Carl Weathers, Rocky and The Mandalorian star, dies at 76

Carl Weathers, the actor and former pro football player best known for portraying Apollo Creed in the Rocky movies, died Thursday at 76.

His manager, Matt Luber, confirmed the news to EW.

Weathers' family said in a statement that he died peacefully in his sleep and added, "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."

Born in New Orleans in 1948, Weathers played football for San Diego State University and later signed with the NFL's Oakland Raiders as a defensive end. He played just eight games before being released, though he helped the team win the AFC West Division title in 1970. Weathers then joined the BC Lions in Vancouver in the Canadian Football League, playing from 1971 to 1973. He began to pursue acting in the off-seasons while earning his bachelor's degree in drama at San Francisco State University, which he completed in 1974.

Weathers played supporting roles in the Blaxploitation movies Bucktown and Friday Foster in the mid-1970s before being cast in Rocky. His character, rival boxer Apollo Creed, served as the antagonist in the original 1976 film, which won the Oscar for Best Picture, and the 1979 sequel Rocky II before becoming a friend and ally to Sylvester Stallone's Italian Stallion in Rocky III (1982) and Rocky IV (1985).

Weathers went on to appear in Predator alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger and played the lead role in Action Jackson and Hurricane Smith. He showcased his comedic chops as Adam Sandler's golf coach in Happy Gilmore.

Weathers' more recent roles often came on the small screen. He made a hilarious turn as a fictionalized version of himself on Arrested Development, where he mentored Tobias Funke (David Cross) with laughably unhelpful acting advice. He also played State's Attorney Mark Jefferies on one season of Chicago Justice.

Perhaps Weathers' most recognizable role outside of Rocky came in the last years of his life, playing Greef Karga on the Star Wars spinoff show The Mandalorian. Karga was a reliable ally for the titular bounty hunter (played by Pedro Pascal) and later ascended to being the magistrate of Nevarro. Weathers also directed two episodes of the Disney+ series, having previously helmed a handful of episodes of shows like Law & Order and Chicago Med.

Weathers is survived by his two sons.

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