How appropriate that Carl Weathers’ last acting appearance was during the 58th Super Bowl on Sunday night.
The former pro linebacker turned actor, who died earlier this month at 76, appeared in a moving cameo on a Super Bowl ad for the online gambling company FanDuel, according to a teaser it released in January. The ad focuses on former NFL tight end Rob Gronkowski’s “kick of destiny,” which he attempted unsuccessfully at the last Super Bowl. In the teaser, according to People, Gronkowski is preparing to attempt a field goal for the second year when Weathers shows up on a motorcycle to offer Rocky-style words of encouragement.
After Weathers’ Feb. 1 death, FanDuel, which sponsors the “kick of destiny,” said it was adjusting the commercial but would leave Weathers in it. Gronkowski attempted the kick before Sunday’s game, but missed again. The final version of the FanDuel ad that aired during the game shows onlookers and celebrities, including Weathers, reacting with disappointment. “You gave it your all, Gronk,” Weathers says softly, watching on TV in a dimly lit room. The ad ends with a shot of Gronkowski, mid-practice, turning around to look at Weathers, who is standing with his arms crossed, nodding approvingly. The words “Thank you, Carl,” and the years 1948-2024 appear underneath.
Sneyd said FanDuel had built two original versions of the ad, one to use if Gronkowski made the kick and another if he missed. Sneyd said the team was “viewing edits through tears” given Weathers’ passing. The company reworked it, with Weathers’ family’s approval.
Weathers was born on January 14, 1948, in New Orleans, Louisiana. His father was a day laborer, but Carl was such a good athlete he earned an athletic scholarship to St. Augustine High School, a private school. He was involved in boxing, football, gymnastics, judo, soccer, and wrestling. He went on to have a stellar pro career playing two seasons with the Oakland Raiders in the early 1970s before pursuing acting full-time.
Over the course of his career, Weathers embodied such iconic characters as Apollo Creed in the first four “Rocky” movies, Derick “Chubbs” Peterson in “Happy Gilmore,” and himself in “Arrested Development.” He began his early career in a 1975 episode of the sitcom Good Times titled “The Nude,” portraying an angry husband who suspected his wife of cheating on him with J.J. Weathers also guest-starred in a 1975 episode of Kung Fu titled “The Brothers Caine.” In 1976, he appeared as a loan shark in an episode of the crime-drama Starsky & Hutch, and in the Barnaby Jones episode “The Bounty Hunter.”
While auditioning for the role of Apollo Creed alongside Sylvester Stallone in Rocky, Weathers criticized Stallone’s acting, which led to him getting the role. He reprised the role of Apollo Creed in the next three Rocky films.
Weathers’ official cause of death was revealed a week after the actor died in his sleep, according to a report. Weathers died as a result of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, according to his death certificate, obtained by The Blast. Apparently, he had this condition for years, but he lived his life to the fullest.
“We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Carl Weathers,” his family said in a statement. “He died peacefully in his sleep on Thursday, February 1st, 2024. … Carl was an exceptional human being who lived an extraordinary life. Through his contributions to film, television, the arts, and sports, he has left an indelible mark and is recognized worldwide and across generations. He was a beloved brother, father, grandfather, partner, and friend.”
