Rocky, The Mandalorian Star Carl Weathers Passes Away

Hollywood has lost an iconic star as Carl Weathers, known for his roles in Rocky, Predator, Happy Gilmore, The Mandalorian and more, has passed away. Deadline reports that Weathers passed on Tuesday as confirmed by his family. He was 76 years old.

His family issued a statement 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.

Weathers began his career path not as an actor, but in football. Born in 1948 in New Orleans, he went to private school thanks to his athletic talents earning him a scholarship. He eventually went to Long Beach Poly High School in California and played football there, graduating in 1966. He played defensive end in college at San Diego State University, where he helped the team win the 1969 Pasadena Bowl. While there, he earned a master degree in theater arts that would come into play later.

While he was undrafted, he eventually signed with Oakland Raiders and played eight games in two seasons. He then played with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League from 1971 to 1973. He retired from football in 1974, at which point he was already getting acting work as an extra.

Following his football career, he dove into acting full-time and appeared in a couple of blaxploitation films, 1975’s Friday Foster and Bucktown. 1976 saw him shoot to stardom with one of the roles for which he will be best remembered, that of Apollo Creed in Rocky. Weathers’ charismatic rival to the titular character became an instant hit, and he reprised the role in the next three films. The character’s legacy has lived on in the spinoff series Creed, which follows Apollo’s son Adonis.

Weathers went on to star in a number of films in the 1980s, most famously Predator as Colonel Al Dillon alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger and Action Jackson as the titular cop. The latter earned him an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture. He also worked regularly on TV, starring in the short-lived Fortune Dane for five episodes in 1986 and appearing in a recurring role on Tour of Duty as Col. Carl Brewster.

The 1990s saw Weathers focus on TV, playing Adam Beaudreaux in Street Justice and then Police Chief Hampton Forbes in In the Heat of the Night. One of his only film roles also brought him a new level of fame as he played Chubbs, the one-handed golfing instructor in Happy Gilmore opposite Adam Sandler. Weathers would appear in other Sandler projects including Little Nicky (again as Chubbs) and the animated Eight Crazy Nights.

Weathers continued to work regularly after that, including appearances as himself in Arrested Development, until he got his final prominent role as Greef Karga in The Mandalorian. Weathers appeared in 10 episodes of the series as the ally to the titular character and was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for the role.

On behalf of 411, our condolences to the family, friends and fans of Mr. Weathers. He will most certainly be missed.