Rocky' actor Tony Burton dies at 78

Tony Burton, who drew on his career as a prizefighter to play boxing trainer Tony “Duke” Evers in all six Rocky films, died on Thursday aged 78. Sylvester Stallone, who stars in the franchise, led the tributes after relatives announced Burton’s death in a southern California hospital from suspected pneumonia following a long illness.

Burton played the trainer of Apollo Creed, the antagonist of the first two Rocky films, before switching to Rocky’s corner in the subsequent movies.

“Tony Burton who played the character of Duke brilliantly in all six Rocky movies... Rest in peace," Stallone said on Instagram, posting a still from Rocky IV of the pair with Apollo Creed actor Carl Weathers.