Carl Weathers, co-star in ‘Rocky’ as Apollo Creed, dies at 76،
Carl Weathers, a former NFL linebacker who became a Hollywood action and comedy star, playing his nemesis-turned-ally Apollo Creed in the “Rocky” films, taking on Arnold Schwarzenegger in “Predator” and teaching golf in “Happy Gilmore.” is dead. He was 76 years old.
Matt Luber, his manager, said Weathers died Thursday. His family released a statement saying he died “peacefully in his sleep.”
“Carl was an exceptional human being who lived an extraordinary life,” his family said. “Through his contributions to film, television, the arts and sports, he left an indelible mark and is recognized throughout the world and across generations. He was a brother, a father, a grandfather, a beloved partner and friend.”
As comfortable flexing his muscles on the big screen in “Action Jackson” as he is joking around on the small screen in shows such as “Arrested Development,” Weathers was perhaps most closely associated with Creed, which premiered appearance as the arrogant, undisputed heavyweight champion of the world in 1976's “Rocky,” starring Sylvester Stallone.
“It puts you on the map and makes your career, so to speak. But it's a one-time situation, so you have to follow it up with something. Luckily, those movies kept coming, and Apollo Creed became more more popular. awareness and welcome into their lives, and he was just the right person at the right time,” Weathers told The Daily Beast in 2017.
Most recently, Weathers starred in the Disney+ hit “The Mandalorian,” appearing in all three seasons and earning an Emmy nomination in 2021.
Prior to his acting career, Weathers played in eight games during the 1970 and 1971 seasons for the Raiders. He played college football at San Diego State, where he was part of the Aztecs' undefeated seasons in 1968 and 1969 while majoring in theater.
“When I discovered football, it was a completely different outlet,” Weathers told the Detroit News in 2023. “It was more about the physicality, although one feeds the other. You had to intelligence because there were textbooks to study and study, to learn more about the opposition in a given week.
After the Raiders, Weathers joined the Canadian Football League, playing for two seasons while finishing his studies in the offseason at San Francisco State University. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in drama in 1974.
Creed, who appeared in the first four “Rocky” films, memorably died in the ring in 1984's “Rocky IV,” facing the imposing, steroid-using Soviet Ivan Drago, played by Dolph Lundgren. Before entering the ring, James Brown sang “Living in America” with showgirls and Creed appeared on a balcony in a Star-Spangled Banner shorts and vest combo and an Uncle Sam hat, dancing and taunting Draco.
A bloodied Creed collapses in the ring after being badly beaten, twitches and is cradled by Rocky as he dies, inevitably sparking a fight between Drago and Rocky. But while Creed is gone, his character's son, Michael B. Jordan's Adonis Creed, is reportedly directing his own boxing trilogy starting in 2015.
Weathers later added a fake wooden hand to play a golf professional in the 1996 comedy “Happy Gilmore,” alongside Adam Sandler, who called Weathers a “real legend” in one film. social media post.
Weathers grew up admiring actors such as Woody Strode, whose combination of physicality and acting prowess in “Spartacus” made a first impression. Other idols included actors Sidney Poitier and Harry Belafonte and athletes Jim Brown and Muhammad Ali, stars who broke the mold and the color barrier.
“There are so many people who came before me that I looked up to and whose success I wanted to emulate and who somehow reached the standards that they did in terms of success, who created a path that I I was able to go through and find success in its own right.” A result. And I hope I can inspire someone else to do good work as well,” Weathers told the Detroit News in 2023. “I guess I'm just a lucky guy.”
Weathers is survived by two sons.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.