Carl Weathers, actor best known for playing Apollo Creed in ‘Rocky’ movies, dies aged 76
Carl Weathers, the American actor best known for playing Apollo Creed in Rocky movies alongside Sylvester Stallone, has died at the age of 76
Weathers played Apollo Creed in the first four iterations of the Rocky franchise. As the formidable opponent to Rocky Balboa in the first film, Creed would later become a mentor figure to Stallone’s character.
In a statement given by his family, they expressed their sorrow for the loss of their husband and father, saying, “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 had started his career on the small screen, having various appearances in shows such as Good Times. While he would go on to work wonders in the film world, he would return to television series on various occasions, appearing in various roles in ER, Arrested Development, and The Shield.
In addition to working in Rocky, Weathers enjoyed a long career working in action movies, starring alongside Andrew Schwarzenegger in Predator and leading the 1988 film Action Jackson. Most recently, Weathers had been working on various episodes of The Mandalorian, starring in nine episodes in the role of Greef Karga.
Outside of action films, Weathers was known for his role in the 1990s comedic favourite Happy Gilmore, playing the golf coach Derrick ‘Chubbs’ Peterson. His final appearance on the big screen came in 2019 when he starred in the Pixar sequel Toy Story 4 as the soldier Combat Carl.
Weathers is survived by his ex-wife, Mary Ann and his two sons.
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