Sylvester Stallone has recently shared an amusing yet poignant anecdote about his first wedding in 1974, revealing how financial constraints led to a rather unconventional ceremony. In his memoir, *The Steps*, released on September 29, 2026, the 80-year-old actor reflects on the challenges he and his first wife, Sasha Czack, faced as they prepared to tie the knot.
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Stallone, best known for his iconic roles in films such as *Rocky* and *Rambo*, recounts the time when he was still filming *Capone*—a gangster film set in the 1920s—while planning his marriage to Czack. The couple were struggling financially, which forced them to be inventive in their wedding preparations.
“We planned a marriage ceremony in December while I was still filming *Capone*,” Stallone writes. “Sasha wanted to buy a wedding dress, but we couldn’t afford it. All of our money went to rent, groceries, and repairs on our car. We were barely surviving.”
In an unexpected twist, Czack crafted her wedding dress from an old linen curtain found in their rental home. Meanwhile, Stallone had no formal attire of his own, prompting him to borrow a double-breasted gangster suit from the film’s wardrobe department. “Spats, shoes, and all,” he recalls. The actor jokingly notes, “With my greased-back period haircut, I looked like I fell out of a time machine.”
Stallone starred in *Capone*, portraying Frank Ralph “The Enforcer” Nitti, the bodyguard of infamous gangster Al Capone, played by Ben Gazzara. The film’s 1920s aesthetic significantly influenced Stallone’s experimental wedding look. He finds humour in the mismatched appearance that day, as the couple attempted to celebrate their love amidst the backdrop of financial hardship.
In his memoir, Stallone further elaborates on how they arranged the ceremony on a shoestring budget. Lacking a conventional church affiliation, the couple sought out an alternative location, leading them to the Association of All Religions. Stallone was also amused by the name of the officiant, Reverend Dingleman, which further encouraged his decision to go through with the service.
Stallone’s manager, Jane Oliver, proved invaluable as a friend during this challenging time, offering her home for the wedding ceremony, which was attended by a very small group. Describing the occasion, Stallone recounted, “Our wedding was small and eclectic. Jane was there with her husband, Valentine Sherry, a very kind man who loved to wear ascots. That was really it. Those were effectively our witnesses.”
Despite the oddity of their wedding attire, which consisted of him in a gangster suit and Czack in a self-made dress, the couple focused on the significance of their union. “As for Sasha and I, our hearts were in the right places, but we really did look ‘different’ that day,” Stallone reminisced. The intimate affair took place in front of a fireplace, where they sat in rocking chairs as Reverend Dingleman officiated.
The couple welcomed their first child, son Sage, in 1976, followed by a second son, Seargeoh, in 1979. Sadly, Sage passed away in 2012 at the age of 36 from a heart attack. Stallone and Czack divorced in 1985 after just over a decade of marriage. Subsequently, Stallone was married to Brigitte Nielsen from 1985 to 1987 before finally settling down with his current wife, Jennifer Flavin, in 1995. The couple has three daughters together: Sophia, Sistine, and Scarlet.
Fast forward to today, and more than fifty years since that makeshift wedding, Stallone still feels the financial pressure of family obligations. Recently, during an appearance on *Live with Kelly and Mark*, Stallone shared his humorous struggles about affording his daughter Sophia’s forthcoming wedding. He remarked, “Oh, man, it’s almost embarrassing to say — but I can’t retire,” which prompted laughter from the audience.
Stallone’s engaging anecdotes serve as a reminder of the trials many couples face, especially in their early years together. His experience illustrates how love can persevere even in challenging circumstances, albeit with a 1920s twist that he will likely remember fondly for years to come.