Hollywood fame is often fleeting, yet two of the cinema industry’s most enduring stars have lived quietly out of the spotlight for decades. They are not actors in the traditional sense, nor do they demand high salaries or luxury trailers.
They are Cuff and Link, a pair of female Red-eared slider turtles who made their silver screen debut in 1976. While the world watched the Rocky franchise grow into a global phenomenon, these two reptiles were living a verifiable, grounded reality that is stranger than fiction. Their story is not just about movie magic but about biological persistence and an unlikely journey that spans half a century.
From A Pet Shop to the Big Screen
In December 1975, a struggling writer and actor named Sylvester Stallone was filming a low-budget movie in Philadelphia. The script called for his character, Rocky Balboa, to buy two turtles from a shy pet shop employee named Adrian. Stallone purchased the animals from J&M Tropical Fish, the very store where they filmed the scene. He introduced them to the world with the line, “These are my friends, Cuff and Link.”
At the time of filming, the turtles were approximately 5 years old and small enough to fit in the palm of a hand. They were not merely props but living creatures with a lifespan that would eventually outlast the careers of many of their human co-stars. When production wrapped, the turtles did not go to Hollywood immediately. Instead, they remained in Philadelphia. The original owner of the pet shop, Joseph Marks, and later his nephew, cared for the aquatic duo for over 30 years.
A Life Away from Hollywood
For decades, Cuff and Link lived in a tank in Kensington, Philadelphia. They grew steadily, reaching a shell length of roughly 8 inches (20 centimeters) by 2006. While Stallone went on to fight Mr. T and Ivan Drago on screen, the turtles spent their days swimming and eating in relative obscurity. They required specific care, including water temperatures maintained between 75 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit (24 and 27 degrees Celsius) to thrive.
Their existence was largely unknown to the general public until rumors began to circulate that the original turtles were still alive. Fans were skeptical. Red-eared sliders can live for 30 to 50 years in captivity, making their survival possible but impressive given the passage of time.
The Heavyweight Reunion
In 2018, the skepticism was put to rest. During the filming of Creed II, the eighth installment in the franchise, Stallone confirmed a remarkable fact. He posted a photo online with two large turtles, announcing that his “original buddies” from 1976 had returned to the set. Cuff and Link, now approximately 44 years old, were back in front of the camera.
They appeared in the film, swimming in a tank inside Rocky’s home, authenticating the continuity of the character’s world in a way no CGI could replicate. By 2025, these aquatic survivors would be over 50 years old. They remain a fascinating footnote in cinema history, proving that sometimes the quietest stars are the ones who stick around the longest.
In 1976, two silent actors made their debut in Rocky.
They didn't speak, yet they are still alive today, outlasting many human co-stars.
These aren't people.
They are Cuff and Link, Red-eared sliders who lived a secret life for decades before returning to Hollywood…🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/QQgPRtqMch
— Fascinating True Stories (@FascinatingTrue) November 27, 2025