Carl Weathers, Linebacker-Turned-Actor Who Played In The ‘Rocky’ Films And ‘The Mandalorian,’ Died.

NEW YORK — Carl Weathers, a former NFL linebacker who became a Hollywood action and comedy icon, portraying nemesis-turned-ally Apollo Creed in the “Rocky” films, competing against Arnold Schwarzenegger in “Predator,” and teaching golf in “Happy Gilmore,” died. He was 76.

His manager, Matt Luber, confirmed that Weathers died on Thursday. His family released a statement claiming he died “peacefully in his sleep.”

“Carl Weathers will always be a legend,” Schwarzenegger posted on Instagram. “A phenomenal athlete, an amazing actor, and a wonderful guy. We couldn’t have created ‘Predator’ without him. And we wouldn’t have had such a great time doing it.”

Weathers was equally at ease flexing his muscles on the big screen in “Action Jackson” as he was joking around on the small screen in shows like “Arrested Development,” but he was most closely associated with Creed, who made his first appearance as the cocky, undisputed heavyweight world champion in 1976’s “Rocky,” starring Sylvester Stallone.

Carl Weathers, Linebacker-Turned-Actor Who Played In The ‘Rocky’ Films And ‘The Mandalorian,’ Died.

“It puts you on the map and launches your career, so to speak. However, since that is a one-time event, you must follow it up with something else. Fortunately, those films continued arriving, and Apollo Creed grew more and more prominent in people’s minds and welcomed into their lives, and it was simply the perfect guy at the right moment,” he told The Daily Beast in 2017.

Weathers most recently appeared in the Disney+ smash “The Mandalorian” in all three seasons.

“We lost a legend yesterday,” Stallone wrote in an Instagram post featuring a video tribute. The actor stood before a portrait of himself and Weathers boxing, saying, “Carl Weathers was such an important part of my life and success… I give him tremendous credit and kudos.

“When he walked into that room and I saw him for the first time, I saw greatness. … I never could have accomplished what we did with ‘Rocky’ without him.'”

Stallone concluded his video homage by stating, “Apollo, keep punching.”

In 1984’s “Rocky IV,” Creed, who had starred in the first four “Rocky” movies, lost his life in the ring while facing Dolph Lundgren’s enormous, steroid-using Soviet opponent Ivan Drago. Before entering the ring, James Brown performed “Living in America” with showgirls, while Creed appeared on a balcony wearing a Star-Spangled Banner shorts and waistcoat combo and an Uncle Sam hat, dancing and taunting Drago.

Rocky cradles a dying Creed as he twitches and collapses in the ring after receiving a brutal beating, setting up a fight between Drago and Rocky. But, although Creed is gone, his character’s son, Michael B. Jordan’s Adonis Creed, will lead his boxing trilogy beginning in 2015.

Weathers went on to star in 1987’s “Predator,” where he flexed his pecs alongside Ventura, Schwarzenegger, and others, and 1988’s “Action Jackson,” in which he aims his flamethrower on a bad guy and asks, “How do you like your ribs?” before broiling him.

Carl Weathers, Linebacker-Turned-Actor Who Played In The ‘Rocky’ Films And ‘The Mandalorian,’ Died.

“We lost an icon,” Jesse Ventura, a former “Predator” co-star, tweeted on X (previously Twitter). “Carl Weathers was a phenomenal talent, a true professional and a dear friend.”

He then added a fake wooden hand to portray a golf pro in the 1996 comedy classic “Happy Gilmore” starring Adam Sandler and played in Dick Wolf’s short-lived spin-off series “Chicago Justice” in 2017 and Disney’s “The Mandalorian,” getting an Emmy Award nomination in 2021. He also provided the voice for Combat Carl in the “Toy Story” franchise.

Sandler praised his pal on social media, describing him as a “wonderful dude” and “a true legend” — “So much pleasure to be around always. Smart as hell. Loyal as heck. “Funny as hell!”

Weathers grew up admiring characters like Woody Strode, whose physicality and acting ability in “Spartacus” made an early impression. Others he admired included performers Sidney Poitier and Harry Belafonte and sportsmen Jim Brown and Muhammad Ali, who defied stereotypes and broke down barriers.

“There are so many people who came before me who I admired and whose success I wanted to emulate, and who set the standards for success that I’ve been able to follow and achieve success as a result. And hopefully I can encourage someone else to do good things as well,” he told the Detroit News in 2023. “I guess I’m just a lucky guy.”

Weathers began acting in plays in elementary school while growing up in New Orleans. Athletics led him astray in high school, but he would eventually reunite with his true love.

Weathers played collegiate football at San Diego State University while majoring in theatre and then played one season in the NFL for the Oakland Raiders in 1970.

“When I found football, it was a completely different outlet,” Weathers told the Detroit News. “It was more about the physique, yet one influences the other. You needed some intelligence because there were playbooks and films to study in order to learn about the adversary each week.”

Following his time with the Raiders, he joined the Canadian Football League, where he played for two years while finishing his education at San Francisco State University. He earned a bachelor’s degree in drama in 1974.

After acting in various films and TV episodes, including “Good Times,” “The Six Million Dollar Man,” “In the Heat of the Night,” and “Starsky & Hutch,” as well as fighting Nazis alongside Harrison Ford in “Force 10 From Navarone,” Weathers scored his breakout role in Creed. He told The Hollywood Reporter that his beginnings in the renowned franchise could have been better.

Carl Weathers, Linebacker-Turned-Actor Who Played In The ‘Rocky’ Films And ‘The Mandalorian,’ Died.

He was asked to read with the writer Stallone, who was then unknown. Weathers read the scene but felt it fell flat, so he blurted out, “I could do a lot better if you got me a real actor to work with,” he recounted. “So I just insulted the star of the movie without really knowing it and not intending to.” He also lied about having any boxing experience.

Weathers later became interested in directing, helming episodes of “Silk Stalkings” and the Lorenzo Lamas film “Renegade.” He directed a third-season episode of “The Mandalorian.”

Weathers introduced himself to a new generation by portraying himself as an opportunistic and highly thrifty actor who becomes entangled with the dysfunctional clan at the centre of “Arrested Development.”

The Weathers character enjoys saving money by preparing broth from discarded food—”There’s still plenty of meat on that bone” and “Baby, you got a stew going!” — and, for the proper price, decides to become an acting instructor for the deluded and talentless thespian Tobias Funke (David Cross).

Weathers left behind two boys.

SOURCE – (AP)