Carl Weathers, Rocky and Predator actor, dies aged 76

The Louisiana-born film star was a successful football player before setting his sights on acting.

Actor Carl Weathers has died, aged 76. Picture: AFP

Carl Weathers, who rose to fame as Apollo Creed in the Rocky film franchise, has died. He was 76 years old.

Weathers died Thursday, his manager Matt Luber said. His family said the actor-turned-director died in his sleep.

“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,” the family said in a statement.

The Louisiana-born film star was a successful football player before setting his sights on acting. He played college football at San Diego State University and signed with the Oakland Raiders in 1970 after going undrafted. He spent parts of two seasons in the NFL before playing with the B.C. Lions of the Canadian Football League.

Weathers retired from football in 1974 to pursue an acting career. He became a household name for his role in the first Rocky film in 1976, when he played a cocky world heavyweight champion boxer determined to make headlines by giving Rocky Balboa, a washed-up underdog played by Sylvester Stallone, a shot at the title.

Weathers went on to play Apollo Creed in three more Rocky films. Over time, the character changed from Rocky’s biggest challenge to one of the main character’s closest friends.

The actor enjoyed a wide-ranging and long career, appearing in films such as “Predator” with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Adam Sandler’s Happy Gilmore, according to IMDb. He more recently was in the Star Wars series The Mandalorian. Weathers earned an Emmy nomination in 2021 for his Greef Karga role .

His guest appearances on the Emmy-winning TV series Arrested Development, in which he played himself, showcased his comedic range and made him a fan favorite for a new audience.

WSJ