Mary Anne Creed is one of the least featured characters in the “Rocky” series. The role was originally played by Lavelle Roby in “Rocky” (1976). The uncredited actress appears alongside Carl Weathers in only a single scene – when Rocky watches Apollo speaking (“Be a doctor, be a lawyer”) on television in the Lucky Seven bar. Mrs. Creed is not seen again in the film and does not even attend Apollo’s match against Rocky. Mary Anne had a more noticeable appearance in “Rocky II” (1979) when she was at least given a few words to speak by actress Sylvia Meals in the only scene in which it is referenced that Apollo has children and we see his young son and daughter run past Mary Anne in their home.
Meals reprised her character in “Rocky IV” (1985) and enjoyed a slightly beefier role, especially when facing the opposing wife, Ludmilla Drago ringside at Apollo’s fatal exposition bout with Ivan Drago.
Sylvia Meals’ film credits are very sparse, and according to our research, Ms. Meals may have passed away in 2011 which answers the question many fans have posed about why she was not considered for the “Creed” film. Interestingly, one of Meals’ only other appearances on screen was her guest spot on “The Cosby Mysteries” (1995) television series alongside Bill Cosby. Ironic since Cosby’s on-screen wife Rashad will now be picking up the reigns of Meals’ character in Rocky!