Stu Nahan

Born in Los Angeles and raised in Canada, Stu Nahan holds the unique distinction of being Philadelphia’s only “triple celeb”, having gained fame as a Philadelphia TV kid show host, a Philadelphia sports personality, and a supporting actor in one of the great Philadelphia movies of all time.

After stints as a minor league hockey goalie in the Toronto Maple Leafs organization, a sportscaster in Los Angeles, and a TV kid show host in Sacramento, Stu came to Philadelphia in the 1960s and starred on UHF Channel 48 as the space age TV kid show host Captain Philadelphia.

In 1967, NHL hockey arrived in town and the newborn Flyers needed a TV and radio announcer. Stu Nahan – with his background in hockey and sportscasting – was a natural choice, and the Flyers paired him with Gene Hart (then the assistant PR director and announcer at Aquarama). Although both men were highly talented and would go on to enjoy long and productive careers, rumor has it that they did not exactly get along with each other in the broadcast booth. It was not long before Stu Nahan left the City of Brotherly Love for good and headed back to his native Los Angeles, where he became a beloved local personality for more than three decades.

In addition to being a real-life LA sportscaster, Stu carved out a niche playing the role of a sportscaster (often himself) in 30 different TV shows and movies. He appeared in Brian’s Song (1971) and Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982). But without a doubt, Stu Nahan’s greatest role was playing himself as the ringside announcer in Rocky. In fact, prior to his death in 2007 at the age of 81, he had played the ringside announcer in Rocky I straight through to Rocky VI (Rocky Balboa) – assuring him immortality in the annals of Philadelphia cheese steak culture.