From Football Glory to Iconic Film Roles: The Legendary Career of Carl Weathers
Long before he portrayed some of cinema's most memorable characters, Carl Weathers established himself as a standout athlete. Born in 1948 in New Orleans, Carl took an early interest in sports. At high school in San Diego, he excelled across multiple sports, earning varsity letters in football, track and field and baseball. His imposing 6’2” athletic frame and competitive nature made him a star linebacker. When Carl led his team to a football championship in his senior year, he was flooded with university scholarship offers.
Carl chose to play for San Diego State University. As starting linebacker, he helped take SDSU’s Aztecs to new heights. Over his college career from 1966-1969, Carl earned Defensive Player of the Year honors and boasted 342 career tackles—still ranked in the school's Top 10 today. The San Diego Rockets even selected Carl in the 7th round of the 1970 NBA draft as a forward. But Carl’s true talents lay on the football gridiron.
In 1970, Carl was drafted by the Oakland Raiders. Alternating between linebacker and defensive end positions over seven NFL seasons, Carl contributed to the Raiders’ ferocious defensive line that powered consecutive Super Bowl victories in 1977 and 1981. Knee and shoulder injuries ultimately forced Carl into early retirement in 1978, finishing with eight career interceptions and two defensive touchdowns.
Yearning for new challenges post-NFL, Carl turned to acting. He debuted in a small role as an Oakland Raiders player in the TV movie “Brian’s Song”, foreshadowing Carl’s talent for portraying larger-than-life athletic characters. Filmmaker Mark Robson recognized Carl’s potential and cast him in “Force 10 from Navarone” in 1978 opposite Robert Shaw and Harrison Ford. Though Carl had no formal acting training, Ford mentored him on skills like fight choreography. Carl soon gained a reputation for seriously committing to action movie roles.
Carl’s breakthrough role came shortly after when he landed the iconic part of heavyweight boxing legend Apollo Creed in the original “Rocky” film in 1976. Carl’s natural athleticism and imposing presence made him perfectly suited as Rocky Balboa’s trash-talking rival. Delivering famous lines like “There ain't gonna be no rematch” with charismatic bravado, Carl stole scenes and brought dramatic heft against Sylvester Stallone. The role earned Carl widespread acclaim and cemented his status as a formidable screen presence.
Reprising fan favorite Apollo Creed in three “Rocky” sequels, Carl expanded beyond villains to showcase his versatility. In 1982’s “Rocky III”, Apollo becomes Rocky’s trainer and mentoring figure in classic montage-training sequences. When Apollo later dies tragically in 1985’s “Rocky IV” during an exhibition fight with Russian boxer Ivan Drago, Carl compels with emotional depth as the mortally wounded champ. Through the Rocky series, Carl imbued all facets of Apollo Creed with magnetic charisma that enshrined the character as an all-time cinematic great.
Between Rocky films, Weathers took on roles across action, drama and comedy genres. Memorably playing Dillon, the hard-edged squad leader battling Predators alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in “Predator”. Portraying heavyweight boxing champ George Foreman in “The Buster Douglas Story”. Appearing in TV sitcoms “In the House” and “Arliss” displaying comedic timing. Ever expanding his talents, Carl commanded respect through diverse characters unified by his imposing physical presence and charm.
By the 1990s, Carl was a household name appearing in blockbuster films “Action Jackson” alongside Sharon Stone and “Hurricane Smith” with Kevin Costner. Carl also returned to his sports roots portraying legendary football coach and commentator John Madden in 2000’s “The Replacements” starring Keanu Reeves and Gene Hackman. Approachable despite his fame, Carl became a fixture as himself in commercials for companies like Bud Light and Toyota - often joking about his tough guy roles.
As Carl entered his 60s, his physique and athleticism still rivaled actors half his age. He embraced roles poking fun at his own larger-than-life image like in comedies “The Comebacks” playing overly intense Coach Lambeau alongside David Koechner and “Sandy Wexler” opposite Adam Sandler as a caricatured version of himself. Game for self-parody while remaining convincing in dramatic parts, Carl proved a versatile talent.
In recent years, Carl’s prolific career came full circle when he was cast to portray Apollo Creed’s boxing trainer Tony “Little Duke” Evers in the new “Creed” films starring Michael B. Jordan. Reprising his Rocky character’s son over 30 years later, Carl anchored Creed’s corner with curmudgeonly wit training the young fighter. Off-screen, 71-year-old Carl also personally coached Jordan for the films’ intense boxing scenes, having maintained rigorous fitness himself. Their heartfelt on-screen bond reflected Carl’s real mentorship helping launch Jordan’s own breakout star success.
Today at age 75, Carl Weathers’ enduring big screen presence is busier than ever. Starring in comedies like “Operation Ragnarok”, action thrillers such as “Shadow Force” and returning for “Creed III” in 2023, Carl entertains new generations of fans while cementing his cinematic legacy. His portrayal of Greef Carga in Disney’s popular Star Wars series “The Mandalorian” has introduced Carl to whole new audiences.
Few artists in film history have commanded both dramatic gravitas and light-hearted charisma through such memorable roles as Carl Weathers. From his early football fame to becoming one of Hollywood’s most celebrated character actors, Carl has always infused unique magnetism into every part. Both aspirational yet relatable, Carl’s continued success reveals that audiences never tire of cheering on an underdog who battles the odds. Thanks for listening to Quiet Please. Remember to like and share wherever you get your podcasts