Carl Weathers: His Life in Photos

Carl Weathers, the one-time Oakland Raider who shot to fame in Rocky, died on February 1 at age 76. According to Weathers’s manager, Matt Luber, he “died peacefully at home.” No cause of death has been given.

Sylvester Stallone and Carl Weathers grip hands and smile together during the press conference scene in the 1976 film “Rocky.”

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Weathers was born on January. 14, 1948, in New Orleans. His career as an actor began when he was still in elementary school, where he performed in class plays. By the time he was in high school, he was also an accomplished athlete, playing football there and at San Diego State University. Even then, he was acting all the while.

The linebacker was eventually recruited by the Oakland Raiders, but after one year with the team, coach John Madden cut him. In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Weathers said that Madden told him “You’re just too sensitive,” a remark that spurred Weathers to pursue acting over athletics.

Carl Weathers in the ring in a scene from the film “Rocky” in 1976.

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Sylvester Stallone and Carl Weathers on the set of the film “Rocky” in 1976.

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American actor and former professional football player Carl Weathers in sparring pose in June 1979

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His career as a thespian took off in 1976, when he appeared in Rocky as Apollo Creed, the title character’s opponent. In an emotional Instagram post, Rocky screenwriter and star Sylvester Stallone said the filmmakers “never could have accomplished what we did with Rocky” without Weathers. 

“He was absolutely brilliant,” Stallone said. “His voice, his size, his power, his athletic ability, but more importantly, his heart, his soul. It’s a horrible loss.”

Actors Carl Weathers and Sylvester Stallone on the set of the MGM/United Artists movie “Rocky III” in 1982.

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Carl Weathers, Joseph Bottoms in ABC’s “Braker”

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Carl Weathers, Joseph Bottoms in a promotional photo for “Braker”

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Carl Weathers and Robert Urich in the ABC tv movie “The Defiant Ones”

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Robert Urich, Carl Weathers in the ABC TV movie “The Defiant Ones”

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Weathers went on to appear alongside Stallone in four films in the franchise, including a now-iconic beach run scene. Roles on TV followed, including an ABC buddy cop show called Breaker and a small screen version of The Defiant Ones. But in 1987, he returned to the big screen in yet another action-centered role, as Dillon in the Arnold Schwarzenegger vehicle Predator.

Carl Weathers and Arnold Schwarzenegger on the set of “Predator.”

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From left to right, actors Shane Black, Sonny Landham, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Jesse Ventura and Bill Duke, with Richard Chaves kneeling in front, in the film “Predator.”

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Jesse Ventura, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Carl Weathers on the set of “Predator.”

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In a post to X (formerly Twitter), Schwarzenegger wrote “We couldn’t have made Predator without him. And we certainly wouldn’t have had such a wonderful time making it.”

Weathers was “an extraordinary athlete, a fantastic actor, and a great person,” Schwarzenegger wrote.

Carl Weathers, Lonette McKee, Billy Dee Williams in the 1990 ABC tv movie “Dangerous Passion.”

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Carl Weathers talks to Adam Sandler in a scene from the film “Happy Gilmore.”

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Carl Weathers and Josh Holloway in the USA series “Colony.”

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As the golden era of action movies wound down in the late 1990s, Weathers became a consistent figure on the big and small screen, including a well-regarded comedic turn in 1996’s Happy Gilmore. Adam Sandler, who played that film’s title role, wrote on Instagram that Weathers was “smart as hell. Loyal as hell. Funny as hell. Loved his sons more than anything. What a guy!! Everyone loved him.”

Weathers was introduced to a new generation of fans in 2019, when he joined the Star Wars world in Disney+ series The Mandalorian. As a character named Greef Karga, he was nominated for an outstanding guest actor in a drama series Emmy in 2021.

Carl Weathers at the launch event for season 3 of “The Mandalorian” held at El Capitan Theatre on February 28, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.

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Speaking to Hypebeast as the most recent season of The Mandalorian wound down, Weathers spoke to his life as an actor — but his remarks arguably apply to how his fans are feeling today. “As always, when you have success you want more,” he said. “It’s bittersweet because you know that come next Wednesday, audiences aren’t going to be gathered to witness another episode.”

“For those of us who are performing, we’re eagerly awaiting whether we’ll see a fourth opportunity to bring it all back again,” he said. “But, at the same time, it’s really fulfilling to have gotten through three seasons now and still have people wanting more.”

Actor and former Oakland Raiders player Carl Weathers stands on the Las Vegas Raiders sideline before the team’s game against the Houston Texans at Allegiant Stadium on October 23, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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