‘Rocky’: Duke Evers, Tony Gazzo & More Bit Players We Still Love

Rocky: 50th Anniversary

Special Issue

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Rocky may have been all about Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), but every role is important in the franchise, including these bit roles worth watching.

Duke Evers

Prior to Rocky, Tony Burton didn’t have many acting credits to his name, but what he did have was over a year spent as a professional boxer, finishing with a 10–3–1 record. Fittingly, his character, Duke, first appears in Rocky as Apollo’s (Carl Weathers) trainer. While Apollo overlooks Rocky, Duke recognizes early on that he presents a legitimate challenge. In Rocky II, Apollo takes Duke’s training more seriously but still deviates from his trainer’s plan in the rematch with Rocky, pushing for a knockout in the final round but getting himself knocked out instead. Duke and Apollo team up with Rocky in Rocky III, helping him emerge victorious in his rematch against Clubber Lang, and in Rocky IV, Duke again corners for Apollo against Ivan Drago. After Apollo’s tragic death, he becomes Rocky’s main trainer, guiding him to victory over Drago. The character returns in Rocky Balboa, Duke’s final appearance on screen, again serving as Rocky’s trainer and cornerman for his exhibition bout against Mason “The Line” Dixon. —Scott Logan

Tony Gazzo

United Artists / Everett Collection

Struggling to make ends meet, Rocky has a seedy job at the beginning of the first film: working as an enforcer for loan shark Tony Gazzo (Joe Spinell). Gazzo hires Rocky as a “muscle man” to collect debts around the docks, but the boxer’s heart clearly isn’t in it. After all, Rocky won’t even break the thumbs of a guy who owes Gazzo money. Still, Rocky’s work for Gazzo bothers Mick (Burgess Meredith) and leads to his losing his locker at the gym, because Mick can see Rocky’s talents are being wasted. Later, when Rocky has no place to train and is strapped for cash, Gazzo gives him $500 for expenses before his fight with Creed (maybe he’s not such a bad guy after all). Gazzo is last seen on screen in Rocky II, unsuccessfully pushing Rocky to invest in real estate (Rocky’s response about never using condominiums is one of the series’ funniest lines). In the 1985 Rocky IV novelization, written by Stallone, Gazzo is said to have been killed by a gangster after Rocky III. —Kylie Byers

Thunderlips

United Artists / Everett Collection

Standing nearly 7 feet tall and weighing 390 pounds, Thunderlips (Hulk Hogan) is the flamboyant wrestling champion known as the “Ultimate Male,” who faces Rocky at the start of the third film. It’s supposed to be an exhibition for charity, but things get out of control, and both fighters end up being heaved out of the ring. Rocky is world champ and a celebrity, and Thunderlips represents what Rocky could become if he lets fame go to his head. Hogan, already a rising star in the World Wrestling Federation when he landed the role, played Thunderlips as an exaggerated version of his own larger-than-life ring persona. Stallone offered him the part after seeing him wrestle Andre the Giant at Shea Stadium in 1980. During filming, the Hulkster didn’t know his own strength. “I have never felt such a mind-numbing pain from a massive hit before or since that day!” Stallone once shared on social media. “When he jumped into the audience to fight with the stuntmen, three of them had to be treated at the hospital.” —Ryan A. Berenz

TV Guide Magazine’s Rocky 50th Anniversary Special Issue is available for order online now at Rocky.TVBooks.com, and for purchase on newsstands nationwide.