Highlights

  • Carl Weathers made a name for himself in both the NFL and Hollywood, transitioning seamlessly from football to film.
  • At the time of his 2024 death, Carl Weathers' net worth was estimated to stand at $9.2 million.
  • His most iconic roles include Apollo Creed in the Rocky franchise and Colonel Al Dillon in Predator.
  • Weathers had a passion for football that continued even after his playing career ended, narrating NFL Films' season recaps and appearing on NFL Network.

Few actors achieve fame in the NFL and seamlessly transition to headlining Hollywood films, but Carl Weathers scored a touchdown in more than one industry.

Weathers initially made a name for himself as a professional football player before he became a big name in Hollywood.

He played college football for the San Diego State Aztecs and even signed with the Oakland Raiders in the NFL.

In 1973, Weathers stepped off the field and onto the silver screen, soon becoming a household name.

In the span of his five decades in film, Carl Weathers earned over 20 film credits to his name, grossing up to $2.7 billion combined.

His most iconic roles include Apollo Creed in the Rocky franchise and Colonel Al Dillon in Predator; the latter grossed over $98 million worldwide:

Weathers also flexed his action hero muscles as Jericho "Action" Jackson in the aptly named film Action Jackson.

The 1980s were truly his time to shine, and audiences couldn't get enough of his larger-than-life presence.

Weathers lent his voice as Greef Karga in The Mandalorian, for which he earned a Primetime Emmy Award nomination.

He brought his talents to the screen in diverse projects like Toy Story, and even (in a hilarious turn) as a fictionalized version of himself in Arrested Development.

Sadly, Carl Weathers died on February 1st at the age of 76. But his legacy lives on.

At the time of his death, Carl Weathers' net worth was estimated to stand at $9.2 million.

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Carl Weathers In Film: From Rocky Balboa's Rival To Action Icon

Carl Weathers started out in Hollywood as an extra, while still actively engaged in playing football, and he quickly made a mark with his roles in Blaxploitation films like Bucktown and Friday Foster.

A portmanteau of "Black" and "exploitation," "Blaxploitation" was a film genre primarily associated with and popular through the 1970s.

However, it was his audacious critique of Sylvester Stallone's acting during the audition for Apollo Creed in Rocky that landed him the role.

Weathers went on to reprise this character in three more Rocky films; all four movies combined grossed over $1.195 billion at the box office:

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His foray into action films saw him star alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in the sci-fi hit Predator, and take on lead roles in movies like Action Jackson and Hurricane Smith.

Action Jackson was Weathers' first lead role, hitting theaters in 1988:

The film achieved box office success, grossing $20 million against an $8 million budget and raking in another $45 million in VHS sales.

Weathers co-starred in the 1996 Adam Sandler comedy Happy Gilmore as Chubbs, a golf legend who teaches the titular Happy how to play golf.

He reprised the role nearly four years later in the Sandler comedy Little Nicky.

In 2004, Weathers showed off his comedy chops in a memorable arc on Arrested Development, playing a version of himself as an ad-hoc acting coach.

His voice work in Toy Story Of Terror! and Toy Story 4 (as Combat Carl) contributed to the latter's massive box office success.

Toy Story 4 grossed more than $1 billion worldwide, making it Carl Weathers' highest-grossing film.

Weathers also had an emerging career as a television director in his later years in Hollywood.

Along with The Mandalorian, he occupied the director's chair for episodes of Chicago Med, FBI, and Law & Order in recent years.

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Carl Weathers' Highest Grossing Movies, Ranked

Carl Weathers Film

Box Office (Domestic)

Box Office (International)

Box Office (Total)

Rocky (1976)

$117,235,147

$15,440

$117,250,587

Rocky III (1982)

$125,049,125

$3,561

$125,052,898

Rocky IV (1985)

$127,873,716

$172,600,000

$300,473,716

Close Encounters Of The Third Kind (1977)

$135,189,114

$171,700,000

$306,889,114

Toy Story 4 (2019)

$434,038,008

$639,803,386

$1,073,841,394

Weathers' NFL Career

Before trading tackles for takes, Carl Weathers was a force on the gridiron.

Suiting up for the Oakland Raiders and B.C. Lions in the early 1970s, he wasn't just another player – he was a linebacker with heart and determination.

Weathers even helped the Raiders clinch the AFC West title in 1970. In 1971, he transitioned to strong safety but only played one game before parting ways with the Raiders.

He then joined the BC Lions of the CFL, where he played until 1973, playing 13 games in total.

During the off-season, Weathers pursued a degree in drama at San Francisco State University, setting the stage for his future in acting.

Although his NFL career spanned just eight games over two seasons, and his CFL stint saw him record a single fumble recovery, Weathers' passion for football remained evident.

Even after retiring from the sport in 1974, his connection to the NFL continued through narrating season recaps and appearances on NFL Network.

Weathers narrated NFL Films' season recap of the 1999, 2000, and 2001 seasons.

During the 2017 NFL Draft, he appeared on the NFL Network's pre-draft coverage.

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Carl Weathers' Venice Home

In 2004, Carl Weathers purchased a home in picturesque Venice, California for $1.365 million.

Twenty years later, in 2024, that same property has likely appreciated significantly, now estimated to be valued at an impressive $3 million to $4 million.

It was there, in his Los Angeles home, that Weathers sadly passed away on February 1st at the age of 76.

Surrounded by his loved ones, he peacefully slipped away, leaving behind a legacy that extends far beyond his financial footprint.

Carl Weathers' family did not disclose his cause of death to the press, but issued a statement saying he died in his sleep.

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