The most famous TV and movie roles of Carl Weathers

Carl Weathers was born in New Orleans on January 14, 1948. He was an actor, director, and professional football player. He died on February 1st, 2024, at the age of 76.

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While working as a professional football player, he started acting as an extra in two films, ‘Bucktown’ (1975, image) and ‘Friday Foster’ (1975) directed by his old friend Arthur Marks.

Over time, his career became more than playing an extra here or there. Let’s review some of the movies and TV series that made Carl Weathers a famous actor in Hollywood.

In the image, the TV film 'Braker' (1985) on ABC.

It began with small appearances in several successful television series in the 70s, such as 'S.W.A.T.' (1975), 'The Six Million Dollar Man' (1975), and 'Starsky & Hutch' (1976).

Photo: 'The Six Million Dollar Man,' ABC

After a few TV appearances came his big breakthrough with 'Rocky' (1976). A curious fact is that during his audition for the role of Apollo Creed, he criticized Stallone's acting. According to Hollywood Reporter, that's what got him the part.

Apollo Creed became a character of eighties pop culture. He was the main antagonist of Rocky, appearing in four movies of the saga.

Thanks to 'Rocky,' Carl Weathers was hired for several new productions. In 'The Defiant Ones,' he plays Cullen Monroe, a prisoner who is transported to another prison along with Johnny 'Joker' Johnson (played by Robert Urich), a fellow inmate he doesn't like at all. United by a desire to be free, however, they combine their forces to escape.

Carl Weathers is also known for his role of Colonel Al Dillon in the movie 'Predator' alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger. It shows how a team of U.S. special forces is sent into the jungle of Central America to fight against an alien warrior.

Around the same time, Weathers would also play an army Colonel in the series 'Tour of Duty' which depicted the hardships of American soldiers in the Vietnam war.

For the movie 'Action Jackson,' Carl Weathers was nominated for an NAACP Image Award. He played a police officer who seeks the help of a corrupt businessman's girlfriend (played by Vanity, photo) to catch the criminal in the act. Sharon Stone also participated in this film.

By then, we could see a pattern: Weathers would be cast in several law enforcement or military roles. They included his character Adam Beaudreaux in 44 episodes of the 90s series 'Street Justice'.

He continued in 1993 with the well-known police drama 'In the Heat of the Night,' where he played Hampton Forbes, the first African American Police Chief in a Mississippi town. Next to him is Carroll O'Connor who played the previous Police Chief, Bill Gillespie, in a series that focused on social issues in the American South as well as crime stories.

Weathers coached Adam Sandler in 'Happy Gilmore,' a movie about an ice hockey player who decides to switch to golf. Weather's character had retired from his golf career after his hand had been bitten off by an alligator. This detail in the sports comedy was actually a reference to Weathers' character in 'Predator' who'd met the same fate.

Adam Sandler wrote a heartfelt message on Instagram when he heard about Carl Weathers' passing. "A true great man," he said. "Great dad. Great actor. Great athlete. So much fun to be around always. Smart... Loyal... Funny... My wife and I had the best times with him every time we saw him."

After a lull in his acting career, Weathers made a comeback in the 2000s with a few appearances in the comedy 'Arrested Development.' He played a funny version of himself giving acting classes to one of the main characters of the show.

From that moment, he would appear in several TV shows again, such as 'Chicago Fire' in 2016. His character State Attorney Mark Jefferies became a recurring figure in 'Chicago P.D.,' 'Chicago Justice,' and 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit' as well.

Carl Weathers lent his voice to Combat Carl, the action doll in Pixar's animated toy collection for 'Toy Story 4' in 2019. The role connected with his past as an athlete and his action characters in previous movies.

His last role, in the series 'The Mandalorian' was undoubtedly one of his best TV roles. Weathers played Greef Karga, a character in the Star Wars franchise that had been created by Jon Favreau.

Greef Karga was supposed to appear only in a few episodes, but Favreau and the producers liked the character so much that he got more time in the series. Moreover, Weathers was nominated for a Prime Emmy Award for Best Guest Appearance.

Weathers agreed to continue with the role on the condition that he could direct some episodes of the series. He ended up directing 'Chapter 12: The Siege,' and 'Chapter 20: The Foundling'. The series would be his last project for television.

Carl Weathers left two sons whom he had with his ex-wife Mary Ann Castle. As Adam Sandler remembers, he "loved his sons more than anything. What a guy!! Everyone loved him." Sandler wished "love to his entire family," adding that "Carl will always be known as a true legend."

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