Portraying one of the big screen's most famous boxing stars also led to a friendship with Muhammad Ali, who would play-fight with the actor whenever the two crossed paths.Ī promotional photo of Sylvester Stallone (l) and Carl Weathers (r) from 1979's 'Rocky II.' Getty Rocky, of course, became a huge hit soon after its November 1976 release (approximately since months before the first Star Wars film hit theaters), and Weathers was an instant star. Weathers claimed Stallone felt the dig was something that the arrogant Creed would say. Though he may have unwittingly insulted the film's star, the move won him the part. Recalling the moment years later in a 2015 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he said he announced to those present for the audition that "I could do a lot better if you got me a real actor to work with." Weathers felt the audition went awkwardly. He was told he would be reading for the role with the movie's writer, but he didn't know the writer was also the star, Sylvester Stallone.
But it was Rocky that made Weathers a star, even if he walked away from the audition thinking he had made a really bad call in judgment.
MANDALORIAN ACTOR ARRESTED TV
He went on to film roles in a couple blaxploitation films before landing guest spots on the TV hits Good Times, Kung Fu, and Starsky and Hutch. In 1974, he earned a bachelor's degree in drama from San Francisco State University and quickly found work in his new chosen profession. But it was during the off-seasons that he pursued his new passion-acting. After playing in only one game for the Raiders in 1971, Weathers was released, and he moved on to the Canadian Football League, where he played for the B.C. Taking advantage of those skills, he went on to play college football, becoming a letterman while a defensive end at San Diego State University.Īfter college, Weathers signed with the NFL's Oakland Raiders in 1970, where he played as a linebacker for seven games his first year. During high school in his hometown of New Orleans, he competed in a variety of sports before graduating in 1966, but he especially excelled at football. Long before he was Greef Karga on The Mandalorian, and even before he was Apollo Creed in the Rocky franchise, Carl Weathers was a star athlete.
Gettyīut acting and directing is just one of many talents Weathers has displayed in a life spent mostly in the spotlight. Carl Weathers speaking on a panel at the Star Wars Celebration at McCormick Place Convention Center on Apin Chicago, Illinois.
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