Carl Weathers, Who Played Apollo Creed in ‘Rocky’ Movies, Dies at 76

A former pro linebacker, he had a long acting career that reached beyond the boxing ring, appearing in action films, comedies and TV dramas and earning an Emmy nomination. 

Carl Weathers, the actor whose credits include Rocky and Predator, has died at 76.

His family released a statement through his agent to announce that he died “peacefully in his sleep” on 1 February.

“Carl was an exceptional human being who lived an extraordinary life,” the statement continued. “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 was best known for playing Apollo Creed alongside Sylvester Stallone in the first four Rocky films. Footage of Weathers was also used in the Creed films led by Michael B Jordan.

After becoming a college football star in the 1960s and retiring from a professional career in the early 70s, Weathers began acting in blaxploitation cinema with small roles in Bucktown and Friday Foster.

“I was bitten by the bug, as they say,” Weathers said in 2023. “On stage having people laugh at the good lines and applaud at the end – it’s pretty, pretty infectious. Once that bug gets inside you, it’s kind of hard to give it up.”

Carl Weathers, who went from giving out bone-crunching hits as a linebacker for the Oakland Plunderers to conveying final blows on the big screen as Apollo Ideology, the enemy of Sylvester Stallone's adorable carry prizefighter in "Rough," assisting with igniting perhaps of Hollywood's best establishment, kicked the bucket on Thursday. He was 76.

His family said in a proclamation that he "passed on calmly in his rest." The assertion didn't give a reason or say where he kicked the bucket.

Mr. Weathers had a long and fluctuated acting vocation that took him a long ways past the boxing ring. He showed his reach over about 80 film and TV credits. Beginning during the 2000s, he significantly caricatured himself as an acting mentor on the sitcom "Captured Improvement." In later years he was the voice of Battle Carl in the vivified film "Toy Story 4" and played Greef Karga in the "Star Wars" TV series "The Mandalorian," procuring an Emmy Grant selection in 2021 for remarkable visitor entertainer in a show series.