Carl Weathers, ‘Rocky’s’ Apollo Creed and ‘Mandalorian’ Actor, Dies at 76
Carl Weathers, known for his roles as Apollo Creed in the 'Rocky' films and in 'The Mandalorian', has passed away at the age of 76.
Career Highlights
Carl Weathers, famous for his portrayal of Apollo Creed in the 'Rocky' films alongside Sylvester Stallone, has died at the age of 76. His manager confirmed the news.
Weathers also starred in movies such as 'Predator' and had a memorable role in Adam Sandler’s 'Happy Gilmore'. He was nominated for an Emmy for his performance in the 'Star Wars' series 'The Mandalorian'.
Some of Weathers' other notable works include voicing Combat Carl in 'Toy Story 4' and playing a fictionalized version of himself in 'Arrested Development'. He had a long list of TV series and film credits, including 'Street Justice', 'Colony', and 'The Shield'.
Early Life and Athletics
Born on January 14, 1948, in New Orleans, Carl Weathers had a passion for sports from a young age. He participated in boxing, football, soccer, wrestling, and gymnastics. In college, he played football at San Diego State University and helped them win the 1969 Pasadena Bowl.
While at SDSU, Weathers also pursued a degree in theatre arts. However, he signed with the Oakland Raiders as a free agent in 1970 and played in the NFL for two seasons as a linebacker.
After his football career, Weathers focused more on acting and landed small roles in blaxploitation movies and TV series like 'Good Times', 'Kung Fu', and 'Cannon'.
Legacy and Later Career
Weathers achieved iconic status with his role as Colonel Al Dillon in the movie 'Predator' alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jesse Ventura. He also made memorable appearances on 'Saturday Night Live'.
Although Weathers initially declined Sylvester Stallone's request to use footage from previous 'Rocky' films in 'Rocky Balboa', the two later reconciled. Weathers allowed Stallone to use his likeness in the 'Creed' sequel series.
In more recent years, Weathers had smaller roles in TV shows and even directed episodes of some. He received an Emmy nomination for his work on 'The Mandalorian'. Carl Weathers is survived by his ex-wife and two sons.
