2024-02-03 20:01:55
Ammon – American actor Carl Weathers, who was famous for his portrayal of the boxer Apollo Creed in the “Rocky” film series, has died at the age of 76, it was reported on Friday.
Carl Weathers’ family explained in a statement sent to the Deadline website that the actor died Thursday “peacefully in his sleep.”
Carl Weathers played roles in more than 75 American films and television series during his artistic career.
One of his most famous roles is his portrayal of the world heavyweight boxing champion, Apollo Creed, who faces Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) in the ring in the “Rocky” film series, the first of which was in 1976.
The final match between them, with its blood and punches filmed in slow motion, became an unforgettable scene in the history of cinema, and a reference moment in films about combat fights.
The first “Rocky” film won the Academy Award for Best Picture, and marked the beginning of Sylvester Stallone’s huge artistic career.
The actor wrote on Instagram, commenting on the death of his colleague: “Today is a very sad day for me.” He added, “Carl Weathers has been an integral part of my life and my success… and I am very grateful to him.”
“He was so brilliant, with his voice, his size, his presence, his athleticism, but above all his heart and soul,” added the actor, who also played the famous Rambo. “This is a terrible loss.”
Apollo Creed was initially an enemy of Rocky, then over the course of the series he became his companion in his career as a boxer.
This development enabled him years later to relaunch the series under the name “Creed,” in which Stallone became a trainer for Adonis, the son of Apollo.
He also played opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1987 movie “Predator.”
On Friday, Schwarzenegger regretted the departure of Withers, describing him as a “legend,” praising his merits as an actor and his personality. He added, “We could not have made ‘Predator’ without him. We certainly would not have had as much fun making it.”
Actor Jesse Ventura, who starred with him in the movie “Predator” before becoming governor of Minnesota, also praised “Carl Weathers was an exceptional talent, a true professional, and a dear friend.”
Most recently, Withers, who was born in New Orleans in 1948, participated in several episodes of the series “The Mandalorian,” inspired by the “Star Wars” universe.
AP
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