Sylvester Stallone Says He Can’t Retire Because of Daughter’s Wedding: “I Have to Pay for It”

Sylvester Stallone has admitted that retirement is not an option just yet, as he faces the expense of paying for his 30-year-old daughter Sophia’s upcoming wedding. The 80-year-old Rocky and Rambo star made the revelation during an appearance on Live with Kelly and Mark.

Host Kelly Ripa asked the actor how much he was prepared to spend on his daughter’s big day.

“Oh my God, I’m almost embarrassed to say this, but I can’t retire. I just can’t,” Stallone replied, prompting laughter in the studio.

He then made it clear that he was not joking.

“I’m serious!” he insisted.

Sophia announced her engagement to her boyfriend, Michael Sheehan, on August 28. She shared photos of his romantic proposal on Instagram, captioning them: “Forever with my best friend.”

Stallone had nothing but praise for his future son-in-law, describing him as a wonderful person. According to the actor, Michael asked for his permission to marry Sophia before proposing to her.

“He actually asked for her hand in marriage,” Stallone said. Ripa joked that the groom-to-be must have been incredibly nervous.

Co-host Mark Consuelos brought up a famous scene from Rocky II, in which Stallone’s character, Rocky Balboa, proposes to Adrian. The actor played along, quoting the film and promising not to leave his hair in the sink.

Stallone also praised his future son-in-law’s confidence in asking for his daughter’s hand.

“I thought, ‘Well, good luck, buddy,’” the actor joked. He recalled that his wife, Jennifer Flavin, was present during the conversation and had to act as the referee.

Sophia is one of three daughters Stallone shares with Flavin, whom he married in 1997. The couple also have 28-year-old Sistine and 24-year-old Scarlet. The actor has two sons from his first marriage to Sasha Czack: 47-year-old Seargeoh and Sage, who died in 2012 at the age of 36.

Flavin has previously said that Sophia resembles her father more than either of her sisters. According to her, the two share a special bond, think alike and even use similar gestures.

“Sophia is the love of his life,” Flavin said in a 2012 interview with Paris Match.