Carl Weathers aka Apollo Creed the former NFL linebacker dead at 76
Former New Orleans native Carl Weathers, a former NFL linebacker who became a Hollywood action movie and comedy star, playing nemesis-turned-ally Apollo Creed in the “Rocky” movies, facing-off against Schwarzenegger in “Predator” and teaching golf in “Happy Gilmore,” died Tuesday at 76.
Carl Weathers was active as a linebacker and on special teams in the Raiders’ Division Championship run his rookie year.
Out of Polytechnic High School in Long Beach, Calif., Carl started his collegiate career there at Long Beach City College. An ankle injury kept him out of action in his freshman year, but in 1967 he was named to the AlI-Metropolitan Conference first team defense and eamed Junior College All-American honorable mention.
Carl transferred to San Diego State University for 1968, when the Aztecs won the College Division National Championship with a 9-0-1 record. In 1969, SDSU was also undefeated, winning the Big West Conference Championship with an 11-0 record and earning a Top-20 national ranking.
Carl was serious about pursuing an acting career, Carl attended drama classes at San Francisco State during the off-season.
He would end with an amazing career in movies. Rest in Peace.
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