves going toe-to-toe with Patrick, Stallone says he prefers the “romantic” side of Manfredi. Manfredi’s relationship with Margaret Devareaux (played by the wonderful Dana Delaney) is key to understanding the gentle gangster. “Margaret rekindles something Dwight thought he completely lost because he has lost every one of the loves of his life,” explains Stallone. “Dwight maybe felt like he was fading away until he met her.” Even though Manfredi’s businesses sometimes put Devareaux and her ranch in jeopardy, Stallone says Manfredi “won’t let her go for anything.” “She revitalized him and that’s why he loves her so much,” says Stallone.

At the junket for the Paramount + show, Stallone talked to DECIDER about the series, about serving as a mentor on-set, and about his daughter Scarlet Rose Stallone joining the family business.

DECIDER: After 3 seasons of Tulsa King, what do you find is the most exciting part of playing Dwight Manfredi?

SYLVESTER STALLONE: Manfredi is a manifestation of my inner longing to play myself on screen [laughs]. I’m able to draw on my own experience and own natural rhythm for Dwight. I’m not trying to chase some other actor’s’ performance as a mafia guy. I’m just trying to be original.

Dwight Manfredi is a mentor to his young crew as they mature into a seasoned outlet. Do you feel like you’ve taken on that role with some of the actors on set?

I’m definitely the founding father when I walk on set. I just like to assert myself. If I can help other actors with their performances, I absolutely step in. Would it help to slow the performance down? Raise it up? That’s what we try to figure out. I don’t know if I’m stepping on toes, but I would have liked someone to do that for me in the past.

They also call Dwight the “O.G.” That feels like a bit of real life slipping through to me.



[Laughs] Maybe.

In Season 3, Dwight and Bill Bevilaqua have entered a tense truce. Can these two play nice with each other? What can you tease about their dynamic?

The DNA in the gangster code is not to trust anybody. Mistrust is just in the bones of these guys. The ones who survive understand that. You got to be so shrewd and cold blooded. So, it’s a fragile truce. Let’s put it that way.

You’ve acted opposite some formidable on-screen foes like Frank Grillo, Neal McDonough, and Domenick Lombardozzi. Now in Season 3, you face James Russo, Kevin Pollak, and Robert Patrick. Is there any one actor who you get excited to see on the call sheet and why?

I really like working with Robert Patrick. I always know the sparks are going to fly when we’re on set together.

It’s been fun to watch.

Yeah, but I like the romantic side of Dwight too. It gives me a little bit of a break.

I love Dwight and Margaret’s connection, and I think you and Dana Delaney have beautiful chemistry together. Why does Dwight stay with her, even though he realizes that it’s not the best thing for her?

I think that Margaret has a little quirky, flirty, nasty side to her [laughs]. Dwight felt that the first time they met. He thinks, “I’m like this old guy. I can’t believe how lucky I am.” Margaret rekindles something Dwight thought he completely lost because he has lost every one of the loves of his life. Dwight maybe felt like he was fading away until he met her. She revitalized him, and that’s why he loves her so much. He won’t let her go for anything.

Lastly, I was so excited that your daughter Scarlet Rose Stallone‘s role as Spencer expands a bit in Season 3. How pleased are you that she’s following in your footsteps?

I have mixed feelings about that because I know how hard this business can be. There is a time limit that plays in your favor and not in your favor. I didn’t want her to do it, but she loves it. What she has started to do now is write. She has written two screenplays, and that’s an accomplishment in itself. That takes a lot of discipline. All my daughters write. Isn’t that weird? Every one of them. And I hate writing [laughs]. I do. You know what I’m talking about? It’s hard.

Sure, but you’ve had a lot of success with writing yourself, though.

[Laughs] Well, thank you.

The first episode of Tulsa King Season 3 is now streaming on Paramount+