Sylvester Stallone on the Death of Carl Weathers

Paresh Jadhav

11 months ago

Stallone, who costarred alongside Weathers in the 1976 Oscar-winning movie and its sequels, stood before a painting depicting them boxing to pay their respects and to honor Weathers. “So Apollo, keep punching,” was his message to Weathers.

Adam Sandler and Pedro Pascal, his Rocky co-stars who shared many laughs together on Disney+ series The Mandalorian, paid their own respects. Adam called Rocky an invaluable friend.

Stallone said “Today is an incredibly sad day for me. I’m so torn up, I can’t even tell you. I’m just trying to hold it in because Carl Weathers was such an integral part of my life, my success, everything about it,” He added “I give him incredible credit and kudos, because, when he walked into that room and I saw him for the first time, I saw greatness, but I didn’t realize how great.”

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Rocky

Rocky tells the tale of an unlikely hero – an underdog boxer from nowhere who finds himself unexpectedly taken on as an opponent for one of the biggest prizes in sports. A real Cinderella tale, complete with loan sharks and jealous stepsisters – but more importantly it serves as a reminder that just because someone’s prime years have come and gone doesn’t mean their life has come to an end.

Stallone was fond of remembering Weathers for being such an integral part of his franchise; without Weathers as Apollo Creed, Stallone believes the series wouldn’t exist today. “I loved working with him,” Stallone stated while standing before a painting from their film that showed them. He added, “I’m going to miss him.” Other actors who worked alongside Weathers like Rambo star Julie Bowen and Adam Sandler all remembered his contributions via social media as they mourned his passing this Thursday at age 76.

The Mandalorian

Carl Weathers, who passed away Thursday at age 76, was an exceptional athlete and actor renowned for his roles as Apollo Creed in Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky film franchise. Following his passing, many of his co-stars paid their respects on social media; Adam Sandler of Happy Gilmore fame said of Weathers that he “was an extraordinary actor, friend and true professional. Adam said Carl “was one of my favorites!”

The Mandalorian stands out among other high-budget TV shows by making smart use of its smaller budget. It prioritizes puppetry and practical effects over CGI effects, creating settings that feel real rather than virtual. Ludwig Goransson’s flute motif adds to the show’s overall feel; and is reminiscent of Sergio Leone’s spaghetti Westerns with its lazily dressed bounty hunter Mando riding through dusty frontier towns with weapons clanging off his armor and gunslingers falling off rooftops in an explosion of bloodshed bloodshed!

Predator

Carl Weathers began acting after briefly dabbling in professional football. His debut as an actor came when he took small parts in Arthur Marks’ blaxploitation movies; later, he would find fame as Apollo Creed in Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky films (though this wasn’t his main role).

Weathers made his move after Rocky V (1990). Cop Land (1997) saw him taking on more dramatic roles with Harvey Keitel, Robert De Niro and Ray Liotta; it proved an enormously popular film that helped to revive Weathers’ career.

Weathers went on to appear in numerous action and comedy films over time, such as Cobra (1986), Over the Top (1987) and Tango & Cash (1989). He provided voice work for Combat Carl in Disney’s Toy Story franchise before playing Chubbs Peterson opposite Adam Sandler in Happy Gilmore (1996) starring alongside three wives and leaving behind two sons; he died aged 76 years.

Happy Gilmore

Stallone offered his thoughts and memories about Weathers’ Apollo Creed character from Rocky V in an emotional video tribute that ran for one minute and fifteen seconds. Weathers’ Apollo Creed often met off against Stallone’s Philly boxer character on screen and proved integral in making the Rocky franchise what it is today.

He recalled meeting Weathers for the first time and immediately knowing he was special.

Weathers was born in New Orleans and began his acting career with several minor roles in Arthur Marks’ blaxploitation films, before his breakthrough performance as Rocky Balboa’s main adversary turned ally – played by Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky Balboa – in four of five Rocky films before tragically dying against Russian heavyweight Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren) in Rocky IV. Weathers went on to star in other movies such as Toy Story 4, Predator and Happy Gilmore among others.