Adrian Pennino

Adrianna "Adrian" Balboa (née Pennino) (March 10, 1950 – January 11, 2002) is a fictional character from the Rocky series, played by Talia Shire.

Shire was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Adrian in the first Rocky film. The final scene in the second film, in which Rocky yells Yo Adrian, I Did It!, has been named by film enthusiasts as one of the most iconic quotes in sports-film history.

Casting

Originally, Stallone offered Carrie Snodgress the role of Adrian, but she turned it down due to the low-salary she was offered. Susan Sarandon was considered, but she was turned down because she was deemed too pretty to play the mousy character of Adrian. Talia Shire then auditioned for the role, and was selected.

Biography

She was the shy wife of two-time heavyweight 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.