PALM BEACH, FLORIDA: Sylvester 'Sly' Stallone was "grief-stricken" when his eldest son Sage Stallone died abruptly at the age of 36 from a cardiac problem. The 'Rocky' actor and his family feature in the reality series 'The Family Stallone,' which premiered on Paramount+ on May 17, although the family is still missing one of Sly's children.

Sly is a proud father. The iconic 'Rocky' and 'Rambo' actor had five children: Sage and Seargeoh from his first marriage to actress Sasha Czack, and Sophia, Sistine, and Scarlet from his second marriage to former model Jennifer Flavin. Despite his hectic work schedule, Sly always manages to find time to celebrate his children's accomplishments, something he struggled with when Sage and Seargeoh were younger. But things went bad after he lost his first child.

Sly performed 'shradh' for his late son

Sage, Sly's kid who died in 2012, apparently had a 'shradh' ceremony done for him. According to a newspaper report, Sly told a Vedic professor in Rishikesh that he still sees his dead kid and was extremely concerned. Eleven years ago, the 36-year-old was discovered dead in his Los Angeles flat. While it was first believed that he died as a result of a drug overdose, it was later confirmed that he died as a result of a heart attack.

Sly was urged by the scholar to carry out the ritual. Sly dispatched his half-brother Michael, his wife, and two others to Kankhal, Haridwar, to perform 'tithi shradh,' which is performed for persons who perish in an accident or murder. Sly remained behind to avoid attracting media attention, but he sent his brother instead, as the ceremony may be done by any blood-related. Following Sage's shradh, Michael held a ceremony for his sister Toni Ann, who died in 2012.

Sly, who had previously confessed that it was difficult for him to come to terms with his son's death, had sought to contact séances in order to speak with him. In his hunt for a medium, he had also contacted Mishrapuri, an astrologer who was visiting Los Angeles at the time. Sly learned about the Hindu ceremony of 'shradh' from Mishrapuri.

"In our meeting last year in LA, he (Sylvester Stallone) asked if it is possible to speak to his son. I told him it is possible, but it would be very painful for Sage’s soul. He confessed that he had seen his son and that he was deeply disturbed. The family had sought to make it a quiet affair, and I provided them details of nondescript hotels they could stay at. After the shradh of Sage, Michael also performed a ceremony for his sister Toni Ann, who died aged 48 in 2012,” revealed Mishrapuri as per TOI report.

Sly dismisses Sage's drug abuse charge

Sly made a public plea in 2012 to put an end to "speculation and questionable reporting" regarding his son's drug use. "Because when a parent loses a child, there is no greater pain," Sly said. "Therefore, I am imploring people to respect my wonderfully talented son’s memory and feel compassion for his loving mother, Sasha, because this agonizing loss will be felt for the rest of our lives. Sage was our first child and the center of our universe, and I am humbly begging for all to have my son’s memory and soul left in peace."

Following Sage's death, Ed Winter of the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office stated that prescription bottles were seized during the inquiry, but he did not specify what the bottles contained or if they had a part in Sage's death.

Viewers can catch Sly with his family and daughters in 'The Family Stallone' on Paramount + every Wednesday.