In a recent interview with The New York Times, actor Sylvester Stallone, 80, shared candid reflections on grief, aging, and personal regrets, including the 2012 death of his eldest son Sage at age 36. Stallone also discussed his evolving perspective on love and family in later life.
Sage Stallone’s death and Stallone’s grief
Stallone recounted the moment he learned of Sage’s death, describing the conversation as ‘so cold’. He stated that Sage’s death was communicated to him by Dr. Stephen Levine, the third husband of Stallone’s mother, Jackie Stallone. According to Stallone, Levine told him over the phone: ‘Sly, he’s gone. Sage—he’s gone.’ Stallone responded: ‘Gone where?’ before Levine clarified: ‘He died, he’s gone. I’m sorry.’ The call ended abruptly with the word ‘Click.’
Stallone described experiencing ‘so many episodes of guilt’ following Sage’s death, questioning what he could have done differently. He noted that he initially held his grief together for the sake of planning Sage’s funeral and supporting Sage’s mother. However, he later broke down ‘about a week later’ while alone in his room, describing the experience as ‘pain and grief and guilt… not human.’
Reflections on aging, love, and regrets
In the same interview, Stallone discussed his perspective on aging, stating that he did not experience ‘real, true love’ until his 70s. He described this late-life revelation as ‘a big pity,’ attributing his earlier focus on avoiding a ‘bum from the neighborhood’ mentality as a barrier to deeper emotional connections. Stallone has been married to his third wife, Jennifer Flavin, since 1997, and the couple shares three daughters. They briefly separated in 2022 but reconciled.
Stallone also reflected on his ‘castle of regrets’, acknowledging that he feels he has ‘not enough time’ to make amends. He emphasized focusing on those who need him and those he wants to see build their own legacies. Despite his age, Stallone expressed a belief that ‘you’re never too old to be in love’ or to cherish memories, while warning against ‘the swamp of loneliness.’
Stallone, whose life expectancy was once estimated at 78 by insurance companies, described himself as ‘two years into borrowed time.’ He also mentioned still experiencing ‘panic mode’ about his age, even as he embraces new experiences and relationships.