Legendary screen actor Carl Weathers has passed away at age 76.
As reported by Deadline, his family confirmed his death in a statement. “We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Carl Weathers,” his family said. "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."
The iconic actor/director and father of two appeared in countless projects throughout his career, including four Rocky movies as Apollo Creed, the eternal sci-fi action classic Predator, Action Jackson, and Happy Gilmore. More recently, he appeared as Greef Karga in The Mandalorian, on which he also directed two episodes.
Before starting his acting career, Weathers did a brief stint in the NFL. He played for Long Beach City College and San Diego State but went undrafted in 1970 before signing with the Oakland Raiders as a free agent. He got involved in the Canadian Football League in 1971 and played for the BC Lions for three years. While still playing football, he attended San Francisco State University, where he studied drama.
Weathers was nominated for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture for his role in Action Jackson in 1988 and got a Primetime Emmy Award nom for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for The Mandalorian in 2021. He had a lengthy career in television, with countless guest roles in shows including Starsky & Hutch, ER, Arrested Development, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. In the early '90s, he also led Street Justice and In the Heat of the Night.
RIP.
