Carl Weathers, Rocky & The Mandalorian Star, Dead At 76

Actor Carl Weathers, best known for his roles in major blockbuster films like "Rocky" and "Predator," has died at the age of 76. According to a statement from Weathers' family obtained by Deadline, the performer died in his sleep on February 1, 2024.

"We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Carl Weathers," the statement read. "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' acting career dates back to the early 1970s, spanning roughly five decades' worth of performances across film, TV, and other mediums. Notably, he is the latest "Rocky" actor to pass away from the beloved action franchise. His death comes just several months after that of his co-star Burt Young, who died in October 2023 at the age of 83.

The late Carl Weathers started acting in the 1970s, with appearances in action-packed television series like "The Six Million Dollar Man" and "Kung Fu." However, his big breakout role came with the release of 1976's "Rocky," where he starred as the film's antagonist, Apollo Creed, opposite Sylvester Stallone's titular boxer. The actor would go on to reprise the role throughout various films in the franchise. Later, he appeared in various popular and hard-hitting properties, including his turn as war veteran Al Dillon in 1987's iconic sci-fi horror film "Predator."

Weathers was active in the film and TV industry up until 2023. Recently, he landed a reoccurring role on the short-lived "Chicago Justice" as attorney Mark Jefferies, which also led him to star in several guest appearances throughout the "One Chicago" procedural franchise. He also made his grand debut in "Star Wars" in 2019 by way of "The Mandalorian," in which he portrayed bounty hunter associate Greef Karga for three seasons.

A portion of Weathers' career saw him behind and away from the camera as well. Throughout his time in the industry, the talent obtained directorial credits on many popular TV shows, including "Hawaii Five-0," "Law & Order," "Chicago Med," and "The Mandalorian." He also worked as a voice actor in animated series like "Regular Show" and video games like "Mortal Kombat X."

For much of his life, Weathers engaged in a healthy lifestyle. In his youth, he played college football and joined the NFL's Oakland Raiders for a single season in 1970. According to the actor, his athletic life proved to be a personal catharsis separate from his acting aspirations. "When I found football, it was a completely different outlet," Weathers told The Detroit News. "It was more about the physicality, although one does feed the other. You needed some smarts because there were playbooks to study and film to study, to learn about the opposition on any given week."

Weathers was eventually able to combine elements from both parts of his lifestyle with his role as Apollo Creed in the "Rocky" franchise, and he continued his athletic habits alongside his work as an actor. However, the star sustained a significant injury during the filming of 1996's Adam Sandler-led comedy "Happy Gilmore." A botched fall stunt for the movie permanently damaged the actor's body, with him sustaining two fractured vertebrae. To make matters worse, the injury didn't heal correctly, resulting in a lasting physical ailment for the remainder of his career. In an interview with GQ, Weathers called the injury "debilitating." "There were three or four years there where I was just in excruciating pain," he recalled. 

While the injury healed over time, Weathers noted that a small bit of pain lingered in the decades beyond. Nonetheless, he continued to actively work as an actor in demanding projects like "The Mandalorian," ending his career still at the helm of one of pop culture's most popular IPs — a hugely impressive feat for any actor.