Right on the heels of The Expendables 2 panel, one of this year’s highlights from the San Diego Comic-Con, in which Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzengger traded barbs, fun anecdotes, and an absolute mutual respect for one another, comes the most tragic and distressing news. Sage Stallone, the 36-year-old son of Sly, was found dead on July 13, 2012 in the afternoon in his apartment in Los Angeles, California. Details surrounding his death are still unknown, but police note that Stallone was alone when found and a toxicology report will be pending.

Stallone was born May 5, 1976 to Sly and his then wife Sasha Czack. He was the oldest of Sylvester Stallone’s children and was brother to Seargeoh Stallone and half brother to Sistine, Sophia, and Scarlet Stallone. His stepmother was Stallone’s current wife, Jennifer Flavin. His uncle was sometime actor and musician Frank Stallone and his grandmother was astrologist Jackie Stallone. Reports state that Sylvester Stallone is devastated and grief-stricken, and his compassion and thoughts are with Sasha. The report went on to note that Sage was a very talented and wonderful young man, whose loss will be felt forever.

Sage made his acting debut in 1990 in the fifth installment of Stallone’s famed Rocky series, Rocky 5. He played Robert, the son of Rocky Balboa. A sixth installment of the film franchise released in 2006 found the actor Milo Ventimiglia playing Balboa’s son. Sage appeared in the film Daylight with his father as well. In 1996, he co-founded Grindhouse Releasing, which was an LA based company dedicated to restoring and preserving many films of the exploitation genre and he worked as a filmmaker. His short film Vic, which he directed, was screened at the 2006 Palm Springs Festival.

All of the Geeks of Doom staff offer our heartfelt condolences to the Stallone family for the sudden and unexpectedly tragic death of the son of one of cinema’s all time greatest lights. R.I.P. Sage.

[Source: Newsday]