Actor and former NFL player Carl Weathers has died, according to media reports. His manager Matt Luber confirmed the death on Thursday. A statement from Weathers’ family said he died “peacefully in his sleep,” according to reports. “Carl was an extraordinary person who lived an extraordinary life.”
Weathers is best known for his role in the Rocky films. In it he played the boxer “Apollo Creed”, whose character was based on the boxing star Muhammad Ali had been inspired.
Weathers also appeared in the US film “Predator” alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger and in several television productions. He was last seen in the series “The Mandalorian”. Here he also directed two episodes. Before his acting career, Weathers was an athlete: in football he held the position of linebacker. He retired from football in 1974.
Carl Weathers was born in New Orleans, USA, in 1948. He was 76 years old.