Tony Burton
Tony Burton appears in a scene from “Rocky II” with Carl Weathers, right, as Apollo Creed.
“Rocky” actor Tony Burton is dead, according to Michigan’s MLive.com. He was 78.
The Flint, Michigan, native played Apollo Creed’s trainer Duke in six “Rocky” movies, though he ended up in Rocky Balboa’s corner in later films. Burton was also a professional boxer himself, winning the Flint Golden Gloves light heavyweight titles in 1955 and 1957.
“RIP Tony Burton,” actor Carl Weathers, who played Apollo, tweeted Thursday night. “His intensity and talent helped make the Rocky movies successful. #BePeace”
Burton also had roles in “The Shining,” “Stir Crazy” and “House Party 2,” and made appearances on TV shows like “The A-Team,” “Kojak,” “Twin Peaks” and “The Six Million Dollar Man.”
His last role was as Sheriff Stoker in the 2007 comedy-horror film “Hack!” The BBC reports he was next expected to appear in “The Truth About the War in Heaven: Declaration of War,” but production hadn’t yet begun.
