Rambo III is a 1988 American war action film starring Sylvester Stallone as Vietnam War veteran John Rambo. Directed by Peter MacDonald, the script was co-written by Stallone and Sheldon Lettich. It is a sequel to Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985) and the third installment in the Rambo film series. Richard Crenna reprises his role as Colonel Sam Trautman.