Carl Weathers, a Rocky and Predator actor, dies at 76

Carl Weathers, who portrayed Apollo Creed in Sylvester Stallone‘s first four “Rocky” movies, passed away on Thursday, according to his manager, Matt Luber, who spoke with Variety. 76 years old.

Weathers starred in Sandler’s “Happy Gilmore” and the 1987 film “Predator.” His nomination for Outstanding Drama Series Guest Actor in “The Mandalorian” was for an Emmy.

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He starred in television shows such as “Street Justice,” “Colony,” “The Shield,” “Chicago Justice,” “Brothers,” “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” “Death Hunt,” and “The Comebacks.” He also portrayed himself in “Toy Story 4” and “Arrested Development.”

Based on Sandler’s 1996 golf comedy “Happy Gilmore,” “Eight Crazy Nights” is an animated Hanukkah comedy in which Weathers narrates the character of “Little Nicky.”

Carl Weathers, a New Orleanian, participated in wrestling, boxing, football, soccer, and gymnastics. 1969 Pasadena Bowl winner: SDSU. Weathers, a theater arts major from SDSU, signed a free agency contract with the Oakland Raiders in 1970 and played eight games as a linebacker in two seasons.

Following football, Weathers starred in the TV series Good Times, Kung Fu, Cannon, and Starsky & Hutch, as well as the blaxploitation movies Bucktown and Friday Foster by Arthur Marks.

Colonel Al Dillon was portrayed by Jesse Ventura and Arnold Schwarzenegger with Weathers in the film “Predator.” In 1988, Weathers made jokes about running for office as “the black guy in ‘Predator,'” following his stint as host of “Saturday Night Live.”

Despite Apollo Creed’s death in “Rocky IV,” Weathers refused Stallone’s request to use footage from earlier “Rocky” films for 2006’s “Rocky Balboa.” Stallone used doubles for flashbacks. Weathers allowed Stallone to use his likeness in Michael B. Jordan’s “Creed” sequel, which stars Apollo Creed’s son, after their reconciliation.

Carl Weathers directed and starred in short TV shows. On Disney+’s “The Mandalorian,” he played Greef Karga in nine episodes over three seasons and was nominated for an Emmy in 2021. Weathers directed 12 and 20 “Star Wars” spinoffs.

Their sons reside with Mary Ann Weathers, their ex-wife.