An astrologer, fitness enthusiast, wrestling manager, television personality, and mother, Jackie lived a life that was anything but ordinary. When she died on September 21, 2020, at the age of 98, she left behind a family and a story that stretched far beyond Hollywood.
News of a parent’s death is difficult at any age. For Sylvester Stallone, the loss marked the end of a complicated but ultimately important relationship.
Jackie and Sylvester had experienced their share of difficulties over the years. In later life, however, their relationship became closer. According to accounts of Jackie’s final years, Sylvester helped care for his mother, while the family remained connected despite the challenges they had experienced earlier in life.
Jackie herself had built a surprisingly colorful public life.
She became known for her work as an astrologer and even published a book about astrology. She also became involved with women’s professional wrestling, working with the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, and appeared on television programs throughout her life. Later, she became a contestant on the British reality series Celebrity Big Brother.
Even into her later years, Jackie remained interested in fitness and physical activity. Her energy and distinctive personality made her memorable to audiences who knew her independently of her famous son.
When she died, her son Frank Stallone publicly announced the loss and remembered her as a remarkable woman. The family said she died peacefully in her sleep, at 98.
For Sylvester, the loss was more than the passing of a public figure.
It was the loss of his mother.
Behind the famous actor, the movie roles, the awards, and decades of Hollywood success was still a son saying goodbye to a woman who had been part of his life from the very beginning.
Jackie Stallone may have been remembered for her unusual career and unforgettable personality, but to her children, she was something much simpler.
She was Mom.
And sometimes, that is the role people remember most when everything else is gone.