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| Carl Weathers, at left, in his iconic role as Apollo Creed, opposite Rocky Balboa, played by Sylvester Stallone, training on the beach in "Rocky III". Source: https://thetempest.co/2020/06/17/style/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-straight-male-crop-top/ (May be subject to copyright) |
Such was the life and career of Carl Weathers in the 1980s.
The life and death of Apollo Creed
He first came on the scene in 1977 as the world boxing champion and showman looking to host a spectacle to celebrate America’s 200th anniversary. Apollo Creed’s idea was to give a relative unknown a shot at the heavyweight championship of the world.
Creed was cocky, arrogant, loud, and bombastic, when he chose to fight the unknown journeyman boxer Rocky Balboa.
He chose wrong.
Balboa not only knocked Creed down, but went the distance with him.
Creed swore, once the final bell rang, he would never fight Balboa again.
Until he did, after the pressure and doubt from the public compelled him to give Balboa a title shot.
The two went toe to toe, and wound up knocking each other down in the last few seconds of the final round. However, Balboa managed to pick himself up to beat the bell and claim the title.
Balboa would go on to defend his title 10 times. Then, lethargic and out of shape, he takes on the toughest challenger he would face – Clubber Lang. Lang not only beat Balboa, but he wounded him physically and psychologically.
It all looked over for Balboa, until the improbable happened. Apollo Creed shows up, offering to train Balboa for another shot at the title. Balboa agrees, the two fighters bond, and Creed trains him. Together they re-enter the ring and Balboa re-takes the title.
Creed, however, meets his demise when he agrees to come out of retirement to fight Russian champion Ivan Drago. That not only goes poorly, but Creed is killed in the ring.
Such was the life and death of Apollo Creed, played by Carl Weathers in Rocky I, II, III and IV.
Epic remake
Carl Weathers would play one of his most memorable roles in 1986, co-starring with Robert Urich in a TV remake of an amazing movie. “The Defiant Ones” was originally made in the 1950s co-starring Tony Curtis and Sidney Poitier. They are two prisoners, one black and the other white, who hate each other, get into a fight and, when being transported to another prison, are in an accident that allows them to escape. The problem is they are chained together, and have to work together to survive.
Epic remake
Carl Weathers would play one of his most memorable roles in 1986, co-starring with Robert Urich in a TV remake of an amazing movie. “The Defiant Ones” was originally made in the 1950s co-starring Tony Curtis and Sidney Poitier. They are two prisoners, one black and the other white, who hate each other, get into a fight and, when being transported to another prison, are in an accident that allows them to escape. The problem is they are chained together, and have to work together to survive.
It was one of the first movies I recorded with my new VCR, and it was well worth it. I had not seen the original, so I had nothing to compare it too. That was probably good, because I judged it on its own merits and I liked it.
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| Carl Weathers as the title character in the short-lived 1986 crime drama "Fortune Dane". Source: https://i0.wp.com/www.bulletproofaction.com/ wp-content/uploads/2015/09/200px-Fortune_Dane1.jpg (May be subject to copyright) |
Fortune Dane
Weathers was back on TV later in 1986 with a short-lived TV series. Fortune Dane was a detective, tracking down a hit man. Part of the collateral damage is Dane’s father Frank, who Dane watched die in his arms. A series of events forces him to leave town and take a job working for the mayor of the fictional city of Bay City, propelling him to a career of fighting crime and bringing criminals to justice.
Weathers was back on TV later in 1986 with a short-lived TV series. Fortune Dane was a detective, tracking down a hit man. Part of the collateral damage is Dane’s father Frank, who Dane watched die in his arms. A series of events forces him to leave town and take a job working for the mayor of the fictional city of Bay City, propelling him to a career of fighting crime and bringing criminals to justice.
“Fortune Dane” also starred actress Daphne Ashbrook, who earlier that TV season was fresh from a stint in the show “Our Family Honor”. The pilot featured Adolph Caesar playing Fortune Dane’s father. Caesar had just come off an Oscar-nominated performance in “A Soldier’s Story” in 1984, and his role as Frank Dane in “Fortune Dane” would be one of his last before he died in March of 1986 at the age of 52.
“Fortune Dane” appeared on Channel 7 on peasant vision in the spring of 1986 and lasted five episodes. By that time I had a part-time job after school, and taped “Fortune Dane”, watching when I got home.
The years after
Carl Weathers was busy throughout the ‘80s and beyond. He appeared in the movies “Predator” in 1987, and “Action Jackson” in 1988, as well as had a recurring role in the Vietnam War drama “Tour of Duty”.
Carl Weathers was busy throughout the ‘80s and beyond. He appeared in the movies “Predator” in 1987, and “Action Jackson” in 1988, as well as had a recurring role in the Vietnam War drama “Tour of Duty”.
Beyond the ‘90s he had regular roles on television in “Street Justice”, “In the Heat of the Night”, and guest spots in everything from “The Shield” and “ER” to “Arrested Development”, “Chicago Justice”, “Chicago P.D.”, “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit”, “Psych” and most recently “The Mandalorian” in 2019. In the theatres, he appeared in such movies as, “Hurricane Smith”, “Happy Gilmore”, “Little Nicky”, and “Toy Story 4” in 2019.
B.C. bound
Interestingly, for a brief moment in time, Carl Weathers had a brief stint playing professional football with the B.C. Lions of the Canadian Football League. After lettering with San Diego State, he played two years with the Oakland Raiders in the NFL, appearing in eight games in 1970 and 1971. After the Raiders released him, Weathers came to Canada, signing with the Lions, here he played 18 games from 1972 to 1973, then retired from football to pursue acting.
Interestingly, for a brief moment in time, Carl Weathers had a brief stint playing professional football with the B.C. Lions of the Canadian Football League. After lettering with San Diego State, he played two years with the Oakland Raiders in the NFL, appearing in eight games in 1970 and 1971. After the Raiders released him, Weathers came to Canada, signing with the Lions, here he played 18 games from 1972 to 1973, then retired from football to pursue acting.
Parting thoughts
Carl Weathers remains one of my favourite actors and it is for that one role in the Rocky movies. I love Apollo Creed, and “Rocky III” remains one of my favourite movies. I still watch it at least once a year. I still remember the utter shock and surprise when Rocky Balboa was at his lowest point, and Creed stepped out of the shadows to make an unbelievable offer.
Carl Weathers remains one of my favourite actors and it is for that one role in the Rocky movies. I love Apollo Creed, and “Rocky III” remains one of my favourite movies. I still watch it at least once a year. I still remember the utter shock and surprise when Rocky Balboa was at his lowest point, and Creed stepped out of the shadows to make an unbelievable offer.
Then, the bond they formed, especially when Rocky finally beats Apollo in a foot race on the beach and they run into the ocean hugging and high-fiving each other. It symbolized how Rocky had come all the way back, and it was his one-time worst enemy who took him there. Then, when Apollo lends him the shorts he wore the first time he fought Rocky, it brought a tear to my eye. Especially, when he was wearing those same colours when he re-took the heavyweight championship.
Apollo Creed was tough and intense, but also sensitive and understanding. He became like a brother to Rocky, and Balboa admits as much to Apollo’s son in the movie “Creed” 30 years later.
Carl Weathers turned in a signature performance that will be etched in my memory forever.
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