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Adrianna "Adrian" Balboa
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Adrianna "Adrian" Balboa (née Pennino) (March 10, 1950 - January 11, 2002) is a fictional character from the Rocky series, played by Talia Shire. Biography
She was the shy wife of two-time heavy-weight champion Rocky Balboa, and the younger sister of Paulie Pennino. She started working in a pet shop, where Rocky would visit frequently needing food for his domestic turtles. The two were brought into a relationship by her brother Paulie.They went to an ice rink on Thanksgiving Day where Rocky told her about his fighting career and his style. She asked him why he wanted to fight and he said that his father told him he had no brains and should develop his body. Adrian was surprised, as her mother said that she wasn't much of a body person and should develop her brain. In Rocky II, after his fight with Apollo Creed, Rocky proposed to Adrian and the two were married on February 8, 1976. In March 1976, Adrian found out she was pregnant but she didn't look after herself particularly well - she went back to the pet shop and overworked. This led to her collapsing in the shop, and her baby son being delivered a month prematurely. Adrian went into a coma for a week - on waking, she found Rocky on her bedside and the couple saw their child for the first time. Adrian suggested that the baby should be named after the father; Rocky Balboa Jr.
After Rocky's success, the two spent nine years living in mansions and witnessing Rocky Jr. do well in school, but in Rocky V, Paulie signed a power of attorney and the Balboas lost millions of dollars and their home. They went back to Paulie's old house where Adrian returned to the pet shop. In autumn 2001, Adrian discovered she was dying from ovarian cancer. She died peacefully in her sleep on January 11, 2002 with her family by her side, aged 51.
vteRockyFilms
Rocky (1976)
Rocky II (1979)
Rocky III (1982)
Rocky IV (1985)
Rocky V (1990)
Rocky Balboa (2006)
Creed (2015)
Video games
Rocky Super Action Boxing (1983)
Rocky (1987)
Rocky (2002)
Rocky Legends (2004)
Rocky Balboa (2007)
Characters
Rocky Balboa
Apollo Creed
Ivan Drago
Tony "Duke" Evers
Mickey Goldmill
Clubber Lang
Adrian Pennino
Paulie Pennino
Music
"Burning Heart"
"Eye of the Tiger"
"Gonna Fly Now"
"Heart's on Fire"
"Living in America"
Rocky Balboa: The Best of Rocky
Rocky the Musical (2012)
Rocky IV soundtrack
Rocky V soundtrack
Other
Anderson v. Stallone
Rocky Steps
Best films
Played by the actor
Filmography of Adrianna "Adrian" Balboa (5 films)
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Rocky Balboa (2006)
, 1h42Directed by Sylvester Stallone
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Action
Themes Sports films, Martial arts films, Boxing films, Le boxe anglaise
Actors Sylvester Stallone, Burt Young, Milo Ventimiglia, Geraldine Hughes, Tony Burton, Geraldine Hughes
Rating70%
In 2006, Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) has been retired from boxing for twenty years and lives a quiet life as a widower. His wife Adrian Pennino Balboa (Talia Shire) had died from cancer four years earlier. He runs a small but very successful Italian restaurant named after her, where he regales his patrons with stories of his past. He also battles personal demons involving his grief over Adrian's death, the changing times, and his eroding relationship with his son Robert (Milo Ventimiglia), a struggling corporate employee. Paul "Paulie" Pennino (Burt Young), Rocky's brother-in-law and best friend, continues to keep by his side, but is tired of reliving the past.
Rocky V (1990)
, 1h51Directed by Sylvester Stallone, John G. Avildsen
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Action
Themes Sports films, Martial arts films, Boxing films, Le boxe anglaise
Actors Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Sage Stallone, Richard Gant, Burgess Meredith
Rating54%
Shortly after Rocky Balboa's victory over Ivan Drago in Moscow, he, his wife Adrian, his brother-in-law Paulie, and his trainer Tony "Duke" Evers return to the U.S., where they are greeted by Rocky's son Robert. At a press conference, boxing promoter George Washington Duke attempts to goad Rocky into fighting his boxer Union Cane for the World Heavyweight Championship in Tokyo, but Rocky declines the offer. Upon returning home, it is discovered that Paulie unknowingly had Rocky sign a "power of attorney" over to Rocky's accountant, who had squandered all of his money on real estate deals gone sour; in addition, the accountant had failed to pay Rocky's taxes over the past six years, and the mansion is discovered to be unpaid by $400,000.
Rocky III (1982)
, 1h39Directed by Sylvester Stallone
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Action
Themes Sports films, Martial arts films, Boxing films, Le boxe anglaise
Actors Mr. T, Carl Weathers, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Burgess Meredith, Tony Burton
Rating68%
In the four and a half years since winning the world heavyweight title, Rocky Balboa has had a string of successful title defenses (10) and has seen his fame, wealth and celebrity increase. While unveiling a statue of himself at the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Rocky is publicly challenged by James "Clubber" Lang (Mr. T), a ferocious new boxer rapidly climbing the ranks. Lang accuses Rocky of intentionally accepting challenges from lesser opponents, and after making a sexual remark toward Rocky's wife Adrian (Talia Shire), his challenge is accepted.
Rocky II (1979)
, 1h59Directed by Sylvester Stallone
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Action, Romance
Themes Pregnancy films, Films about sexuality, Sports films, Martial arts films, Boxing films, Le boxe anglaise
Actors Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, Burgess Meredith, Tony Burton, Sylvester Stallone
Rating72%
Following the fight at the end of Rocky, in which Apollo Creed has successfully defended his heavyweight title in a split decision, he and Rocky are taken to the same hospital. Apollo challenges Rocky to a rematch, but Rocky declines and announces his retirement. His girlfriend Adrian supports this choice, as do his doctors, who reveal he will require surgery for a detached retina, which could lead to permanent blindness. After Rocky is discharged from the hospital, he enjoys the benefits of his life's changes: Rocky's new fame attracts an agent who sees Rocky as a potential endorsement and sponsorship goldmine, and his sudden wealth encourages him to propose to Adrian. She happily accepts, and they marry in a small ceremony. Soon after, Rocky and Adrian happily learn that Adrian is pregnant.
Rocky (1976)
, 1h59Directed by John G. Avildsen
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Action, Romance
Themes Sports films, Martial arts films, Boxing films, Le boxe anglaise
Actors Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, Burgess Meredith, Tony Burton
Rating80%
Rocky "The Italian Stallion" Balboa is a hard-living, but failing prize fighter from an Italian neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Between fights, he works as an enforcer for loan shark Anthony Gazzo, and is regarded by many of his neighbors as a bum. The World Heavyweight Champion, Apollo Creed, announces plans to hold a match in Philadelphia during the upcoming United States Bicentennial. However, he is informed five weeks from the fight date, that his scheduled opponent, Mac Lee Green, is unable to compete due to an injured hand. With all other potential replacements booked up or otherwise unavailable, Creed decides to spice things up and give a local contender a chance to face him. He settles on Rocky, believing that he will be an easy challenge.