One such character was Paulie - who, despite his prominent role in previous movies, was unceremoniously killed off-screen. In Creed, Rocky is seen visiting Paulie's grave and leaving a bottle of his lifelong friend's favorite alcoholic beverage on his headstone.
In 2006's “Rocky Balboa,” Paulie is back where he started, working at the meat-packing plant, but he's laid off and loses his skepticism about Rocky's return to the ring and serves as his cornerman. Young did not appear in 2015's “Creed,” as Paulie is said to have died in 2012.
Paulie wants Rocky to help him out by getting him a job with Gazzo, the loan shark, but Rocky always changes the subject. Rocky never says exactly why, but it's probably because of Paulie's violent nature—he knows it would get Paulie into trouble.
Milo Ventimiglia as Rocky Balboa Jr.: Rocky's estranged son, who moved to Vancouver in the period between Rocky Balboa (2006) and Creed and is now a father himself.
Rocky tries to retire again, and the audience sees how Paulie becomes increasingly jealous that Rocky has money and fame now. Instead of asking Rocky for a job like one usually would, he tries to challenge Rocky to a fight and tear him apart verbally while drunk.
Rocky VII (2025) - Teaser Trailer | Sylvester Stallone, Jack O’Connell
Did Paulie lose all of Rocky's money?
Paulie gave a lawyer Power of Attorney, and after promising to invest the Balboa's money in surefire real estate investments with an unscrupulous accountant, along with failing to pay the taxes and mortgage on Rocky's house efor several years, ended up leaving Rocky and Adrian with very little.
Mickey's Death Makes Adrian More Important To The Rocky Franchise. With Mickey's death, the torch can be passed to other important people in Rocky's life who can offer him guidance, like Adrian.
Sage had several movie roles as a child actor, making his screen debut as Rocky Jr. in his father's boxing sequel Rocky V. In the recent Netflix documentary Sly, director John Herzfeld explains that Stallone cast his own son in the movie to help him get started in acting.
Summary. Creed 4 is unlikely to feature Stallone due to the direction the franchise is heading. Rocky's absence in Creed III indicates the franchise's shift beyond Stallone's involvement. Stallone's return to the Rocky franchise could revitalize his career and appeal to newer audiences.
Shortly after, Paulie passes away and Rocky's relationship with his son becomes strained due to Robert distancing himself from any contact with him, leaving him alone again. A few years later, he meets Adonis Creed, the illegitimate son of his old friend, Apollo Creed, who asks him to come train him.
However, upon returning home to Rocky's mansion, Paulie and Adrian have a heated argument over a dramatic life-changing situation. It is revealed that Paulie had unknowingly signed a power of attorney over to Rocky's accountant, who squandered the family's entire investment on real estate deals gone sour.
Paulie is not only Adrian's brother, but he is also the person who introduced her to Rocky and encouraged their romance. Therefore, Paulie is responsible for creating the union between his biological family and his brother-like friend.
Between the third and fourth seasons, Paulie is arrested in Youngstown, Ohio on a gun possession charge and incarcerated at the Northeast Ohio Correctional Center.
Adrian's death improved the original story of Rocky Balboa by providing a richer and more heart-wrenching narrative centered around grief and purpose. Adrian's absence allowed for the exploration of Rocky's relationship with his son, creating one of the best aspects of the movie and a fitting end for the character.
After Tony is gone, Paulie decides to retire to Florida and hangs out with Beansie Gaeta, another former member of the Aprille crew. Paulie remains in Florida and still has one of the greatest tans, something that was important to him even when he lived in New Jersey.
Announced to be in development in November 2023 (a mere eight months after the release of Creed III), Creed 4 will seemingly see the Rocky/Creed franchise return to the big screen for a 10th movie (per Variety).
In the third film, released in 1982, Creed has Rocky in his corner when he takes on James “Clubber” Lang (Mr. T), and he's killed by Soviet boxer Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren) in Rocky IV (1985).
Stallone opened up about his absence, explaining that Creed III took a different direction than he would've taken it. "It's a different philosophy... I like my heroes beat up, but I just don't want them going into that dark place. I just feel people have enough darkness."
Does sly Stallone have a relationship with his son?
Sylvester Stallone was left heartbroken in 2012 when his son Sage died at the age of 36. Now, in a new Netflix documentary about the iconic actor, Sylvester – known as Sly – has opened up on his relationship with his late son, admitting that he often put work over his family.
Seargeoh Stallone was an American actor, he was the brother of Sage Stallone and the son of Sylvester Stallone. He appears in the 1979 film, Rocky II as a baby. It was his only role in the Rocky saga. Aged three years old, he was diagnosed with autism.
On July 13, 2012, Sage died unexpectedly, with reports later confirming that he died of heart disease. "Sage was a very talented and wonderful young man; his loss will be felt forever," a representative for Stallone said at the time.
The character's fondness for alcohol, combined with his advancing age, would likely have contributed largely to his death. Paulie's death hasn't been outwardly addressed by Stallone or Ryan Coogler, who wrote and directed Creed, but it seems that Paulie didn't fit with the spin-off's revised tone.
In Rocky III however, his headstone lists his date of birth as 1905, making him 71 in the original film. Furthermore, the headstone lists his date of death as 1981, which implies that he was 76; the same age he was four years previously (in the original film).
