At 76 years old, Carl Weathers has passed away. Widely recognized for his performances as the tough Apollo Creed in the iconic Rocky series, Weathers not only dazzled audiences with his roles in action movies and law enforcement characters, but his vibrant portrayal of Creed played a pivotal role in propelling the tremendous success of the Rocky brand. Furthermore, his compelling performance as Creed served as a wellspring of inspiration for a plethora of cultural allusions and playful imitations.
Born in the vibrant city of New Orleans in the year 1948, Weathers graced this world. Early on, his interests gravitated toward the realms of football and the martial arts, embarking on a journey that would intertwine athleticism and discipline. It was during his formative years that Weathers found himself dragged into the captivating realm of entertainment, courtesy of a school play scripted by the imaginative Mr. Slush. Within those very walls, Weathers discovered not only his talent for acting but also the sweet harmony of his melodious voice, uniting with other passionate souls to ignite the stages scattered across the enchanting streets of his hometown.
After relocating to California, his family settled down and he began his education at Long Beach Polytechnic High School. It was here that his exceptional skills on the football field caught the attention of many. Later, he continued his athletic journey at Long Beach City College. Unfortunately, an injury during practice led him to make the decision to transfer to San Diego State University. It was there that he became part of Coach Don Coryell’s renowned teams, gaining recognition on a national level. Interestingly, alongside his athletic pursuits, he also decided to pursue a major in Theatre.
In his pursuit of a professional football career, Weathers reached out to his ex-college coach, Sid Hall, who specialized in linebacking. Their connection granted Weathers the opportunity to sign with the Oakland Raiders as a linebacker in 1970. Interestingly, Hall was now coaching the linebackers for the Raiders. Weathers showcased his skills during that season but unfortunately, he was let go by the team early in the 1971 campaign.
Despite facing numerous challenges along his journey, such as relocating to California, switching colleges, and going undrafted by a professional team, Weathers persevered and went on to pursue his football career with the British Columbia Lions in the Canadian Football League. During the off seasons, up until his retirement from athletics in 1974, he dedicated himself to studying acting.
In the year of 1975, he obtained speaking roles in two blaxploitation movies, namely Bucktown and Friday Foster, with the latter being headlined by the talented Pam Grier. Concurrently, he made a guest appearance on an episode of the popular sitcom Good Times, as well as the drama shows Cannon and Kung Fu. Moving on to the following television season, Weathers successfully secured roles in not just one but two detective series, namely Barnaby Jones and Starsky and Hutch.
Goliath undertone. The techniques employed by Weathers in portraying Creed involved the clever utilization of Ali’s renowned personality traits, drawing parallels between his nickname Apollo and the Greek god bearing the same name. Consequently, Weathers skillfully incorporated a potent concoction of both threatening and humorous elements into his character, resulting in a captivating portrayal. This stark dichotomy between Creed’s larger-than-life image and Rocky Balboa’s unexpected rises to glory added an extra layer of depth to their rivalry, effectively evoking the timeless tale of David triumphing over Goliath. The imposing demeanor of Goliath. Weathers additionally partnered in Rocky II, Rocky III, and Rocky IV. While fans rooted for the regular hero Rocky, movie enthusiasts developed an affection for his vibrant opponent. During the periods of the 1970s and 1980s, Weathers also made appearances in Force 10 from Navarone, briefly in Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and made a lasting impression in the successful action film Predator.
In the film Happy Gilmore released in 1996, Weathers once again showcased his immense comedic talent. His ability to combine humor with his tough and confident demeanor truly set him apart as an actor, setting him apart from athletes-turned-actors like Jim Brown and Fred Williamson. Throughout the 1990s, Weathers also made appearances on television shows such as In the Heat of the Night, Street Justice, and Tour of Duty, where he predominantly portrayed roles of law enforcement or military personnel. In the year 2004, a role as an acting coach on the popular sitcom Arrested Development was performed by him. Weathers additionally showcased his talent as a voice actor, narrating documentaries and lending his voice in video games. Frequently, he would refer to Coach Madden’s evaluation of his sensitivity, which although he disliked at the time, served as not only a motivation to excel in a different domain, but also as an essential trait for achieving success in dramatic endeavors.
In the making of the film Rocky Balboa in 2006, Carl Weathers stood out as the only former Rocky rival actor who declined the use of footage from his previous roles for flashback scenes. Unlike Mr. T and Dolph Lundgren who gave their consent, Weathers, despite Creed’s demise in Rocky IV, had expressed an interest in being involved. Interestingly, after a span of nine years, Weathers finally acquiesced to Sylvester Stallone’s plea for his footage to be incorporated into the 2015 movie Creed.
2021 saw Carl Weathers being recognized for his portrayal of Greef Karga in The Mandalorian with an Emmy Award nomination in the category of Outstanding Guest Actor. Consequently, a vast and diverse fanbase, spanning three generations, has become intimately acquainted with his work. Utilizing his newfound fame, Weathers ventured into the realm of light-hearted commercials, starring in amusing advertisements for Bud Light. Moreover, in a display of his multifaceted talent, Weathers took on the role of director for two episodes of the widely acclaimed series The Mandalorian.