Tony Burton, the actor best remembered for playing the role of Tony "Duke" Evers in the popular boxing franchise "Rocky," has died at the age of 78.

Burton's younger sister Loretta "Peaches" Kelley confirmed that the actor breathed his last on Thursday in California following a long-drawn battle with an illness, according to MLive.com.

Burton, a former boxer himself, was featured alongside Sylvester Stallone in the first six "Rocky" films as Apollo Creed's trainer, according to TheWrap.

Kelley added that Burton was in and out of hospice care over the last year but had not been officially diagnosed. Due to his condition, the actor was even unable to watch 2015's "Creed," which is based on the characters of the "Rocky" film series.

"There's a scene in the restaurant of that movie (Creed) where his picture is on the wall," Kelley said. "We didn't talk about (Rocky) a lot. I mean we were excited, but other people were more excited. Whenever he would come home (to Flint) other people would just come over."

Carl Weathers, who played Apollo, took to Twitter to offer his condolences. "Sad news. RIP Tony Burton. His intensity and talent helped make the Rocky movies successful. #BePeace," he wrote.

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