Carl Weathers and Sylvester Stallone in November 2015.Photo:Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic
Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic
Friends and colleagues are remembering the lateCarl Weathers.
The New Orleans-born actor known for roles inRocky,PredatorandThe Mandalorian"died peacefully in his sleep" on Thursday, per a statement from his family, according toDeadlineandVariety. He was 76.
“We lost a legend yesterday,” Stallone, 77, wrote in anInstagram statement, alongside an emotional tribute video. “My life was forever changed for the better the day I met Carl Weathers. Rest in power and keeping punching."
In his video, Stallone said he “never could have accomplished what we did withRockywithout” Weathers.
“He was absolutely brilliant,” Stallone continued. “His voice, his size, his power, his athletic ability, but more importantly, his heart, his soul. It’s a horrible loss.”
Stallone stood in front of a painting of Rocky fighting Apollo in the video, noting that it captured one of the last moments he and Weathers shared inside a boxing ring.
“He was magic, and I was so fortunate to be part of his life,” Stallone concluded. “So, Apollo, keep punching.”
Michael B. Jordan, 36, who played Apollo’s son Adonis “Donnie” Creed in 2015’s sequelCreed, shared a tribute to the man who played his onscreen father. In a story posted on hisInstagramaccount Friday, the actor-director included a photo of Weathers with the caption, “We lost a Legend.”
Although Weathers did not collaborate onCreed, in 2015 the veteran actor gave his seal of approval to Jordan after seeing the film. “You did well for the CREED name!” he wrote in a tweet to Jordan, asEntertainment Weeklyreported at the time. “Congrats on [a] great job, my friend. May your success continue.”
Rocky IVstarDolph Lundgren, 66, shared a statement about costarring with Weathers in the 1985 film.
“I was saddened to hear the news this morning,“said the actor, who played boxer Captain Ivan Drago. “Along with the world, I will miss Carl. He was a great actor, a terrific athlete and a good friend. I cherish many special memories of Carl, both professionally and personally. Like Apollo Creed, he had that special charm that always brought a smile to your face. 🙏.”
Carl Weathers in 1979.Michael Putland/Getty
Michael Putland/Getty
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In their statement announcing the news Friday, Weathers' family called him “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.”
Carl Weathers in 2022.Ethan Miller/Getty
Ethan Miller/Getty
Weathers studied theater and played football at San Diego State University. In 1974 he retired from professional football to pursue acting, earning roles in blaxploitation film and television.
In a 2015 interview withThe Hollywood Reporter, Weathers recounted how he booked the role of Creed. After reading in an audition opposite Stallone as Rocky and feeling “a moment of awkwardness,” he remembered, “I just blurted out, ‘I could do a lot better if you got me a real actor to work with’ … So I just insulted the star of the movie without really knowing it and not intending to.”
But Stallone cast him, he added, apparently because that insult was in character for Creed. “Sometimes the mistakes are the ones that get you the gig.”
source: people.com
