Carl Weathers, the muscle-bound actor known for “Rocky,” “Predator,” “Action Jackson,” and “The Mandalorian,” died in his sleep on February 1, aged 76.
Born in New Orleans on January 14, 1948, Weathers grew into a formidable linebacker at San Diego State University before joining the Oakland Raiders, where he clashed with Coach John Madden, who told the young free agent that he was too sensitive.
Madden may have been unaware that he was dealing first and foremost with an actor, not a football player. In the off-season, Weathers took bit parts and attended San Francisco State University, completing a bachelor’s degree in drama in 1974. After that, Weathers found work in blaxploitation films such as “Bucktown” and “Friday Foster.” Then, in 1975, Weathers auditioned for the part of Apollo Creed in “Rocky.”
He was reading with Sylvester Stallone, then a complete unknown, and Weathers felt it was going badly. “If you got me a real actor,” Weathers snapped, “I could do a lot better.” There was silence, but Stallone was impressed. This was exactly the kind of arrogance that he was looking for. Weathers got the role and a career was made.
In addition to four outings as Apollo Creed, Weathers played Major Al Dillon in “Predator,” Detective Jericho Jackson in “Action Jackson,” Chubbs in “Happy Gilmore,” a fictionalized version of himself in “Arrested Development,” and in a late career hit, Greef Karga in “The Mandalorian,” the “Star Wars” series that also utilized his talents as a director.
Weathers is survived by his two sons, Jason and Matthew.