Carl Weathers, the actor renowned for portraying Apollo Creed in the “Rocky” film series, passed away at the age of 76 this Thursday (1st). The news of his passing was confirmed by his family on Friday (2).
“He passed away peacefully,” the actor’s family stated in an official announcement.
“Carl was an exceptional person who lived an extraordinary life. His contributions to cinema, television, the arts, and sports leave an indelible mark, recognized around the world and across generations. He was a beloved brother, father, grandfather, partner, and friend.”
Born in 1948 in Louisiana, United States, Weathers started his career as an American football player before venturing into acting. Throughout his artistic career, he acted in over 75 films and TV series. His first major role was as the boxing champion Apollo Creed in “Rocky” (1976), a character that would make him famous.
Weathers played the role of the antagonist who eventually becomes the friend of Sylvester Stallone’s character in the first four films of the franchise.
Additionally, he is known for his performances in “Predator” (1987) and “Happy Gilmore” (1996).
In recent years, Weathers had a recurring role in the cast of the series “The Mandalorian“, part of the “Star Wars” universe. In the four seasons released so far, he appeared in nine episodes as Greef Karga, one of the main allies of the protagonist.