Cause elusive in death of Sly Stallone's son

In this Dec. 5, 1996 file photo, Sylvester Stallone arrives at the world premiere of his film "Daylight" with his girlfriend Jennifer Flavin, center, and his son, Sage Stallone, who co-starred in the film, in Hollywood. A publicist for Sylvester Stallone said the actor's son has died on Friday, July 13, 2012, at age 36. / AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian

(AP) LOS ANGELES - There were no signs of foul play or trauma in the death of Sage Stallone, whose sudden passing at the age of 36 left his father Sylvester Stallone devastated, a publicist and investigators said.

Sage Stallone was found unresponsive in his Los Angeles home Friday by an employee and a relative, and police arrived and confirmed Sage Stallone was dead, Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter said.

"Sylvester Stallone is devastated and grief-stricken over the sudden loss of his son," publicist Michelle Bega said in a statement. "His compassion and thoughts are with Sage's mother, Sasha."

The cause of death was not clear.

Son of Sylvester Stallone dies in L.A.

No suicide note was found, Winter said, though prescription bottles were recovered from the home on Mulholland Drive in the Studio City area. Winter could not say what kind of medication bottles or how many, and whether they had a role in the death.

Winter said an autopsy will be performed in the next few days and investigators will look into Stallone's medical history, but a cause of death was likely to take several weeks while toxicology tests are performed.

George Braunstein, an attorney who has represented Sage Stallone for 15 years, said friends and acquaintances had become concerned because they hadn't heard from Stallone in the past day, Braunstein said. He said the employee who found the body was a housekeeper.

Sylvester Stallone appeared Thursday at Comic-Con, the San Diego pop culture festival, to promote his upcoming film "Expendables 2" with friend and co-star Arnold Schwarzenegger. It was not clear whether he had remained at the convention or had returned to Los Angeles Friday.

Sage Moonblood Stallone was the oldest of Sylvester Stallone's children and co-starred with his father in two films. He was the first of two sons Stallone had with first wife Sasha Czack.

"Sage was a very talented and wonderful young man, his loss will be felt forever," Bega said.

Sage Stallone made his acting debut in 1990's "Rocky V" and also appeared with his father in 1996's "Daylight."

Also in 1996, Sage Stallone and veteran film editor Bob Murawski co-founded Grindhouse Releasing, a company dedicated to preserving and promoting the B-movies and exploitation films of the 1970s and 80s.

"He was very respectful of all the actors in all the movies," Braunstein said. "You couldn't mention a movie that he didn't know everything about."

Sage Stallone also directed the 2006 short "Vic," which screened at the Palm Springs Film Festival.

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[smittyc]

Very sad. My deepest condolences to all the families. My opinion, sounds like he mixed up the medications that he was taking. Happens quite frequently and pretty clear no suicide, he was planning his marriage which is one of lifes happiest moments. God Bless Him Rest in Peace.

[carolhill814]

I don't know about anybody else on this site but to me children that are in their 20's and 30's are so sad and lonely some how it is like they say to themselves is this all there is?

They don't seem to know all they need to do is reach out for help from their parents or friends and they will be there for them.

I just hope what ever happened it was accidental because what a doctor prescribes isn't always safe it just isn't.

MAY GOD GIVE THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS THE STRENGTH TO GO THROUGH THIS REALLY TOUGH TIME NOW AND FOR ALL TIME AS I AM CERTAIN HE WILL!!!

[mari1963]

I was always sorry Sly divorced Sasha, she seemed like a sweet lady. My condolences to them both. So sad.

[malcolm-kyle]

I had a whole bunch of stuff ready to post about the grave dangers of prescription drugs, but on review, it would probably be far more appropriate to offer my sincere condolences.

Sorry to hear of your loss, Mr Stallone!

[askagain]

You sound like a very sensitive person. We need more people like you.

[55minus5]

I never liked Stallone but this is a terrible loss, I feel very sorry for him. Children have to bury their parents, not parents their children.

[onefeather2]

We are given one life on planet earth as humans, we have the choice of what we do with our body,mind and spirit. There is always someone who has problems worse than our own, loss of a child, a mind, not having use of arms and legs "ect" and yes there is very hard times but when we destory ourselves because we tell ourself any reason or excuse to do drugs drink to excess hurt another instead of being thankful for having a job or money and health then you get what you deserve, but it is sad because we can cause others who love and are close pain and hurt for our selfish feel sorry for me thinking.

[nohater]

if it was drugs, legal or otherwise, then the son is like the father. wasn't sly using some steroid for his muscles and to keep a youthful look about him? seems there was a news story where he was traveling with the steroid drug and they were confiscated abroad. don't recall if he was criminally charged. perhaps a case of like father, like son? who knows for sure. time will tell after autopsy.