The pain of losing a child is unimaginable, and for Sylvester Stallone, that tragedy became real in July 2012 when his eldest son, Sage Stallone, died unexpectedly at the age of 36. Stallone—known worldwide as the resilient Rocky Balboa—had overcome a difficult childhood of his own, including partial facial paralysis and an abusive early environment, before finding fame with the 1976 film Rocky.

Sage followed his father into entertainment, appearing with Stallone in films like Rocky V and Daylight and later founding a film-distributing company. His sudden death on July 13 2012 left the family and fans in shock.  Initial rumors of drug-use or suicide were refuted by the coroner’s office, which found no evidence of illicit drugs and ruled the death “natural,” caused by coronary artery disease from atherosclerosis.

In the wake of Sage’s passing, Stallone described it as “no greater pain” than losing a child and asked for privacy and respect for his son’s memory. The loss profoundly impacted the family. Today Stallone cherishes his remaining children—his other son Seargeoh and daughters Sophia, Sistine, and Scarlet—while Sage’s memory remains a poignant reminder of both the fragility of life and the enduring strength of love.