Karen (Rocky)



Karen is a supporting antagonist of the 1990 film Rocky V. She is the mistress of George Washington Duke.

She was portrayed by Delia Sheppard.

Role
Karen helped out Duke in promoting some of the greatest boxing fights in history by flirting out boxers to Duke's side. It wasn't until Rocky returned from Russia after defeating Ivan Drago to avenge Apollo Creed's death, that Duke introduced himself to Rocky and his family during their press conference. Duke offered to help Rocky in bringing more glory by setting up a fight with young boxer Union Cane, but Rocky respectfully declines, saying that he's retiring due to suffering brain damage thanks to Drago's brutal punches.

Eventually, Rocky takes in and trains a young Oklahoma fighter named Tommy Gunn, who hopes to following in Rocky's footsteps as a renowned boxer. As time passes by, Karen watches alongside Duke and Merlin Sheets as Tommy wins his way to the ranks of boxing history with Rocky's help. Per Duke's instruction, Karen flirts with Tommy into leaving Rocky for Duke, to which Tommy accepts as he has had enough living under Rocky's shadow. Although Tommy defeats Cane in a boxing match, Karen is upset to hear the public and the pressed jeering Tommy for betraying Rocky to satisfy both his and Duke's greed.

To that end, Duke, Tommy and Merlin called Rocky out to challenge, but Rocky refuses, prompting an annoyed Tommy to start insulting him. When Paulie ends up being punched by Tommy, Rocky angrily accepts the challenge by saying that his ring's outside on the streets. As such, Karen watches the fight, eventually becoming distraught after Rocky defeats Tommy in a knockout before leaving him arrested by the police. Karen is last seen being horrified to watch Rocky punching out Duke with an uppercut.