Born unwanted and homeless, he once slept under his coat at bus stops. Today, he’s a Hollywood star.

Losing a child, no matter their age, is devastating. Sylvester Stallone knows this firsthand after his son, Sage, passed away in 2012. Only weeks prior, Sage’s mother, Sasha Czack, had warned him against undergoing a significant dental procedure. Despite initial speculations about the cause of Sage’s death—ranging from suicide to drug use—autopsy results later confirmed he died from atherosclerosis, not overdose.

Stallone’s life, like his iconic “Rocky” character, has been filled with struggles. Born with a paralyzed chin and tongue due to birth complications, he faced bullying and a tough upbringing. His path to fame was difficult, even experiencing homelessness before his break with Rocky in 1976.

Stallone’s personal life also had ups and downs, marrying and divorcing multiple times, with his current wife, Jennifer Flavin, providing him with three daughters. But the loss of Sage, his firstborn, was the hardest blow. Sage was a talented, energetic young man who had dreams of marriage and success in film preservation. After his death, Stallone asked for privacy, urging people to remember Sage positively.

The real cause of Sage’s death came out after months of uncertainty: it was linked to complications from dental surgery and a heart condition, though no overdose was found. Despite this, Stallone remains focused on his surviving children, finding strength in them as he continues to heal.