Jeffrey Mayer/WireImageTony Burton, the former boxer best known for playing Apollo Creed's trainer "Duke" in the Rocky franchise, has died. He was 78.
Burton, also a former football player, appeared in the first six Rocky movies alongside Sylvester Stallone and Carl Weathers. Weathers responded to the news, which was confirmed by Burton's younger sister Loretta Kelley, late Thursday with a heartfelt tweet. "@E_Woodyard @TheSlyStallone Sad news. RIP Tony Burton. His intensity and talent helped make the Rocky movies successful. #BePeace," he posted.
Kelley told MLive.com that her brother had been in and out of the hospital over the past year but never received an official diagnosis. Because of his poor health condition, Kelly revealed that Burton wasn't able to see Creed, which centered on Rocky Balboa's rival's son.
"There's a scene in the restaurant of that movie [Creed] where his picture is on the wall," Kelley told the Michigan publication. "We didn't talk about [Rocky] a lot. I mean we were excited, but other people were more excited. Whenever he would come home [to Michigan] other people would just come over."
Burton graduated from Flint Northern High School in 1955, becoming an all-star football and baseball player. He went on to appear in a couple of films in addition to the Rocky movies, including The Shining, Stir Crazy, Assault on Precinct 13 and The Toy.
He had been living in California with his wife, Rae, before passing away. His son Martin died of a heart attack at the age of 43 in May 2014.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Burton and his family.