The specter of an “autism” diagnosis loomed over Sylvester Stallone for an extended period. Initially, this condition was attributed to the actor himself. However, after some time had passed, medical professionals reevaluated the situation, linking Sylvester’s speech difficulties to a birth trauma. But a few years down the road, the autism diagnosis resurfaced in a different context.
When Stallone and his wife welcomed their second child into the world, they were overjoyed. The young couple eagerly introduced their son to the public, endowing him with the beautiful name Sergio. The boy even made a cameo appearance in a film alongside his father, taking on the role of Rocky’s son. However, he never graced the screen again.
Sergio last made a public appearance at the tender age of three, gracing the cover of a magazine alongside Stallone. As time went on, though, the parents began to notice something unusual. Sergio displayed a disinterest in the world around him, exhibited minimal speech, and showed little inclination to engage with his older sibling. Instead, he found solace in drawing and listening to music.
He exhibited very few communicative qualities. Consequently, his parents decided to seek medical advice, leading to the diagnosis of autism. Initially, Stallone held out hope that this diagnosis would not be confirmed, but alas, it was.
From that point forward, Sergio’s mother assumed responsibility for his development. Meanwhile, Stallone devoted himself to working diligently to provide for his family. After extensive research, it was revealed that Sergio’s brain was not damaged and could be nurtured.
Sergio was presented with an opportunity to reach milestones akin to other children. Through the diligent work of specialists, he began to utter simple phrases and occasionally react to his surroundings. He found particular inspiration in the “Rocky” movies.
Sylvester Stallone’s family faced the immense challenges posed by this ordeal, which eventually led to the couple parting ways. Sylvester continued to support his ex-wife financially and played as active a role as possible in caring for his youngest son. He even created an artificial stream in the backyard to provide Sergio with the soothing sound of babbling water.
In an interview, the actor revealed that he and Sergio share a more amicable relationship. Stallone grapples with bridging the gap between his world and that of his son, who occasionally resembles a malfunctioning radio—either tuned in to communication or completely tuned out of the world.
This situation deeply saddens Sylvester because he had harbored dreams of forging a genuine parent-child relationship with his offspring.
Tragedy struck Sylvester Stallone when his eldest son passed away unexpectedly, prompting him to visit Sergio more frequently. Today, Sergio is a forty-year-old man, residing with his mother and characterized by limited social interactions. Sergio has yet to establish meaningful relationships with those around him or create a family of his own.
