Sylvester Stallone Recounts 'Cold' News of Son Sage's Death

Sylvester Stallone has shared the devastating impact of his son Sage's death at the age of 36 in 2012. The actor described the moment he received the news as "so cold," recalling a call from his mother's third husband, Dr. Stephen Levine, who informed him of Sage's passing from coronary artery disease.

"Sly, he’s gone. Sage - he’s gone," Stallone recounted in an interview with The New York Times. "I went, ‘Gone where?’ ‘He died, he’s gone. I’m sorry.’ Click."

Stallone revealed that he maintained composure for about a week following his son's death, focusing on funeral arrangements and supporting those around him. However, he described a profound breakdown that occurred shortly after.

"And then about a week later, I was all alone in my room, and a wail came out of me I’ve never heard before or since," Stallone said. "It was just pain, grief and guilt. It was not human."

He reflected on the intense guilt that often accompanies such loss, questioning what he could have done differently. "What if I did that? If I went right or went left?"

Sage Stallone, whose mother is Stallone's ex-wife Sasha Czack, followed in his father's footsteps by appearing in the 1990 film "Rocky V" as Robert Balboa Jr., the son of Stallone's iconic character.

In a 1996 interview, Sage spoke about the parallels between his character's struggles and his own relationship with his father, noting a scene where Robert confronts Rocky about perceived neglect. "When I was screaming, ‘You never spent time with me! You never spent time with my mother,’ that was true," Sage had said. He also indicated that their relationship improved after the film.

Stallone, who also has a younger son, Seargeoh, from his first marriage, has spoken previously about the difficulty of coping with Sage's loss. In August 2012, he told Good Morning America that "time, hopefully, will heal," but acknowledged it was a reality of life he had to navigate.

Stallone is also father to daughters Sophia, 30, and Sistine, 28, and Scarlet, 24, with his wife Jennifer Flavin.