Sage Stallone was an American actor and film director who hailed from Los Angeles. He is best known for his portrayal of Robert Balboa, Jr., the son of Rocky Balboa, in the sports drama film "Rocky V" (1990),which showcased his exceptional acting skills at a tender age of 14.
Born to actor Sylvester Stallone and his first wife Sasha Czack, Sage's paternal grandfather was a renowned hairdresser and beautician, Frank Stallone Sr. (1919-2011),while his paternal grandmother was an accomplished astrologer, Jackie Stallone (1921-). Through his father's side of the family, Sage had a rich ancestry, boasting Italian, French, and Ukrainian-Jewish roots.
Stallone made his mark in the film industry with his debut in "Rocky V" (1990). He then went on to study filmmaking at the prestigious University of North Carolina School of the Arts, a public art school located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, from 1994 to 1995. In 1996, Stallone co-founded the film preservation company Grindhouse Releasing alongside film editor Bob Murawski. This company was dedicated to preserving, digitally restoring, and distributing exploitation films, B-movies, and cult films, as well as restoring Italian horror films directed by notable horror directors.
In 2006, Stallone directed the drama film "Vic," which told the story of a struggling actor attempting to revive his career. His direction earned him the Best New Filmmaker award at the Boston Film Festival.
Stallone's subsequent film appearances included an unnamed Mafioso role in the drama film "Promises Written in Water" (2010),which unfortunately did not receive widespread distribution and was mainly showcased at film festivals. His final film appearance was in the short film "The Agent" (2010).
Tragically, Sage Stallone passed away in July 2012 at his home in Studio City, Los Angeles, at the tender age of 36. His autopsy revealed that the cause of death was coronary artery disease, caused by atherosclerosis. His funeral took place at the St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church in Los Angeles, and he was laid to rest at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery.
