Carl Weathers, Star of ‘Rocky’ and ‘Predator,’ Dies at 76
Actor Carl Weathers has died at 76, according to Variety.
Weathers was best known for his work in movies like Rocky, where he played the titular boxer's rival Apollo Creed (reprising the role in three sequels), and Predator, where he played a loyal friend and partner to Arnold Schwarzenegger in trying to take down that film's titular vicious creature.
His work wasn't exclusive to the macho genres of sports and action films, however. He became known for the ability to bring a nearly unmatchable charisma to just about anything; he played a golf instructor who had a wooden hand and a rivalry with an alligator opposite Adam Sandler in Happy Gilmore, and in recent years brought that same skillset to play the cunning bounty hunter-turned-noble space lord Greef Karga in The Mandalorian. He also directed two episodes of Disney+'s flagship Star Wars series, including Season 3's fourth episode, "The Foundling."
One of his most memorable and hilarious roles came when he showed willingness to make fun of himself and his action star persona; in Arrested Development he played "Carl Weathers" as an uber-cheap acting coach who loves discounts and is, essentially, scheming Tobias (David Cross) out of money. He appeared in four episodes over the show's first four seasons.
Before becoming an actor, Weathers was also a professional athlete; he played college football at San Diego State University. While playing, he studied theater, but after school signed as an undrafted free agent with the Oakland Raiders. He played with them for two seasons before shifting his sights to acting full-time.
Weathers was also known for roles in films like Action Jackson and Close Encounters of the Third Kind and appeared in TV shows like The Shield and Colony. His IMDB page is an impressive one, and you can surely find a number of projects worth your time, whether that's something brand new to you, or a classic well worth revisiting.
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