Sage Stallone Death

Sylvester Stallone's son, Sage Stallone, died from a heart attack ... and no drugs were found in his system ... TMZ has learned.

The L.A. County Coroner has determined Sage died from natural causes. As for why he had a heart attack, we're told there was evidence of heart disease.

A source connected with the Coroner tells TMZ ... it was "unusual" for a person Sage's age -- 36 -- to have such advanced coronary problems, but that's what killed him.

Sylvester Stallone is finally speaking about the death of his son Sage ... calling it a "horrible situation ... but it's something that is reality in life."

Stallone just appeared on "GMA" to promote his new "Expendables" movie ... when the reporter asked how Stallone was "hanging in there" since Sage passed away last month.

"It's tough it's very very tough," Stallone said ... adding, "But if you have good friends and your family’s support, it's just something that’s a horrible situation but ... hopefully it will heal and you try to get through it but it's something that is a reality in life."

Stallone noted that working on his new movie has helped him get through it ... saying, "It's important to get back and try to start reliving your life, otherwise you can go into a spiral."

Sage Stallone's cause of death is still a mystery ... this according to his official death certificate filed in L.A.

The death certificate lists Sage's C.O.D. as "deferred" -- which means the coroner is waiting for the results of various tests, including toxicology, before proclaiming what killed the 36-year-old.

The coroner notes that Sage's body was found on July 13 -- but does not specify a definitive date of death.

As we previously reported, people connected with the case believe Sage may have been dead for several days before his body was discovered by the housekeeper.

The memorial services took place at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church. Sly, his wife Jennifer Flavin, and his brother Frank Stallone were all present.

36-year-old Sage -- who appeared in "Rocky V" with his dad -- died July 13 at his L.A. home. The circumstances surrounding his death are still being investigated.

Authorities investigating the death of Sage Stallone believe a "likely scenario" is he was dealing drugs -- specifically Hydrocodone -- generic Vicodin -- law enforcement sources tell TMZ.

We're told authorities do NOT believe Sage was an addict, in no small part because of his weight. Our sources say ... at the time of his death, the 5'7" actor (his IMDB profile incorrectly lists his height at 5'10") weighed 188 pounds. One law enforcement source tells TMZ, "He was pudgy, and drug addicts are almost always rail thin."

Our sources say authorities did not find a single Hydrocodone tablet in Sage's house. Yet, as we previously reported, they found more than 60 gigantic empty prescription bottles -- the kind stocked by pharmacists to fill consumer scripts. Each bottle holds a minimum of 500 pills, so Sage probably had more than 30,000 pills, but they were all gone.

We're told LAPD detectives and L.A. County Coroner investigators are going to try and trace some of the bottles using batch numbers and serial numbers, but one well-placed source believes there's a "strong likelihood" the pills were shipped from another country.

Although the baggies of white powder found in Sage's room -- a room the maid was prohibited from entering -- have yet to be tested, our sources believe it will probably prove to be ground up Hydrocodone. Again, however, the power has not yet been tested.

Authorities found baggies of white powder in the room where Sage Stallone died ... TMZ has learned.

Our law enforcement sources confirm detectives found "several little baggies in the bedroom." One law enforcement source says the powder is being tested and suggests it could be cocaine or crushed Vicodin.

We're told there were no obvious signs of white powder on Sage's body when he was found.

As we first reported, authorities found "huge" empty prescription bottles in Sage's bedroom. A law enforcement source has now elaborated, telling TMZ they found "more than 60 gigantic bottles, like the ones in pharmacies."

Authorities know the bottles contained Hydrocodone -- generic Vicodin.

Investigators are baffled at the quantity of the bottles and are trying to figure out where Sage may have gotten them. They say it's possible he got them online, but they're also looking at several doctors.

Sylvester Stallone has called in a private investigator to figure out how his son Sage died and what lead up to the tragedy ... TMZ has learned.

We've learned famed P.I. Scott Ross -- who was the lead investigator in the Michael Jackson molestation case and the Chris Brown/Rihanna battery case -- met Tuesday at Stallone's home with Sly, his brother Frank, and an official from the L.A. County Coroner's Office. Sources tell us they discussed Sage Stallone's death and the status of the investigation.

We're told Sly wants Ross to figure out what happened to his son -- and he's not ruling out foul play, even though he has no evidence of that. Sly also wants to know about Sage's final weeks ... whether he was using drugs or consuming alcohol. The actor also wants to know what, if anything, was troubling his son.

Ross has a long history working for the Stallone family ... we're told Sly wants someone he knows and trusts to provide him with answers about his son's death.

The death of Sage Stallone -- Sly's son -- is now in the hands of LAPD Robbery Homicide detectives ... law enforcement sources tell TMZ.

We're told the move in no way suggests foul play. Robbery Homicide handles high-profile cases, and this one qualifies.

Sources tell us ... although it will probably take 4 weeks to get a firm cause of death, it's likely that it will either be classified as an accidental death or death from natural causes.

UPDATE 1:35 PM PT -- The autopsy has been completed, but the results will be deferred pending a toxicology report, which usually takes 4-6 weeks.

The L.A. County Coroner has just begun the autopsy of Sage Stallone ... TMZ has learned.

According to our sources, it will be completed later today.

As TMZ first reported, the son of Sylvester Stallone was found dead in his home on Friday of an apparent overdose. His body was discovered by the maid.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ they believe his death was accidental and no note was found at the scene.

Sage Stallone's lawyer and longtime friend is painting a picture of Sage in the days leading up to his death that is radically different from what law enforcement sources are telling TMZ.

Attorney George Braunstein claims:

Sage posted pics to Facebook 17 hours before he was found dead.
Law enforcement sources tell TMZ Sage was dead for a minimum of 3 days (and possibly as long as a week) before his body was found. Our sources say no one had heard from him in a full week. And we're told his room was filled with cigarette butts and reeked of various smells.

Sage never exhibited any signs of drug use or addiction.
TMZ spoke with Robert Rhine, a magazine publisher who worked with Sage two months ago. He said Sage was "out of it" the entire time he worked with him and it was obvious to him and everyone at the photo shoot that Sage was on something. And our law enforcement sources say there were multiple pill bottles in his room, some of which were "huge."

Sage didn't drink.
Law enforcement sources tell TMZ his room was littered with various items, including empty beer cans.

Sage Stallone was so out of it at a recent photo shoot at his house, he tried taking pictures with a camera that still had the lens cap on ... a magazine publisher tells TMZ.

Robert Rhine, editor-in-chief of Girls and Corpses magazine, tells TMZ ... he did a photo shoot for the mag back in May at Sage's house because the subject of the shoot had known Sage for years.

Rhine says it took Sage 45 minutes to answer the door, adding he could tell right away Sage was "on something" -- slurring his words and stumbling around -- though he never saw him take anything.

Rhine says Sage would talk to him for a couple of seconds before trailing off and just walking away. Rhine described his behavior as "very similar to Ozzy Osbourne."

Rhine said that during the photo shoot, Sage came out with a camera of his own ... which bothered Rhine because of copyright issues. But upon further inspection, Rhine noticed Sage hadn't even taken the lens cap off.

Rhine says the place was a mess, with piles of stuff everywhere. As we previously reported ... law enforcement told TMZ ... Sage's bedroom was "disgusting," reeking of various smells, and littered with cigarette butts and empty cans. Numerous pill bottles were also found.

Sage Stallone was dead in his room for a minimum of 3-4 days and possibly as long as a week ... this according to law enforcement sources connected with the case.

Our sources tell TMZ ... Sage "lived like Howard Hughes" ... he often spent days in his room which was "littered with junk," including an enormous number of cigarette butts, beer and soda cans, and food.

We're told there were two drawers filled with various pill bottles, some of which were "huge."

Our sources say Sage was living like a hermit ... no one had spoken with him since a week ago Friday. Although the housekeeper had been there earlier this week, she had specific ongoing instructions never to enter Sage's room. In fact, we're told the housekeeper was told to never even knock at the door.

One law enforcement source called the room "disgusting," saying it reeked of various smells.

We're told Sage's mother called the housekeeper yesterday after being unable to reach him, asking her to stop by and check on him. That's when she discovered the body.

Law enforcement sources tell us it's pretty clear from the evidence they saw ... Sage's death was an accident.

UPDATE 10:22 PM PT -- Law enforcement sources tell us ... Sage's death does NOT appear to be a suicide. We're told there was NO suicide note found at the scene.

Sources tell us officials DID find "numerous empty pill bottles" in the area where Sage's body was discovered. No word on what types of medication the pill bottles were for.

We're told an autopsy is scheduled for some time in the next 48 hours.

UPDATE 5:15 PM PT: Sylvester Stallone's rep, Michelle Bega, tells TMZ, "Sylvester Stallone is devastated and grief-stricken over the sudden loss of his son Sage Stallone. His compassion and thoughts are with Sage's mother, Sasha. Sage was a very talented and wonderful young man. His loss will be felt forever."

6:04 PM PT: Now here's a crazy picture -- the L.A. County Coroner van, flanked by a celebrity tour filled with snap-happy tourists. Welcome to Hollywood, folks.

Sage Stallone -- Sylvester Stallone's son -- has died and sources tell us the cause was an overdose of pills.

The details surrounding the death are still unclear .. but we're told he was found in his L.A. home by either a maid or his girlfriend. Paramedics were called to the home and pronounced him dead at the scene.

Sources tell us authorities are trying to determine if the death was intentional or accidental.

We're told Sylvester is a "wreck."

Sage famously made his film debut alongside his father in the 1990 movie "Rocky 5" -- playing the role of Rocky's son Robert Balboa.

He went on to act and direct in several films ... including the 1996 film "Daylight."

Sage's mother is Sasha Czack.