This Hollywood legend was an unwanted child & a coat later saved him — do you recognize him?
Losing a child is an unimaginable pain, one Sylvester Stallone faced in 2012 when his eldest son, Sage Stallone, died at age 36. Known for his role in Rocky V, Sage was a filmmaker and actor who shared his father’s love for cinema.
Born during Stallone’s first marriage to Sasha Czack, Sage had recently undergone dental surgery, having five teeth removed. Despite warnings from his mother about the risks, he proceeded and was prescribed painkillers. Two weeks later, he died from a heart attack caused by atherosclerosis. Though painkillers were found in his system, toxicology ruled out overdose or suicide. The news devastated Stallone, who described Sage as the “center of our universe.” Despite early rumors, Sage did not struggle with substance abuse and had been preparing for his wedding.
Sylvester Stallone reflects on his son Sage Stallone’s tragic death in his documentary ‘Sly.’ Here’s what happened, and everything Stallone has said.
- Sylvester Stallone reflects on his relationship with his late son in the Netflix documentary, “Sly.”
- Sage Stallone, who appeared alongside his father in “Rocky V,” died at the age of 36 in 2012.
- Here’s everything you need to know about him and the circumstances of his death.
Sage, who appeared alongside his father in the 1990 film “Rocky V,” was his first child with his first wife, Sasha Czack. The two have another son named Seargeoh Stallone.
Sage was also the half-brother of Sophia, Sistine, and Scarlet Stallone, whom the “Expendables” star, 77, had with his third wife, Jennifer Flavin.
After he made his acting debut at 14 as the titular character’s son, Robert Balboa Jr., in the fifth “Rocky” installment, Sage also appeared in the films “The Evil Inside Me,” “Vic,” and “Daylight,” which also starred his father. As an adult, he also worked as a director and executive producer.
He was 36 years old when he died.
How did Sage Stallone die?
Authorities found Sage dead in his home in Studio City, Los Angeles, on July 13, 2012. The New York Post and TMZ, who first reported the news, both speculated that Sage had a prescription-drug problem and died as a result of a pill overdose, citing anonymous sources close to the actor.
Before authorities answered questions about Sage’s cause of death, his father made a public appeal for the media to end “speculation and questionable reporting” about his son’s cause of death, CNN reported.
“Because when a parent loses a child there is no greater pain,” Stallone told the outlet.
“Therefore, I am imploring people to respect my wonderfully talented son’s memory and feel compassion for his loving mother, Sasha, because this agonizing loss will be felt for the rest of our lives,” he continued. “Sage was our first child and the center of our universe, and I am humbly begging for all to have my son’s memory and soul left in peace.”
Sage Stallone at the “Rocky Balboa” premiere in 2006.
Just over a month after his passing, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County coroner announced that heart disease from atherosclerosis, not drugs, was Sage’s cause of death, CNN reported. The toxicology test showed that Sage had no drugs in his system at the time of his death, except for a small, “sub-therapeutic” level of hydrocodone, commonly sold under the brand name Vicodin, People reported.
Atherosclerosis, which is the build-up of plaque in the arteries, is one of the leading causes of coronary-artery disease, the most common type of heart disease, Insider previously reported.
In July 2012, People interviewed Sage’s friends, who told the outlet that he often preferred junk food and cigarettes and was addicted to prescription medication. They also said Sage had a complicated relationship with his father.
During an interview with People published in December 1996, Stallone said his son “avoids the gym like the plague,” while Sage added: “People call me a hermit, but I’m happy.”
Sage’s funeral took place on July 21, 2012, at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church in Los Angeles, and he is buried at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery, according to The Daily Mail.