Carl Weathers, Famous For 'Predator' And 'The Mandalorian' Passes Away At Age 76
Image Source: IMDb
Former professional football player and pop culture legend Carl Weathers passed away on February 1, 2024. In a statement, his family confirmed, “He died peacefully in his sleep.” He was 76 years old.
Weathers was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on January 14, 1948. While in school, he was heavily involved in several sports. Weathers began his celebrity career as an American football player. He started playing for a community college, and later a public university. San Diego State, the university Weathers played for, is where the actor studied theater. Moving on to the NFL, Weathers signed with the Oakland Raiders, now known as the Las Vegas Raiders. Following his year with the NFL, he signed with a Canadian league for several years.
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Image Source: IMDb
Once retired from professional football, Weathers pursued acting full-time. He appeared in a variety of mediums over the years ranging from television movies to music videos to video games and more, with official credits beginning in 1975. Two of his most iconic roles were Apollo Creed in the Rocky franchise and Dillon in Predator. One of his most recent roles was as the recurring character Greef Karga in The Mandalorian. He had a few award nominations over the years, including a Primetime Emmy nomination for his guest role on The Mandalorian.
The creative dabbled in directing and producing as well. Some of his directorial pursuits include two episodes of The Mandalorian, an episode of Hawaii Five-0, and an episode of Law & Order. Some of the pieces he helped produce include The Defiant Ones (1986) and A Burger and a Bullet (2018).
Image Source: IMDb
Weathers is survived by his two sons. The family delivered a statement regarding his passing:
“We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Carl Weathers. He died peacefully in his sleep on Thursday, February 1st, 2024. … Carl was an exceptional human being who lived an extraordinary life. Through his contributions to film, television, the arts, and sports, he has left an indelible mark and is recognized worldwide and across generations. He was a beloved brother, father, grandfather, partner, and friend.”
His legacy in many facets of pop culture will persist for years to come. Specific public memorial services have not been announced. We extend our deepest condolences to the actor’s many friends, colleagues, and family in this time of grief.
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