jfid – Carl Weathers, the actor known as Apollo Creed in the Rocky films, passed away at the age of 76.
However, he was not just a big-screen boxer, but also a former American football player, an action movie star, a comedian, and a star of the Disney+ series The Mandalorian.
Who was Carl Weathers?
From the Green Field to the Silver Screen
Carl Weathers was born on January 14, 1948 in New Orleans, Louisiana. He started playing American football in high school and continued his career in college.
He briefly joined the NFL’s Oakland Raiders and the CFL’s BC Lions, but was not very prominent.
He then turned to acting and took drama classes at San Francisco State University.
One of his first roles was as a soldier in the 1975 blaxploitation film Friday Foster.
He also appeared in several television shows, such as Good Times, Kung Fu, and Starsky and Hutch.
However, the role that made him famous was as Apollo Creed, a world heavyweight boxing champion who became both a rival and a friend of Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) in the first four Rocky films.
Apollo Creed, The Boxing Legend
Apollo Creed is one of the most iconic characters in the history of boxing movies. He is portrayed as a charismatic, confident, and flamboyant boxer, inspired by Muhammad Ali.
He also has cool nicknames, such as The Master of Disaster, The King of Sting, and The Dancing Destroyer.
In the film Rocky (1976), Apollo Creed is the heavyweight champion who is looking for an opponent for a charity match on Independence Day. He chooses Rocky Balboa, an unknown heavyweight boxer, as his opponent.
Although considered an underdog, Rocky manages to last 15 rounds and almost defeats Apollo. However, Apollo still wins the match through a controversial split decision.
In Rocky II (1979), Apollo Creed receives a lot of criticism from the public and the media for not taking his first match against Rocky seriously. He then challenges Rocky to a rematch, which Rocky accepts.
This time, the match is more intense and dramatic. In the final round, both boxers knock each other down, but Rocky gets up faster and defeats Apollo.
In Rocky III (1982), Apollo Creed becomes Rocky’s friend and trainer, after Rocky loses his title to Clubber Lang (Mr. T).
Apollo helps Rocky regain his spirit and confidence, and teaches him a more agile and elusive fighting style.
With Apollo’s help, Rocky manages to defeat Clubber Lang and reclaim his title.
In Rocky IV (1985), Apollo Creed decides to return to the boxing ring to face the Soviet boxer, Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren), who has tremendous strength and stamina.
Apollo sees this match as a patriotic display, but Drago sees it as a Cold War.
In a match witnessed by Rocky, Drago brutally beats Apollo and kills him in front of Rocky’s eyes.
Action and Comedy Movie Star
In addition to appearing in the Rocky films, Carl Weathers also starred in several popular action and comedy movies.
One of them is Predator (1987), where he played Dillon, a CIA agent who joins an elite commando team led by Arnold Schwarzenegger to rescue hostages in a South American jungle.
However, they become prey for an alien creature that hunts humans for sport.
Weathers also appeared in Action Jackson (1988), where he played Jericho “Action” Jackson, a Detroit cop who faces an evil businessman planning to kill a labor union.
This film showcased Weathers’ action skills, combining strength, speed, and agility.
Weathers also showed his comedic side in several films, such as Happy Gilmore (1996), where he played Chubbs Peterson, a former professional golfer who becomes a mentor to Happy Gilmore (Adam Sandler), a hockey player turned golfer.
Weathers also appeared in several episodes of the series Arrested Development, where he played himself as a mentor to Tobias Fünke (David Cross), a psychiatrist aspiring to be an actor.
The Mandalorian, His Last Series
Carl Weathers not only appeared on the big screen but also on the small screen. One of his last series was The Mandalorian, the first live-action Star Wars series released on Disney+.
Weathers played Greef Karga, a bounty hunter guild leader who recruits Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal), a Mandalorian who becomes the protector of Baby Yoda.
Weathers not only acted but also directed two episodes of the series, namely Chapter 12: The Siege and Chapter 16: The Rescue.
Weathers received praise from fans and critics for his performance as an actor and director in this series, which became one of the most popular and best series in 2020 and 2021.
Carl Weathers passed away on Thursday, February 2, 2024, in his sleep. He is survived by his wife, three children, and six grandchildren.
He also leaves behind an unforgettable legacy in the film world, especially for fans of the Rocky and Star Wars films.
He was an actor who was not just Apollo Creed, but also a shining star in various genres and media. He is a legend who will always be remembered.
