Carl Weathers has died at the age of 76.
The actor, who was most known for his roles in the Rocky franchise – as well as Predator and Happy Gilmore – died in his sleep on Thursday.
The sad news was confirmed by his family in a statement to , which read: ‘We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Carl Weathers.
‘He died peacefully in his sleep on Thursday, February 1st, 2024.
‘Carl was an exceptional human being who lived an extraordinary life. Through his contributions to film, television, the arts and sports, he has left an indelible mark and is recognized worldwide and across generations.
‘He was a beloved brother, father, grandfather, partner, and friend.’
His cause of death has not yet been confirmed.
Adam Sandler, who starred alongside Weathers in Happy Gilmore and Little Nicky, led tributes on social media.
Alongside a selection of snaps of his late pal, he penned: ‘A true great man. Great dad. Great actor. Great athlete. So much fun to be around always. Smart as hell. Loyal as hell. Funny as hell. Loved his sons more than anything. What a guy!!
‘Everyone loved him. My wife and I had the best times with him every time we saw him. Love to his entire family and Carl will always be known as a true legend.’
Weathers originally pursued an American football career before he retired in 1974, and turned his attention to acting, landing roles in Bucktown and Friday Foster the following year.
It was in 1976 that he would be cast in the role that shot him to superstardom, as Apollo Creed, Rocky Balboa’s nemesis, in the first four Rocky films.
The late star appeared opposite Sylvester Stallone, Burt Young, Talia Shire and Tony Burton in the first flick, and instantly became a firm fan favorite.
However, during an appearance on the Rich Eisen Show, he explained that film bosses didn’t actually ‘want to meet him’ when he first got the script.
Recalling his audition, he explained that they wanted ‘any boxer who could act’.
‘I was introduced to him [Stallone], the writer. He comes into the room, out of some vestibule somewhere, and he sits down. They introduce, ‘Well, this is the writer of the screenplay.’ So I’m reading with him,’ he said.
‘As Sly would do, he’s doing Rocky and got this mumble going on. I’m standing up, I’m chomping at the bit.
‘I’ve got all this energy going. And at the end of it, the reading, it’s quiet, it’s like crickets.’
‘I’m really nervous because I think I blew the interview and blew the audition. So I chirp out, “You know, if you get me a real actor I could do a lot better.”
‘Stallone looks up at me like, “This idiot, who is he? Who does he think he is?” I tell people I think I got the job because he wanted to beat the hell out of me.’
‘As far as I know, as far as I’ve heard, one thing Sly always said was, “He was so arrogant, I knew he could do the role”. But I wasn’t being arrogant, I was being nervous! I wanted the role!’
Thankfully, Weathers left Stallone impressed, and he reprised his part in the following three outings – his character was controversially Ki**ed off in 1985’s Rocky IV.
After he left the ring, he switched things up with his stint in sci-fi classic Predator with Arnold Schwarzenegger, in 1987.
Weathers went on to appear in a string of big screen hits, including Think Like A Man Too, Eight Crazy Nights and Toy Story 4.
Despite his time as an action hero, Weathers revealed that it was his stint on comedy Happy Gilmore that left him with painful injuries.
‘I didn’t tell anyone because I’m tough, man. Yeah I hurt my back and actually, to this day, it still really bothers me, because it was right on the spine,’ he told GQ in 2020. ‘It was a blind fall. There are stunt bags, which, maybe are two feet tall.
‘But the bag wasn’t pushed all the way against the wall, so when I went out backwards instead of hitting something flat, my body got trapped, my head on the bags, and my tailbone at the wall, and so it just would crunch on the spine.
‘I felt the pain and the burning sensation immediately. But again, I’m an athlete, I’m tough, I’m an actor, let’s keep going. And after about three or more of those, I said, “No more of that.”’
‘I didn’t know it until years later, but I fractured two vertebrae and osteophytes grew out and connected and it did a self-fuse in a really bad place,’ he added. ‘There were three or four years there where I was just in excruciating pain.
‘I went, “How am I going to get through this?” After maybe the fourth year it all started to calm down. Now, for about two-and-a-half years, almost three years, no serious pain. I’m glad not to be experiencing what I was experiencing. It was debilitating.’
On the small screen, he was known for appearances in Arrested Development, Tour of Duty, Chicago Justice and Colony.
One of his last screen roles came as Greef Karga in the Mandalorian, beside Pedro Pascal, Amy Sedaris, Giancarlo Esposito and Omid Abtahi.
Weathers is survived by his two sons, who he shares with his ex-wife.
