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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsSylvester Stallone said Carl Weathers was essential to what they achieved with Rocky, telling his former co-star: “I never could have accomplished what we did with ‘Rocky’ without him.” Stallone ended his video tribute with “Apollo, keep punching.” Weathers, who played Apollo Creed in the first four Rocky films, died at 76; colleagues from Predator, Happy Gilmore and The Mandalorian also remembered him.
What did Sylvester Stallone say about Carl Weathers?
Stallone’s tribute centered on the creative partnership behind Rocky. In a video shared after Weathers’s death, the actor said, “I never could have accomplished what we did with ‘Rocky’ without him.” He described Weathers as integral to his life and success and closed with a direct address to the character his friend made famous: “Apollo, keep punching.” The Associated Press and the Los Angeles Times reported on Stallone’s message.
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The words carried particular weight because Apollo Creed was not simply Rocky Balboa’s opponent. Creed faced Rocky in the first two films and became his ally in later installments. Lucasfilm says Weathers portrayed him in the first four Rocky movies; the character’s story continued in the Creed spinoff trilogy.
Which other actors and collaborators paid tribute?
Many of the other named tributes came from people who worked with Weathers outside the Rocky series. Their remembrances spoke to his range as a performer and to the personal relationships he built on different sets.
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Jon Favreau and Pedro Pascal
The Mandalorian creator Jon Favreau called Weathers “a hero from my childhood” and wrote, “I am heartbroken by this devastating loss.” Weathers played Greef Karga in the series and directed episodes of it. Co-star Pedro Pascal posted: “Words fail.” Lucasfilm published Favreau’s tribute.
Adam Sandler
Weathers’s Happy Gilmore co-star remembered him as “A true great man. Great dad. Great actor. Great athlete.” Sandler added that Weathers was “Smart as hell. Loyal as hell. Funny as hell.”
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Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jesse Ventura
Both actors worked with Weathers on Predator. Schwarzenegger wrote, “Carl Weathers will always be a legend,” and said, “We couldn’t have made Predator without him.” Ventura called him “a phenomenal talent, a true professional, and a dear friend.” The Los Angeles Times reported these and other celebrity reactions.
When did Carl Weathers die?
Weathers’s death was announced on February 2, 2024, at age 76. The Associated Press reported that his manager, Matt Luber, said he died on Thursday; an AP photo caption identifies the date as January 30, 2024. ABC News quoted the manager’s statement: “Carl was an exceptional human being who lived an extraordinary life.” His family said he died peacefully in his sleep.
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How did colleagues remember his life beyond Rocky?
Weathers’s career connected professional football with a five-decade acting career. The Las Vegas Raiders remembered him as a former player who spent two seasons with the team before becoming an actor. Lucasfilm’s remembrance also highlighted his work as Greef Karga and his directing on The Mandalorian, alongside roles in Predator and Happy Gilmore.
The tributes came from co-stars and collaborators across those projects, rather than from every actor associated with Rocky. Stallone’s message remains the most directly tied to Weathers’s legacy as Apollo Creed: a recognition that the partnership behind the films depended on both of them.
Quick Recap
Sources
- Lucasfilm / StarWars.com: “Carl Weathers Passes Away”, February 2, 2024.
- The Associated Press: “Carl Weathers, linebacker-turned-actor who starred in ‘Rocky’ movies and ‘The Mandalorian,’ dies”, February 2, 2024.
- ABC News: “Carl Weathers, ‘Rocky’ and ‘Predator’ actor, dies at 76”, February 2, 2024.
- Los Angeles Times: “’Everyone loved him’: Sylvester Stallone, Adam Sandler and other stars on Carl Weathers’ death”, February 2, 2024.
- Las Vegas Raiders: “Raiders mourn the passing of Carl Weathers”, February 2, 2024.
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