Sylvester Stallone emotionally bids farewell to Carl Weathers, Rocky’s backbone
Sylvester Stallone emotionally bids farewell to Carl Weathers, Rocky’s backbone. The actor, visibly affected by the departure of his friend, dedicated a few words to the man who gave life to Apollo Creed in the Rocky saga.
By Staff
In an emotional tribute to his longtime companion, Sylvester Stallone used social media to say goodbye to Carl Weathers, who played Apollo Creed in the first four films of the iconic Rocky saga.
The actor, who died on Feb 1 at the age 76, left an indelible mark on Stallone’s career and film history.
The message, shared in a video on Instagram, shows Stallone in front of an abstract painting that evokes Rocky’s glory days.
His voice breaking at times, Stallone expressed his deep sorrow at the loss of a friend and colleague who was essential to the success of the film franchise.
The day I encountered Carl Weathers marked a transformative and positive turning point in my life.
He was magical, and I was lucky enough to be a part of his life. … Rest in power and keep hitting,” Stallone said (via Deadline) while remembering Weathers’ extraordinary contribution to the world of entertainment.
The connection between Stallone and Weathers dates back to the original Rocky film, released in 1976.
In this film that turned out to be a cultural phenomenon, Weathers played the role of Apollo Creed, the charismatic and arrogant heavyweight champion of the world.
The chemistry between the two actors was evident from the beginning, and Weathers’ commanding presence brought to life a character that became synonymous with the saga.
“Hello everyone. Today is an incredibly sad day for me. … Carl Weathers was such an integral part of my life which says it all. I give him incredible credit… because when he walked into that room, and I saw him for the first time, I saw greatness, but I didn’t realize how big,” Stallone shared with his followers on Instagram.
“I could never have achieved what we did with Rocky without him. He was absolutely brilliant. The voice of him, the size of him, the power of him, the athletic ability of him, but most importantly, the heart of him, the soul of the”.
The cinematic relationship between Stallone and Weathers continued throughout several installments of the Rocky saga.
In Rocky II (1979), Balboa and Creed characters faced off again in an exciting title fight, which further cemented the connection between the two actors.
Rocky III (1982) showed Creed taking on a new role as Balboa’s trainer, a turn that added layers of complexity to their characters and deepened the fictional friendship they shared on screen.
Weathers didn’t just leave his mark on the film boxing genre. In Rocky IV (1985), the most political film in the series, Creed takes on Soviet contender Ivan Drago in a fight that transcends the boundaries of the ring.
Weathers’ performance contributed to making this installment one of the most remembered and discussed of the franchise.
Beyond Rocky, Carl Weathers continued his career successfully in other notable projects. Recently, he rose to fame in the hit Disney+ series, The Mandalorian, where he participated in all three seasons and earned an Emmy nomination in 2021 for his outstanding performance.
Weathers, who before his acting career was a standout NFL linebacker, left an indelible mark on popular culture.
His presence on the big and small screen, his charisma and his versatile talent made him a reference in the entertainment industry.
Sylvester Stallone, visibly affected by his friend’s departure, concluded the message: “He was absolutely great. His voice, his size, his power, his athletic ability, but most importantly, his heart, his soul.
Rest in power and continue hitting, Carl.” The loss of Carl Weathers leaves a void in the film community, but his legacy will live on through his unforgettable contributions to the film industry.
