The hero of the iconic action movie silently endured the death of his son, but when he finally spoke, his words moved millions to tears…

For many of us, a trip to the cinema is a way to escape reality, to get lost in fantastical worlds where the heroes always have a happy ending. But have you ever thought about the actors who help us forget those few hours? Who heals them when they suffer?

Sylvester Stallone, who captivated an entire generation with his roles in movies, fell silent after the loss of his eldest son, Sage.

Sage was Stallone’s first child with his wife Sasha Czack. He passed away at the age of 36 on July 13, 2012, in his Los Angeles apartment from a heart attack induced by atherosclerosis. The Rocky star was devastated by the loss of his son and requested privacy and solitude while mourning the loss.

The actor said, «There is no greater pain than when a parent loses their child. So, I ask people to show respect for the memory of my talented son and sympathy for his loving mother Sasha. This painful loss will stay with us until the end of our days. Sage was our firstborn and the center of our universe, and I humbly ask you not to disturb the soul and memory of my son.»

After parting ways with actor Sasha Czack, the father-son relationship between Sylvester Stallone and Sage went through challenging times. However, over the years, they reconciled and even began to act together in movies and give interviews. Stallone worked with Sage on «Rocky 5,» and it’s worth noting the chemistry between them on the big screen.

With his father as a role model, Sage never looked back. He wanted to become an actor and even planned to try his hand at producing. Despite health problems, no one could have guessed that the boy would die at such a young age.

Stallone was deeply shaken by his sudden death, retreating into solitude to grieve in complete silence. The actor decided to battle the pain alone, canceling all his plans.

In August 2012, the actor publicly shared his pain. «It’s very, very tough. It’s a horrible situation, but it’s real life. Time helps you cope, and you try to survive what’s happening. It’s very important to find the strength within yourself to stand up and try to keep going. Otherwise, you can fall into a vicious cycle.»

Stallone managed to return to life and delivered an emotional speech about Sage at the Golden Globe Awards ceremony when he received an award for his role in «Creed.» When asked by journalists how the loss of his son affected his creativity, Sylvester replied, «I think it helps a lot in those situations when you do something real. In the case of my son, I wanted to pay tribute to his memory, and I think we succeeded.»