Tommy Morrison was an American actor and professional boxer, best known for his role as Tommy ‘Machine’ Gunn in Rocky V, as well as for holding the WBO heavyweight title in 1993.
Personal and Family Life
Born on January 2, 1969, in Gravette, Arkansas, Tommy was the son of Tim and Diana Morrison. He had two marriages, first to Dawn Freeman from 1996 to 2000, and then to Dawn Gilbert from 2001 to 2007, which ended in divorce. Tommy had one child from his second marriage.
Career Highlights
Initially, Tommy wanted to become an actor but ultimately pursued boxing at his mother’s urging. He had an impressive amateur boxing career with a record of 222 wins out of 242 matches and became a professional boxer after being inspired by the movie Rocky. Tommy earned national attention in 1996 when he announced he was HIV positive, leading to his retirement from boxing.
Death and Legacy
Tommy Morrison passed away on September 1, 2013, due to cardiac arrest caused by multiple organ failures. He left behind a legacy as a notable heavyweight champion and remains remembered for his contributions to both boxing and film.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Rocky V | 1990-11-16 | Tommy ‘Machine’ Gunn |
| They Live | 1988-11-04 | Dave – Resistance Fighter (uncredited) |
| The Opponents | 2006-12-05 | Self / Tommy Gunn |
| Tommy “The Duke” Morrison | 1990-07-01 | Self |
| Lennox Lewis vs. Tommy Morrison | 1995-10-07 | Self |
| Tommy | 2017-09-27 | Self |
| WWE Raw | 1993-01-11 | Tommy Morrison |
| 30 for 30 | 2009-10-06 | Self |