Carl Weathers: 1948 - 2024

Actor Carl Weathers has passed away at 76. 

 

Born in New Orleans in 1948, Weathers grew up as an athlete and excelled in several sports. He was a letterman for San Diego State, helping them win the Pasadena Bowl in 1969. He had a short career in the NFL, playing for the Oakland Raiders. 

 

After retiring from football in 1974, he pursued an acting career and began working as an extra. He appeared in BUCKTOWN (1975), and FRIDAY FOSTER (1976), along with TV appearances on GOOD TIMES and STARSKY AND HUTCH. 

 

His breakthrough came in 1976, when he was cast as the flamboyant World Heavyweight Boxing champion Apollo Creed, opposite Sylvester Stallone. ROCKY would go on to win Best Picture that year, and Weathers would reprise the role of Apollo for three more ROCKY films. 

 

After appearing in Steven Spielberg’s CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (1977), he starred in a number of action films, including FORCE 10 FROM NAVARONE (1978), PREDATOR (1987), ACTION JACKSON (1988), and HURRICANE SMITH (1992). Other roles include HAPPY GILMORE (1996), LITTLE NICKY (2000), and provided the voice of Combat Carl in TOY STORY 4 (2019). 

 

On television he had roles on THE SHIELD, ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT, ER, and CHICAGO P.D. He had a recurring role in the STAR WARS franchise in THE MANDALORIAN, and was nominated for an Emmy. 

 

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This Blogger’s first introduction to Carl Weathers came in the late 1970’s, watching him gallop into the boxing ring decked out in red, white, and blue…ready to kick Rocky’s ass. He was the villain of the film, but somehow made the character likeable. In later films he made the character a hero, one with a heart that was bigger than his muscle. As a physical specimen, he matched up well against muscle-bound actors such as Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger, and his role in PREDATOR, as the “company man” who had secret motives, stands as one of his best. And his TV work showed that he had the comedy chops as well. Carl Weathers leaves behind not an extensive filmography, but one that is very memorable. In our minds he will always be striding into the ring in colors that don’t run.