Celebs pay tribute to 'Rocky' director John G. Avildsen

The leading men of the movies helmed by John G. Avildsen, who died on Friday following pancreatic cancer, have been paying tribute to their favourite director.

Hollywood actors Sylvester Stallone and Ralph Macchio, among other celebrities, took to social media and remembered the Oscar-winning director.

Here are some reactions on the social media:

Carl Weathers, who played Apollo Creed in four 'Rocky' movies, took to Twitter and wrote, "Your filmmaking legacy remains. #BeLove."

'The Karate Kid' actor, Ralph Macchio, also paid tribute to the great director and tweeted, "RIP to my friend and KK director John G Avildsen. He brought inspirational stories to us all and had a guiding hand in changing my life."

'Rocky' star Sylvester Stallone took to Instagram and expressed his thoughts by writing, "The great director John G. Avildsen Who won the Oscar for directing Rocky! R. I. P. I'm sure you will soon be directing Hits in Heaven- Thank you , Sly."

"Rest In Peace John Avildsen," wrote Hollywood actor Joe Manganiello.

Avildsen's son, Anthony, told the Los Angeles Times that he died of pancreatic cancer at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

A native of Oak Park, Ill., Avildsen started out as a cinematographer, and shot his directorial debut, Turn on to Love in 1969.

Avildsen won an Academy Award for directing 'Rocky' and directed the first three original 'Karate Kid' movies. He received another Oscar nomination in 1983 for directing the documentary short Traveling Hopefully.

Also known for helming films like 'Rocky V' (1990), 'W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings' (1975), 'Neighbors' (1981), 'Lean on Me' (1989), and '8 Seconds' (1994), Avildsen was the subject of a documentary, John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs, that premiered this year at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.