Actor Carl Weathers, known for his role as Apollo Creed in “Rocky,” has died

American actor Carl Weathers, known for having played the boxer Apollo Creed in the saga Rocky, died at the age of 76. The actor passed away on Thursday 1^er FEBRUARY “peacefully in his sleep”his family said in a press release sent to the site Deadline.

Carl Weathers has appeared in more than seventy-five American films and television series during his career. His most famous role remains that of Apollo Creed, a tireless African-American puncher who is challenged in the ring by Sylvester Stallone in the saga Rocky. Initially an enemy of Rocky Balboa, his character transforms over the course of the different opuses into the boxer’s traveling companion.

The actor was also opposed to Arnold Schwarzenegger in the film Predator, in 1987. More recently, he appeared in several episodes of the series The Mandalorianinspired by the world of films Star Wars.

Born in 1948 in New Orleans, Carl Weathers initially had a brief sporting career, notably with the American football team at San Diego State University. He played a few games in the NFL, the American professional league, before turning to cinema, where he started with television series.