[82][83][84], The 2016 film Chuck depicts Chuck Wepner and his 1975 title fight with the heavyweight champion, Muhammad Ali, and the fight's influence on the screenplay for Rocky. He is also known as "Knight of Darkness", "Masked Crusader" and "World's Greatest Detective". Whether it's naming a pet rock after a famous singer, actor, director, TV character, author, or magazine - using pop culture references that are slightly altered (or even used directly!) If the classic Rocky films are anything to go by, baby boy Rocky will refuse to rest until their job is done. Bilbo Baggins ( The Hobbitt; The Lord of the Rings) Frodo Baggins ( The Lord of the Rings) Harry Bailly ( The Canterbury Tales) David Balfour ( Kidnapped) Mr. Barkis ( David Copperfield) Jake Barnes ( The Sun Also Rises) Lily Bart ( The House of Mirth) Yevgeny Bazarov ( Fathers and Sons) Adam Bede ( Adam Bede) 23. An episode of ESPN's program, Then and Now, airs featuring a computer-simulated fight between Rocky (in his prime) and the current champion, Mason "The Line" Dixon (Antonio Tarver). [27], The poster seen above the ring before Rocky fights Apollo Creed shows Rocky wearing red shorts with a white stripe when he actually wears white shorts with a red stripe. Vincent Canby, of The New York Times, called it "pure '30s make believe" and dismissed both Stallone's acting and Avildsen's directing, calling the latter "none too decisive". Seeing the opportunity, Rocky goes to Tommy's body, then lands perfect headshots and finishes with a right uppercut sending Tommy to the grill of a bus, defeating his former protg. Tommy slowly becomes an excellent fighter, but suffers from constantly being put in Rocky's shadow; he is nicknamed "Rocky's Robot" by the media. Create. Few characters have such unshakable confidence. Rocky is a 1976 American sports drama film directed by John G. Avildsen and written by and starring Sylvester Stallone. Stallone said the plot of the movie would be about Rocky befriending a young fighter who is an undocumented immigrant. You might even find some notable video game characters whose name is Rose below as well. Rocky and Mugsy are a pair of gangsters who appear in the shorts. Duke threatens to sue Rocky if he touches him and becomes infuriated at Tommy. But he has deep emotion and spirituality and good patriotism. [81], A musical was written by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens (lyrics and music), with the book by Thomas Meehan, based on the film. Popularity: 1713. Polski. He is acknowledged as having the most devastating body attack in the sport, with his body blows causing internal bleeding in Creed and breaking Drago's ribs. Rocky Marciano is certainly one of the most famous Rockys on this list. Willy Wonka, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Rocky is last seen walking away from the grave and waving goodbye one last time. They expressed interest in turning it into a made-for-television movie and actually bought the script but insisted that someone else re-write it. [17], Although Chartoff and Winkler were enthusiastic about the script and the idea of Stallone playing the lead character, they were hesitant about having an unknown headline the film. Rocky decides to watch Donnie and Viktor's match, where he watches Viktor pummel Donnie repeatedly. At first, Rocky seems to be unaffected by Creed's smear campaign, but his inexperience with money causes him to run into financial troubles. The character is widely considered to be Stallone's most iconic role and is often considered the role that started his film career. On July 23, 2019, in an interview with Variety, Stallone said that a Rocky direct sequel and prequel are in development. Fight Commentator (uncredited) Arthur Tovey. Robert "Rocky" Balboa (also known by his ring name The Italian Stallion, played by Sylvester Stallone), is the title character and main protagonist of the Rocky film series. City Commerce Director Dick Doran claimed that Stallone and Rocky had done more for the city's image than "anyone since Ben Franklin". After Talia Shire's ensuing audition, Chartoff and Winkler, and director John Avildsen,[3] insisted that she play the part. [8] Premiere magazine ranked Rocky Balboa No. Joe line. The in-game names are also a key part of the . Rocky is then caught by a series of punches by Tommy, just as Adrian joins the crowd, but manages to parry Tommy and begins to walk him down with his devastating shots. Rocky later travels to Vancouver where he reunites with Robert and meets his grandson Logan for the first time. 15 character names with hidden meaningsSubscribe: http://bit.ly/Subscribe-to-ScreenrantWe all know movies have a ton of different Easter Eggs, hidden meaning. To all this, I injected doses of my own personal life, of my frustration at not getting anywhere. The reason for a silly, "weak . He's involved in a war of the . Rocky initially declines and retires from boxing, having surgery for retinal detachment, a condition that could lead to permanent blindness. Fighting with a style very reminiscent of Creed's own boxing technique mixed with his own style, Rocky wins the rematch against Lang by K.O., dodging and absorbing Lang's best blows and still standing, regaining his world heavyweight title. Answer (1 of 2): That was Marlon Brando in A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)! 36 on Empire Magazine's compilation of The 100 Greatest Movie Characters. [15], Both Stallone and Weathers suffered injuries during the shooting of the final fight; Stallone suffered bruised ribs and Weathers suffered a damaged nose, the opposite injuries of what their characters had. Just as Robert joins the crowd, Rocky breaks free from Tommy's grip and performs a reversal that sends Tommy spiraling into a pile of trash cans. All Loving Hero A character that loves everyone and will suffer for the sins of their loved ones.. Anti-Hero A hero that is driven by pursuit for power, sex, money, control, or particular vices and because of this, they are often selfish, anti-social . Getty. He is a former WBC Silver featherweight champion and a multiple-time world title challenger. With his back against a gate, Rocky dodges several hooks from Tommy and manages to push him towards the gate, shoving him with brute force and a powerful left hook knocking Tommy down again. After Donnie grew up, he worked as a securities firm at the Smith Boardley Financial Group, but eventually resigned to be a boxer and moved to Philadelphia. When tested for brain damage in Rocky V, Rocky was suffering the effects of a severe concussion as a result of the Drago fight, but he never sought a second or more informed opinion because he intended to retire anyway.[2]. Creed demands a rematch with Rocky, stating that he would fight him 'anywhere, anyplace, anytime' to prove to the world that Rocky's feat was merely a fluke. [11], At the time, Film Artists Management Enterprises (FAME), a joint venture between Hollywood talent agents Craig T. Rumar and Larry Kubik, represented Stallone. Rocky reopens Mickey's Gym as a means of income, while Adrian returns to work at the J&M Tropical Fish pet shop, where she was employed during the time she first met Rocky. The fictional characters named Rose below come from every kind of genre and medium, as this list includes movie characters named Rose, TV characters named Rose, and book characters named Rose. Since Rocky and his family have been declared bankrupt, Rocky clenches his fist and uppercuts Duke to the gut which lifts him off the ground, sending him to the hood of his own limousine, telling him "Sue me for what?". He runs a small but rather successful restaurant called 'Adrian's', named after his wife who died of ovarian cancer four years prior. When Adrian is out of the coma, she promises her full support to Rocky. Meet Chuck Wepner, "The Real Rocky." Slaughter and began negotiations with Stallone's representation. Rocky was acknowledged as the second-best film in the sports genre, after Raging Bull. Rocky and Bullwinkle. Alexander: It means the one who defends men, and the name has been made more popular by the nobles. The franchise debuted in 1976 with the simply named Rocky, and the world met the Philadelphia fighter with a signature heart of gold and undying tenacity.At first, he's a down-on-his-luck legbreaker for a local . The beauty of Rocky is that it can be a charming name for smaller breeds with big personalities too! How many celebrities named Rocky can you think of? You understand? Top 10 Movie and TV Characters Named Jack VOICE OVER: Rebecca Brayton Script Written by David MacIntyre. Adrian's brother and Rocky's best friend, Paulie, helps Rocky get a date with his sister and offers to work as a corner man with him for the fight. Rocky struggles to find employment with decent pay, when he is fired from a commercial studio, turned down for an office job and even laid off at the Shamrock meat packing facility. 24. Oscar Voters Today Would Make 'Brokeback Mountain' Best Picture Over 'Crash', "Sylvester Stallone Reveals 'Rocky' Sequel and Prequel Are in Development", "E! After the match, Rocky and Creed meet again in Mickey's Gym, with Creed taking his "payment" for his training services: one last rematch, just the two of them, no spectators. He was a nine-time all-star and he was known for hitting an impressive number of home runs. After a brief exchange of punches, Dixon catches Rocky with a strong blow, knocking down Rocky for the third time. Rocky was an all-or-nothing brawler coming into his first bout with Creed; however, under the training of Mickey, he began to develop his boxing skills which he eventually mastered. Search. With all other potential replacements booked up or otherwise unavailable, Creed decides to spice things up by giving a local contender a chance to challenge him. After repeated negotiations with Rumar and Kubik, Winkler-Chartoff agreed to a contract for Stallone to be the writer and also star in the lead role for Rocky. The two exchange punches, but Rocky gets the final blow before the bell rings. From: The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends. [75] In 1982, a statue of Rocky, commissioned by Stallone for RockyIII, was placed at the top of the Rocky Steps. 24. In 1975, the heavyweight boxing world champion, Apollo Creed, announces plans to hold a title bout in Philadelphia during the upcoming United States Bicentennial. When Adonis's wife, Bianca, gave birth to a daughter, Rocky was named her godfather. Rocky also has an uncanny ability to sense weakness in his opponents, often capitalizing on every shift in momentum possible. He confesses to Adrian that he does not believe he can win, but strives to go the distance against Creed, which no other fighter has done, to prove himself to everyone. Frank Stallone's song "Take You Back" is also on the soundtrack, and he also sings the song in the movie with other friends around a trash can fire. Later on, Rocky drops by Adrian's and finds Ivan Drago waiting for him there. If your favorite fictional squirrel is missing, don't be salty- just add it to the list so that other people can vote for for it too! In the first round, Rocky knocks Creed down, the first time he had ever been knocked down in his career and Creed responds by breaking Rocky's nose, the first time in his career. Along with Jack and Trinity, other movie character names in the US Top 1000 include Buddy, Clementine, Fletcher, Josie, Maximus, Regina, Rosemary, and Sullivan. The "Bayonne Bleeder" fought Muhammad Ali, inspired underdogs everywhere and launched the most famous sports film franchise ever. Even though the client, Bob, does not have all the money, Rocky does not break his thumbs, despite Gazzo ordering him to do so. 3. However, the champion soon realizes that Rocky will not back down and that the elderly Rocky "has bricks in his gloves". Eventually, Rocky learns he's been diagnosed with cancer and turns down treatment, seeing it as a chance to be reunited with his loved ones, although Adonis convinces him to keep fighting and decides to take treatment, saving him. Of course your favorite cartoon squirrels are included, but this list doesn't only feature animated characters that can talk. [21], Principal photography for Rocky began on January9, 1976. "That would be the perfect name for the main character," Colmenar thought, and the rest was history. With Evers assuming the role as his new trainer, Rocky trains hard using old-school methods within the mountainous terrain of Krasnoyarsk, Siberia, while Drago trains with state-of-the-art equipment and steroid enhancement. [citation needed], Philadelphia based boxer Joe Frazier has a cameo appearance in the film. Rocky was released in 1987 for the Master System. Why this character name matters: This name is extremely fitting to the type of character Hiccup is. Rocky is the 881 ranked male name by popularity. Lang, who has trained with ruthless vigor, recovers and easily knocks out Rocky in the second round, causing Rocky to lose his title. Rocky responds to this with an impassioned speech of his own and the committee change their minds to renew his license. Can you name these famous people and characters named Rock or Rocky? Rocky visits Adrian's graveside regularly and each year, on the anniversary of her death, takes a tour of the old places, where their relationship began and blossomed: the now-closed J&M Tropical Fish pet shop where Adrian worked, the former site of the ice skating rink where they had their first date and Rocky's old apartment, where they fell in love. Rocky Ty Cherry (born August 19, 1979 in Dallas, Texas) is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Chicago Cubs and Baltimore Orioles. Principal photography began in January 1976, with filming primarily held in Philadelphia; several locations featured in the film, such as the Rocky Steps, are now considered cultural landmarks. [23] Inventor Garrett Brown's new Steadicam was used to accomplish smooth photography while running alongside Rocky during the film's Philadelphia street training sequences and the run up the Art Museum's flight of stairs, now colloquially known as the Rocky Steps. You can't help but respect the White Wolf. [16] The trade paperback edition of the series, published in July 1987, omitted the page featuring Balboa altogether. One of the famous boxers named Rocky, he held the world heavyweight title . Portrayed by Jack Kelly; also starring James . Character name example: Hiccup. [45] With its production budget of just under $1million, Rocky is notable for its worldwide percentage return of over 11,000 percent. As Adrian and Robert tend to him, Rocky tells Adrian that she was right. Rocky's son, Robert Jr., is now working as a struggling mid-level corporate employee and has been farther apart from his family over the years, but reluctantly joins Rocky to commemorate the anniversaries of his mother's death. [10], In 2011, Sylvester Stallone was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame for his work on the Rocky Balboa character, having "entertained and inspired boxing fans from around the world". Rocky is no longer depressed and broke, and is doing far better than he was in years prior. The day after this debate, father and son meet over Adrian's grave and reconcile, which is when Robert announces that he has resigned from his job to be at ringside. Stallone also said there are "ongoing discussions" about a Rocky prequel television series, which he hopes will land on a streaming service and the series will likely follow a young Rocky Balboa as professional boxing hopeful. I guess that comes when you're graced with the unique name . It also stars Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, and Burgess Meredith. Portrayed by Katherine McNamara; also starring Matt Barr. 9 on their list of "The Top 10 Worst Pictures to Win Best Picture Oscar". During the match, Rocky stands in Donnie's corner along with Bianca. On Rotten Tomatoes the film has an approval rating of 91% based on 70 reviews, with an average rating of 8.30/10. . Rocky is a tough, powerful moniker, sparking thoughts of the retired heavyweight boxer Rocky Balboa. "WWE is saddened to learn that Rocky 'Soul Man' Johnsonhas passed away . When you think about how many characters have the name, you can't really say you don't know Jack. The famous Debbies below have many different professions, including notable actresses named Deborah, famous writers named Debbie, and even musicians named Debbie. Active for more than six decades, Meredith has been called "a virtuosic actor "who was "one of the most accomplished . Likewise, the red gloves worn by Stallone in Rocky II (1979), his white Nike boxing shoes, and striped boxing trunks from Rocky III (1981) are archived at the Museum. [85], Stallone later hand-picked Johnson to direct and produce a documentary on the making of the original Rocky, entitled 40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic, which was released in 2020. Rocky Fielding, British former professional boxer. As Donnie moves on in training, the effects of treatment begin to weaken Rocky, and because of this, Donnie acts as a caregiver to Rocky while helping him get up and go to the restroom, and uses the medical facility to his advantage; shadowboxing in the corridors and running up the stairs, passing doctors and nurses. Dot (101 Dalmatians); Dalmatian. The famous Rockys below have many different professions, including notable actors named Rocky, famous athletes named Rocky, and even musicians named Rocky. However, in 1981, Rocky is challenged by a young power-hungry fighter named James "Clubber" Lang (Mr. T), who has risen to the top of the rankings. Jergens announces over the loudspeaker that the fight was "the greatest exhibition of guts and stamina in the history of the ring", and Rocky calls out repeatedly for Adrian, who runs down and comes into the ring. Upon hearing the news, Stallone begged Winkler not to let ABC change writers, so Winkler went back to the executives and offered to return the money in exchange for the rights. Dark Archer or Merlyn the Magician and Rev ) was helping Hi-Q find way. They are considered the most important person in history born with the first name of Rocky. Rocky and its theme song have become a pop-cultural phenomenon and an important part of 1970s American popular culture spawning a franchise. 1976 American sports drama by John G. Avildsen, This article is about the 1976 film. Hasbro intended to license Rocky and make him a member of the G.I. Rocky walks home, frustrated how nothing is going right in his life. 5) Daniel Plainview: There Will Be Blood. Oliver Burgess Meredith (November 16, 1907 - September 9, 1997),known professionally as Burgess Meredith, appeared as irascible, gruff Jewish boxing trainer Mickey Goldmill in the first three Rocky films. Voices: Dallas McKennon, Bill Thompson, Alan Young, David Tennant, various others. After Donnie's win, the media heavily publicized the story of Apollo's infidelity, which catches the eye of Tommy Holiday (Graham McTavish), who is looking for the final person to fight his trainee, light-heavyweight champion "Pretty" Ricky Conlan (Tony Bellew). [38] When it was released nationally, it grossed $5million during its first wide weekend and consistently performed well for eight months[42] and eventually reached $117million at the North American box office. In 1959, he hit four, Rocco Francis Marchegiano (September 1, 1923 August 31, 1969), best known as Rocky Marciano (), was an American professional boxer who competed from 1947 to 1955, and held the world heavyweight. Before the final round, Rocky grows concerned about the injuries that Donnie has sustained and tells him he's stopping the fight. As Jergens declares Creed the winner by virtue of a split decision, Rocky and Adrian embrace and profess their love for each other, not caring about the outcome of the fight. After the match, Adrian climbs into the ring and embraces Rocky saying, "I love you!". Rocky, clearly shaken, politely tells Drago to leave. Wepner was knocked out in the 15th and final round, almost lasting the distance. Pictured here is his very first appearance in the . Rocky clearly doesn't mind about the outcome, as he only wanted to go the distance with Creed. After they reconcile, Rocky meets Robert and they finally pick up the pieces. Let's use the example of names from How to Train Your Dragon, the animated film. For the film franchise, see, However, despite Rocky's Italian ethnicity, the surname Balboa (, Rocco Francis "Rocky Marciano" Marchegiano, National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actor, Roberto 'Manos de Piedra (Hands of Stone)' Durn, absorb a multitude of the hardest hits without falling, Galician-speaking town in northwestern Spain, "Golden Globes: Sylvester Stallone wins by a knockout", "Round One With Sylvester Stallone Q&A!! However, he is informed five weeks from the fight date that his scheduled opponent is unable to compete due to an injured hand. In addition, his statue has been re-installed at the Philadelphia Museum of Art at the very bottom of the steps. Rocky refuses to support Donnie, noting that Viktor was raised in hate and has nothing to lose, and that makes him dangerous. This encouraged him to take up boxing. We had witnessed an incredible triumph of the human spirit and we loved it. Boxer In Gym (uncredited) Lavelle Roby. Creed was told that no other contender was available for a fight on New Years Day. 99 Archetypes and Stock Characters. With the help of Paulie and reunited long-time acquaintance Marie, Rocky begins to move on with his life and in the process restores his relationship with his only child, Robert. Penny (101 Dalmatians); Dalmatian. Additionally, two "Best Of" series were released, as well as several collector's box sets, boxing ring playsets, and limited edition exclusive figures. [18] Norton, upon whom Creed was loosely based, fought Muhammad Ali three times. Drago threatens him by saying his son, Viktor (Florian Munteanu), has trained all his life and will "break" Donnie, issuing a fight challenge to Donnie earlier that morning. [a] When Rocky is spoken to by his Italian priest, Father Carmine, it is apparent that Rocky understands Italian very well or fluently, including in a scene in which he translates Italian into English for Tommy Gunn. "[33], The main theme song, "Gonna Fly Now", made it to number one on Billboard magazine's Hot 100 list for one week (from July2 to July8, 1977) and the American Film Institute placed it 58th on its AFI's 100 Years100 Songs.