LOS ANGELES: Actor Sylvester Stallone says he still carries pain and guilt nearly 15 years after the death of his son, Sage Stallone.
Sage died in 2012 at the age of 36. He was found dead at his Los Angeles home on July 13 that year.
His death was attributed to coronary artery disease linked to atherosclerosis. The condition caused a heart attack.
In an interview with The New York Times, Stallone spoke about the lasting impact of his son’s death.
The actor said he continues to question whether he could have done something to prevent the tragedy.
“The thing is, you have so many episodes of guilt,” Stallone said. He recalled repeatedly asking himself what he could have done differently.
Stallone said he learned about Sage’s death through an unexpected phone call from his mother’s new husband, a doctor he had never met.
“I’ll never forget, it was so cold,” Stallone recalled. The caller told him that Sage had died.
Stallone said he initially remained composed after receiving the news. He focused on arranging the funeral and supporting other members of his family.
However, his grief became overwhelming several days later.
“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,” he said.
Stallone described the moment as an intense combination of pain, grief and guilt.
The actor also remembered Sage as a kind person and reflected on the future he believed his son could have had.
“He would have done wonderful things in the future,” Stallone said.
He added that losing a child is something a parent does not simply overcome.
Sage Stallone was the actor’s son with Sasha Czack. Stallone also has another son, Seargeoh, with Czack.
He has three daughters — Sophia, Sistine and Scarlet — with his wife Jennifer Flavin.
Sage followed his father into acting and appeared alongside Stallone in the 1990 film Rocky V. He played Rocky Balboa’s son in the movie.
