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It’s been nearly 50 years since Rocky stepped into the ring.
The classic sports film punched its way into theaters on Dec. 3, 1976, and in the years since, the story of the underdog boxer Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) has continued to inspire.
Rocky was a knockout with audiences and critics, becoming one of the most successful movies of 1976 and winning three Oscars, including Best Picture.
Stallone not only starred as “The Italian Stallion” in the movie, but he also wrote it. “Nobody wanted to make it. It was my best writing too,” he said during a September 2023 appearance at the Toronto Film Festival, per The Hollywood Reporter.
The original Rocky spawned multiple sequels, including five more Rocky movies and a Creed trilogy.
In honor of the 1976 movie premiering in theaters 49 years ago, here’s a ringside retrospective of the cast from Rocky, and their last appearance in the franchise.
Sylvester Stallone
United Artists/Courtesy of Getty; Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Stallone starred as Rocky Balboa in the original Rocky and the five sequels.
After 1990’s Rocky V, Stallone reprised the role in 2006’s Rocky Balboa, and again in 2015’s Creed.
His return to the boxing gym in Creed earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He also won at the Golden Globes for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture.
Backstage at the latter event, he spoke about how his Rocky character “will not live on forever.”
“He represents what life is all about,” the actor continued, per Deadline. “It’s a cycle, and the greatest men have died. Really important men — doctors, Galileo. As it’s said in Creed, ‘Life is undefeated. Your time passes.’ ”
Stallone returned to play the character again in 2018’s Creed II.
Outside of the Rocky franchise, he is most known for his roles in action films including The Expendables, Demolition Man, Cliffhanger and Cop Land.
Since 2022, Stallone has been starring as Dwight “The General” Manfredi on Tulsa King. The third season of the hit Paramount+ original series ended in November 2025, and the fourth season is already in production.
Talia Shire
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Talia Shire played Rocky’s love interest, Adrian Pennino, starting in Rocky and through Rocky V.
Shire has continued to be a working actress in the years since her Rocky days. Recently, she appeared in 2024’s Megalopolis — directed by her brother, Francis Ford Coppola — and the 2025 Netflix original movie, Nonnas.
Shire’s work in Rocky still resonates with audiences today. In a May 2025 New York Times interview, the actress quipped, “My grandson saw Rocky. He became very into that movie. And then he was nicer to me, too, after that.”
Carl Weathers
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Carl Weathers portrayed the undefeated boxing champion Apollo Creed in Rocky. He later reprised the role in Rocky II, Rocky III and Rocky IV.
Two years after the fourth Rocky movie, Weathers starred in another action classic: Predator with Arnold Schwarzenegger.
In the following years, Weathers appeared in TV series such as In the Heat of the Night, Arrested Development and Chicago Justice. He was also in the first three seasons of The Mandalorian on Disney+.
Weathers died at age 76 on Feb. 1, 2024.
“Carl was an exceptional human being who lived an extraordinary life,” his family said in a statement, according to Deadline and Variety. “Through his contributions to film, television, the arts and sports, he has left an indelible mark and is recognized worldwide and across generations. He was a beloved brother, father, grandfather, partner and friend.”
Burt Young
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Burt Young played Paulie Pennino, Rocky’s brother-in-law, a role that earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
In 2009, the actor told The Sweet Science how he was the only cast member who didn’t have to audition for Rocky.
“I was on the MGM lot when Sly Stallone came over and introduced himself to me, told me he wrote Rocky and said, ‘You gotta do it,’ ” Young recalled. “I wanted to do it right away, but wanted to twist their arms a little bit, not look too eager.”
Young reprised the character in the next five Rocky movies. His final appearance as Paulie was in 2006’s Rocky Balboa.
Outside of the franchise, he continued to act, appearing in TV series such as Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Russian Doll and more.
Young died at age 83 on Oct. 8, 2023.
Afterward, Stallone posted a tribute to his former costar on Instagram, sharing a picture of them from the movie, with the caption, “To my Dear Friend, BURT YOUNG, you were an incredible man and artist, I and the World will miss you very much…RIP.”
Burgess Meredith
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Burgess Meredith portrayed Mickey Goldmill, Rocky’s gruff trainer in Rocky.
He was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role, and returned to play Mickey again in Rocky II and Rocky III. He also appeared in flashbacks in Rocky V and Rocky Balboa.
His final screen appearance was in the Grumpy Old Men sequel Grumpier Old Men, which was released in 1995.
According to The New York Times, Meredith died at age 89 on Sept. 9, 1997, in Malibu, Calif.
