How Did Rocky Actor Tony Burton Die?

Tony Burton, who played the tough-talking boxing trainer Duke in six of the “Rocky” movies with Sylvester Stallone, died on Thursday in a California hospital, his family said.

In “Rocky IV”, uttering perhaps his most famous line, Burton’s character is pained when he sees Apollo Creed getting outmatched on the canvas by a Russian opponent: “Throw the damn towel!” he screams, stopping the fight.

Actor Tony Burton starred in six Rocky films alongside Sylvester Stallone.

Carl Weathers, who played Apollo in the film, tweeted, ‘Sad news. “His intensity and talent helped make the Rocky movies successful”, Weathers said. He was 78. Kelly shares that her brother passed away in Sun City, Calif., and had been sick for a while, but did not give a cause of death.

– Pound for pound, though, the best Duke scene comes in “II”, when he’s trying to talk Apollo out of a rematch with Rocky. Still, Burton had the added experience of being a real life fighter back in the day, as the Flint, Michigan light heavyweight Golden Gloves victor wasn’t a pro champion but got to play the trainer of one.

In addition to his wife of 36 years, he is survived by his son, Jomo and daughters Juanita and Christal.

Burton also appeared in the films “The Shining“, “Stir Crazy“, “The Toy” and “Assault on Precinct 13”, as well as the TV series “The A-Team”, “NYPD Blue“, “Kojak” and “Twin Peaks“.

Anthony M. Burton was born in Flint, Mich., on March 23, 1937. In fact, his deteriorating health restricted him from attending last year’s screening of Ryan Coogler’s Rocky spinoff, Creed. The inductee of the Greater Flint Afro-American Hall of Fame also was once a professional boxer. I mean we were excited, but other people were more excited.