Sylvester Stallone’s son ensured he was never compared to a dad and in his final week, no one had seen or spoken to him.

Sage Stallone, the son of Sylvester Stallone, had a promising future, but he struggled with living in the shadow of his famous father. His relationship with Sylvester was complicated, marked by differences and disagreements. Sage famously appeared in the 1990 movie “Rocky V” alongside his father, but their relationship was far from perfect.

Despite enjoying the comforts and luxuries that came with his father’s career, Sage was critical of Sylvester’s film roles. Sylvester’s comments about his son’s appearance added to their strained relationship. The actor often teased Sage about his physical appearance, both as a child and as an adult.

Their differences came to the public eye when Sylvester chose another actor, Milo Ventimiglia, to reprise the role of Rocky Jr. in “Rocky Balboa,” a role Sage had played as a child in “Rocky V.” Sage was disappointed at being overlooked by his father, who, in turn, was unhappy with Sage’s neglect of his physical appearance.

Sylvester and Sage publicly discussed their differences in 1996, with Sylvester revealing that Sage had no interest in visiting the gym and preferred abstract art-house movies. The separation of Sylvester and Sage’s mother, Sasha Czack, in 1985, and Sylvester’s affair with Brigitte Nielsen, also added to Sage’s bitterness.

Despite their differences, they continued to work together in films, and Sage confessed that some of their scenes were emotionally charged and involved genuine, heartfelt emotions. In particular, the scene in “Rocky V,” where Sage’s character yelled at Sylvester for being an absent father, was a moment of real emotional expression, leading to a change in their relationship.

Sage’s attorney, George Braunstein, revealed that Sage loved his father and was proud of him. However, in 2012, Sage was found dead in his home at the age of 36, and the cause of his death remained a mystery at the time. His attorney stated that Sage had no signs of depression or mental struggles and had plans for his future, including getting married.

Nevertheless, Sage’s close friends disclosed that he had battled prescription medicine addiction, particularly to Vicodin and Xanax, which he used to manage anxiety and other issues. Sylvester was devastated by his son’s death and requested privacy for his family, expressing the immense pain of a parent losing a child.

Sage was laid to rest in a funeral held at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church in Los Angeles. His death raised questions about the circumstances surrounding it, including rumors of addiction, but authorities later confirmed that he died of a heart attack and not from an overdose, with no drugs found in his system. Sage’s health issues were attributed to heart disease, complicating a life marked by both privilege and struggles. Sylvester, meanwhile, continued his career, honoring Sage’s memory.