Terminator 2 legend Robert Patrick says he was happy to join Season 3 of Tulsa King alongside Sylvester Stallone, his former co-star from 1997's Cop Land.

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"I had such a great time working with Sly on Cop Land and Sly's a big part of my life as a human being, because Rocky was one of the most inspirational films I ever saw. I was in high school and an athlete. And, really, that film made you realize that if you believed enough in your dreams to go after them, they could come true," Patrick, 67, told UPI in a recent Zoom interview.

"It was one of the great conversations I did have with Sly while we were making Cop Land. And I said, 'How did you come up with the idea for Rocky?' And when he explained it to me, it was really a metaphor for his acting career that he just wanted a chance. It hit home even harder. So, I had a lot of respect for him."

Both Cop Land and Tulsa King required Patrick's character to go toe to toe with Stallone's.

"It's easy to work with him. He's, I think, one of the few actors that can be a formidable adversary and have some vulnerability, as well. He's so good at vulnerability," Patrick said.

"I've seen Sly off and on over the years, but when he walked on the set [of Tulsa King] and he said to me, 'Hey, Robert, it's been a few weeks,' and I went, 'It's been a few years, Buddy,' we settled in," Patrick added. "I knew it was going to be so much fun."

Airing Sunday nights on Paramount+, Tulsa King follows Stallone's Dwight Manfredi, a New York gangster seeking fresh criminal opportunities in Oklahoma.

Patrick plays Jeremiah Dunmire, the ruthless owner of a successful bourbon distillery who clashes with Manfredi when the newcomer encroaches on his territory.

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"They've done such a great job creating this character for me and they're doing such a great job and projecting that and the way they're capturing it, filming me cinematically and even the score music they gave me, and they're helping me be a formidable adversary," Patrick said.

"It takes a village to create a formidable adversary for Mr. Stallone and they certainly did a great job."

Patrick said the mashup of mob story and western was appealing.

"I did The Sopranos and I've done a few westerns and I do think that's cool," he added. "I think it's a great environment."

Although Manfredi and Dunmire keep trying to kill each other, they also are of the same generation and share similar values and flaws.

"Jeremiah Dunmire is very much like him. He believes in family. He believes in loyalty, believes in legacy, tradition," Patrick said.

"So, in a strange way, maybe, Manfredi sees a lot of himself in Dunmire in a weird way. I'm a little bit more under attack, so I'm in a defensive position. He's the aggressor. I'm living my life and I'm doing fine," he added.

"All of a sudden, this guy comes in from out of nowhere and now he's cutting in on my turf. Well, I'm not only offended, but I'm deeply disrespected. So, now I've got to fight back some way and I'm going to let it be known the retaliation is going to be swift."

The show also pits Dunmire against his only son Cole (Beau Knapp).

"Cole's trying to find his way underneath his father and his father has disciplined him the way he was disciplined. He comes from the same environment. I have huge expectations for him. I'm disappointed also that my favorite son died," Patrick said of his character.

"Cole's under a whole lot of pressure and he doesn't know what to do and how to get at his father."