Carl Weathers dead at 76 | Who was the actor who played Apollo Creed in the Rocky films?

With numerous film credits across several decades, it’s hard to pick a favorite when it comes to Carl Weathers. Yet, the role he will always be remembered for is that of the chiseled challenger who took on Rocky Balboa in four different films.

Carl Weathers will be missed

Born on January 14th, 1948, in New Orleans, Carl Weathers appeared in more than 75 films and TV shows during a screen career that lasted more than five decades. Among his most notable roles was that of Apollo Creed, who he portrayed in the now-legendary Rocky film franchise alongside Sylvester Stallone. Of course, there were many others such as ‘The Predator’ where he fought an extraterrestrial threat with Arnold Schwarzenegger. Also, who could forget his giggle-inducing turn in Adam Sandler’s ‘Happy Gilmore’, and most recently his stern turn in the world of Star Wars in Disney’s ‘The Mandalorian’? Indeed, it is a sad day as we remember the TV and film contributions of one of Hollywood’s beloved. Weathers was 76 years old at the time of his passing. No cause of death was given.

“We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Carl Weathers,” his family said in a statement. “He died peacefully in his sleep on Thursday, February 1st, 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.”

From football to film

If you didn’t know, Weathers first drew attention on the football field, where he played linebacker at San Diego State University. Such was his impact, that he gave the 1987 commencement address at the school. Following his time in the Bay Area, he went undrafted but later signed for the then-Oakland Raiders. Ultimately, Weathers didn’t end up playing in the NFL, but he did make his way to the Canadian Football League, where he played for the B.C. Lions between 1971 and 1973.

Interestingly, it was during his time playing football that he began his screen career with guest shots in such hit TV series as ‘Good Times’, ‘Kung Fu’, ‘S.W.A.T.’, ‘The Six Million Dollar Man’, and ‘Cannon’. As the years passed he would also appear in episodes of Starsky and Hutch, Barnaby Jones, Switch, The Streets of San Francisco, and other popular shows. Given the times, there were also a handful of ‘blaxploitaton’ films such as Bucktown and Friday Foster. Then, came somewhat bigger roles in films such as 1977′s ‘Semi-Tough’, ‘Force 10 from Navarone’ (1978), ‘Death Hunt’ (1981), and ‘Hurricane Smith’ (1992).

Rocky made Carl Weathers a star

While the list of films in which Weathers played a part is extensive, there is truly only one that comes to mind when we think of him: Apollo Creed. Indeed, it was his turn as the heavyweight champion of the world through whom a young Rocky Balboa had to pass in 1976′s iconic ‘Rocky’, that truly made Carl Weathers a household name. So impactful was the film and Weathers’ role that he reprised the role in Rocky II (1979), which featured a title rematch with Balboa, as well as 1982′s Rocky III where he trained the titular character for a fight with Clubber Lang who was played by Mr. T. Weathers’ final performance as Creed would come in Rocky IV (1985) which saw him killed in the ring by Russian heavyweight Ivan Drago who was played by Dolph Lundgren.