BREAKING: Rocky actor Carl Weathers dead at 76

Carl Weathers died on Friday peacefully in his sleep, survived by his wife and two sons. Weathers was a steadfast Hollywood figure, starring alongside Sylvester Stallone in "Rocky," Adam Sandler in "Happy Gilmore," and in the Star Wars spin-off "The Mandalorian."

A statement from his family 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 voiced Combat Carl in "Toy Story 4." Other roles of his included the TV series "Street Justice," "Colony," "The Shield," and others. 
 

One of his more notable and known roles was in “Rocky” and “Rocky II,” where he played Appollo Creed — the professional boxer who met the match of Rocky Balboa, played by Sylvester Stallone. The two smash hits led to "Rocky III," where Weathers played Creed once more; however, instead of competing against Balboa, he trains his former opponent to take on Clubber Lang played by Mr. T.

He played Creed once more in "Rocky IV," where his character agrees to an exhibition match up against a Soviet boxer named Drago, but the match does not end well for him.
 
Born in New Orleans in January 1948, the actor played many different sports growing up such as boxing, soccer, wrestling, and gymnastics. He played college football at San Diego State University and went on to help the team win the 1969 Pasadena Bowl.