He was born unwanted by his family and even spent time living in a boarding house. Not a penny for housing, he slept under his coat at bus stops. Today, he is a Hollywood star.
Losing a child is an indescribable tragedy, regardless of their age—whether they are an adult or not yet born.
Renowned Hollywood actor Sylvester Stallone, who tragically lost his first child, Sage Stallone, in 2012, knows this pain all too well.
What may not be as widely known is that Sage’s mother, Sasha Czack—Stallone’s ex-wife—urged her son to avoid undergoing a major dental procedure just weeks before his untimely death.
Before the official cause of Sage’s sudden passing was revealed, speculation abounded. Some suspected suicide, drug abuse, or alcohol misuse. However, the truth turned out to be even more heartbreaking than anyone had imagined.
A Challenging Childhood and Adulthood
Losing a child is an unimaginable experience. Yet, even before his son’s death at the age of 36, Sylvester Stallone—famed for his portrayal of Rocky Balboa—faced significant hardships.
In many ways, Stallone’s real life mirrored that of the underdog character Rocky, which catapulted him to fame as one of Hollywood’s most beloved stars.
From birth, Stallone endured challenges. A complication during his delivery resulted in nerve damage, leaving part of his chin and tongue paralyzed. This gave rise to his characteristic facial expression—a feature that would later contribute to his fame but made his childhood anything but easy.
Stallone’s facial deformity led to severe bullying. He has likened himself to “Mr. Potato Head,” feeling as though parts of his face were out of place. Adding to his struggles, he grew up in an emotionally cold environment, with a mother who was distant—kissing him only twice during his childhood—and a father who was physically abusive.
Unsurprisingly, these circumstances made Stallone a troubled youth. By the age of 12, he had been expelled from 13 schools and suffered 11 broken bones, including injuries from jumping off a roof with an umbrella.
Stallone eventually turned to bodybuilding, which became a stepping stone to his acting career. Before achieving stardom, he endured years of hardship, including sleeping at Manhattan’s Port Authority bus terminal while homeless. Reflecting on that period, Stallone said his one coat “saved his life” during freezing New York winters.
His fortunes changed dramatically when he landed the lead role in Rocky in 1976, marking the start of his meteoric rise to fame.
From Rags to Riches
Stallone married photographer and filmmaker Sasha Czack shortly before his career took off. Together, they had two sons: Sage, born in 1976, and Seargeoh, born in 1979.
After Stallone and Czack divorced in 1985, he married actress and model Brigitte Nielsen later that year. That union was also short-lived, ending in divorce two years later.
In 1997, Stallone married model and entrepreneur Jennifer Flavin. The couple, who remain together, have three daughters: Sophia, Sistine, and Scarlet. As the saying goes, “the third time’s the charm.”
A Heartbreaking Loss
Despite the ups and downs of his life, the loss of his eldest son, Sage, remains Stallone’s most profound sorrow.
Sage, a film enthusiast and entrepreneur, also dabbled in acting. He appeared alongside his father in Rocky V and Daylight. Beyond acting, Sage founded Grindhouse Releasing, a company dedicated to preserving, restoring, and remastering films.
On July 13, 2012, Sage was found dead in his Los Angeles condominium by his housekeeper. Speculation about the cause of death arose almost immediately.
Initially, there were conflicting reports about when Sage had passed. Some suggested he had been deceased for several days, but evidence of a Facebook post made just 17 hours before his body was discovered debunked this theory.
Rumors swirled about drug or alcohol misuse, fueled by claims of a room full of bottles. However, Sage’s attorney and lifelong friend George Braunstein refuted these allegations, clarifying that Sage didn’t drink alcohol and that the bottles contained cream soda, his favorite beverage.
Braunstein described Sage as a talented and sensitive individual with no history of significant health problems or substance abuse. He also noted there were no indications of depression or suicidal tendencies. On the contrary, Sage was preparing to marry his longtime girlfriend, and no suicide note was found.
The Los Angeles coroner’s office delayed the announcement of the cause of death, stating that further testing was needed, which would take six to eight weeks. During this time, the family endured speculation and uncertainty.
A Father’s Heartache
The loss of his son prompted Stallone to request privacy for his grieving family. He described the pain as the worst a parent can endure and urged people to remember Sage positively while showing compassion toward Sage’s mother, Sasha Czack.
“This devastating loss will be felt for the rest of our lives,” Stallone said. “I humbly ask that everyone leave my son’s memory and soul in peace. Sage was our firstborn and the center of our universe.”
The Truth Comes to Light
Two weeks before his death, Sage had undergone dental surgery, extracting five teeth despite his mother’s warnings. Czack had advised him against the procedure, saying, “I’ve heard of people dying after extensive oral surgery.” Sage took medication for the pain and died two weeks later.
In August 2012, autopsy results revealed that Sage’s death was due to atherosclerosis, a condition in which the arteries harden, leading to a heart attack. Although traces of painkillers were found in his system, they were not at levels indicative of an overdose.
Moving Forward
Stallone described the period of waiting for answers as “unbearable” and channeled his grief into his work as a means of coping. Today, he continues to find solace in his family, including his three daughters and second son, Seargeoh, who has largely remained out of the public eye due to his autism diagnosis.
Stallone’s daughters have found their own success: Scarlet is pursuing a career in modeling and acting, while Sophia and Sistine host a podcast titled Unwaxed.
Though the loss of Sage remains a profound tragedy, Stallone’s other children bring him comfort and joy. This story serves as a reminder of a parent’s deep instincts and the lasting legacy of a child gone too soon.
