Carl Weathers, the US actor who played boxer Apollo Creed in the "Rocky" franchise, going toe-to-toe with Sylvester Stallone in some of cinema's most memorable -- and bloody -- boxing moments, has died, his family said Friday.

Veteran character actor Burt Young, best known and Oscar-nominated for his role as the brother-in-law and meat-cutting friend to Sylvester Stallone's prize-fighting protagonist in the "Rocky" films has died at age 83, his manager said on Wednesday.

John Avildsen, the Oscar-winning director who made Hollywood's quintessential underdog story in 1976 boxing saga "Rocky" dies at age 81.