“Rocky” actor Carl Weathers has died at 76 years old, according to a statement from his family. His family said in the statement, “We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Carl Weathers. He died peacefully in his sleep on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. Carl was an exceptional human being who lived an extraordinary life. Through his contributions to film, television, the arts and sports, he has left an indelible mark and is recognized worldwide and across generations. He was a beloved brother, father, grandfather, partner, and friend.”
Weathers played Apollo Creed in the first four films in the “Rocky” series. He also starred opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger in “Predator” and Adam Sandler in “Happy Gilmore.” Weathers was nominated for an Emmy in 2021 for his performance in the Disney+ Star Wars television series “The Mandalorian.” Weathers made his first appearance as the cocky, undisputed heavyweight world champion in 1976’s “Rocky,” starring Sylvester Stallone. The actor reprised his role as Creed in 1979’s “Rocky II,” 1982’s “Rocky III” and 1985’s “Rocky IV.”
In the franchise’s fourth film, Creed memorably died in the ring during a fight against Soviet Union champion Ivan Drago, played by Dolph Lundgren. After Creed’s death, his son Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) would lead his boxing trilogy starting in 2015. Stallone shared an emotional tribute to Weathers on Instagram. The three-time Academy Award nominee shared a video with the caption, “We lost a legend yesterday. My life was forever changed for the better the day I met Carl Weathers. Rest in power and keep punching.”
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In the video, Stallone was seen standing in front of a painting depicting a fight between Rocky and Creed. He said at the beginning of the clip, “Hello, everyone. Today is an incredibly sad day for me. Carl Weathers was such an integral part of my life, my success, everything about it. I give him incredible credit and kudos because when he walked into that room, and I saw him for the first time, I saw greatness, but I didn’t realize how great.” He continued, “I never could have accomplished what we did with ‘Rocky’ without him. He was absolutely brilliant. His voice, his size, his power, his athletic ability, but more importantly, his heart, his soul. It’s a horrible loss.”
Schwarzenegger honored his late co-star in a post he shared on Instagram. He uploaded a slideshow featuring three photos of himself with Weathers in “Predator,” writing, “Carl Weathers will always be a legend. An extraordinary athlete, a fantastic actor, and a great person.” He continued, “We couldn’t have made Predator without him. And we certainly wouldn’t have had such a wonderful time making it. Every minute with him – on set and off – was pure joy. He was the type of friend who pushes you to be your best just to keep up with him.”
Born in New Orleans on Jan. 14, 1948, Weathers pursued a professional football career before becoming an actor. He played college football at San Diego State University, where he helped the SDSU Aztecs win the 1969 Pasadena Bowl. After going undrafted by the NFL, Weathers signed the Oakland Raiders in 1970. He helped the Raiders claim the AFC West Division title and returned for the 1971 season before being released by the team.