As confirmed by his younger sister and former co-star Carl Weathers, actor Tony Burton passed away this evening at his home in California. He was 78-years-old. His cause of death is currently unknown, with reports stating that Burton had been in and out of the hospital for the last year without an official diagnosis for his medical condition. The former football player and boxer will truly be missed.
Fittingly, Burton is most known for playing Duke in Rocky (1976), Rocky II (1979), Rocky III (1982), Rocky IV (1985), Rocky V (1990) and Rocky Balboa (2006). And, he also played supporting roles in two cult classic horror movies – Wells in John Carpenter’s Assault on Precinct 13 (1976) and Larry Durkin in Stephen King’s The Shining.
He also held cameo roles in Cyber-Tracker II (1995), Exorcism (2003) and Hack! (2007).
All of us here at HorrorSociety.com send our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and fans.
R.I.P. Tony Burton
March 23, 1937 – February 25, 2016