[moovova]

I read the “First Blood” back in ‘73-74 (?), while in the Navy. If I remember correctly, Rambo and the Sheriff both die at the end.

But, of course, that didn’t make for sequels, so...

[Timber Rattler]

Yeah, Trautman kills Rambo at the end, who was in fact a complete psychopath in the book, made that way by PTSD. I believe that there is an alternate ending to the film in which Rambo actually commits suicide when Trautman refuses to kill him.

'First Blood' Director on Original Ending That Gave Stallone's Rambo a Shocking Death

[Timber Rattler]

Here it is:

Rambo Dies in First Blood---Alternate Ending