The world of boxing and the movie screen is in mourning! Carl Weathers, who portrayed the legendary character Apollo Creed from the Rocky film franchise, has died at the age of 76

Shocking news has hit the world! Carl Weathers, who portrayed the legendary character Apollo Creed in the Rocky film franchise, has died at the age of 76. Although he made his mark in the hearts of film fans, he also left his mark on the world of sport.

As the world of film and boxing mourns, Apollo Creed has finished boxing

Apollo Creed has finished boxing. Carl Weathers, known to sports and film fans primarily as the portrayer of the iconic character from the Rocky film franchise, sadly lost the biggest fight of his life on Thursday.

Although Weathers impressed most with his acting skills, his life had a profound overlap into the world of sports. In fact, sports were in his DNA from a young age. He wasn’t just into boxing and martial arts in general. But few people know that he also played in the famous NFL.

His journey through the sporting world of American football began at university. However, in 1970, he made his way to the professional American football career when he signed a professional contract with the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted player.

There, he only appeared in seven games, but still helped the team win the NFL title. A year later, he moved to the Canadian CFL, where he played for the BC Lions for three years. His desire for film eventually won out, however, and in 1974 he began to devote himself full-time to his acting career.

At the age of 76, his portrayer Carl Weathers died

Weathers starred in films as an extra during his years spent in elite sport. During this period he also studied at acting school and after a few years with the movies he landed the role of a lifetime when he decided to audition for the role of the world champion in the movie Rocky.

During this, he reportedly critiqued Sylvester Stallone’s acting skills and eventually won the role of the film’s fatal rival to the main character. As we now know, the film has made an indelible mark on cinema history, as has the sequel to this popular franchise.

Weathers, as Apollo Creed, played one of the key characters in the first four installments of the film franchise (1976-1985). The implacable rivals became fateful friends in the film’s storyline before succumbing to an injury from an exhibition match with Ivan Drago (played by Dolph Lundgren) in the fourth installment of the franchise.

Now, at the age of 76, he died peacefully in his sleep in a family circle, according to the NY Times. The sad news hit not only movie fans, but the sports world as well. His life’s legacy speaks to the close connection between sports and entertainment. The character of Apollo Creed then transcended the movie screen and influenced the perception of boxing as a sport of courage and endless determination.

Source: NY Times, X