Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Carl Weathers
Discover the career path of Carl Weathers, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
Carl Weathers was a multifaceted American personality, renowned as an actor and former professional football player. He achieved widespread recognition for his iconic portrayal of Apollo Creed in the Rocky film series, Colonel Al Dillon in Predator, and Chubbs Peterson in Happy Gilmore. Weathers also starred in the television series Street Justice, had a recurring comedic role in Arrested Development, and voiced characters in animated series like Star vs. the Forces of Evil. His later work included a prominent role as Greef Karga in The Mandalorian, earning him an Emmy nomination.
1970: Joins the Oakland Raiders
In 1970, Carl Weathers joined the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League (NFL) after going undrafted in the NFL draft.
September 1971: Released by the Oakland Raiders
In September 1971, Carl Weathers was released by the Oakland Raiders after playing one game of the 1971 NFL season.
1973: Plays for the BC Lions
Carl Weathers played for the BC Lions until 1973, playing 13 games in total.
1974: Retires from football
In 1974, Carl Weathers retired from football and began pursuing an acting career.
1975: First Significant Roles
In 1975, Carl Weathers had his first significant roles in two blaxploitation films directed by Arthur Marks: Bucktown and Friday Foster. He also appeared in an episode of the sitcom Good Times and an episode of Kung Fu.
1976: Guest Starred on Starsky & Hutch and Barnaby Jones
In 1976, Carl Weathers appeared as a loan shark in an episode of the crime-drama Starsky & Hutch, and in the Barnaby Jones episode "The Bounty Hunter" as escaped convict Jack Hopper.
1977: Close Encounters of the Third Kind Film
In 1977, Carl Weathers briefly appears as an Army MP in one of the three released versions of Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
1978: Starred in Force 10 from Navarone and Not This Time
In 1978, Carl Weathers portrayed Vince Sullivan in a TV movie, Not This Time and also starred in Force 10 from Navarone.
1982: Rocky III Film
In 1982, Carl Weathers reprised the role of Apollo Creed in the Rocky III film.
1987: Predator Film
In 1987, Carl Weathers played Colonel Al Dillon in Predator film.
1988: Action Jackson Film and Saturday Night Live
In 1988, Carl Weathers starred in Action Jackson, hosted Saturday Night Live and appeared in a skit on the show.
1991: Street Justice TV Series
In 1991, Carl Weathers portrayed Det. Beaudreaux in the television series Street Justice.
1992: Hurricane Smith Film
In 1992, Carl Weathers starred in the action film Hurricane Smith.
1992: In the Heat of the Night
In 1992, Carl Weathers' character, Hampton Forbes, replaced Bill Gillespie as the chief of police in the final two seasons of In the Heat of the Night.
1993: Street Justice TV series
In 1993, Carl Weathers portrayed Det. Beaudreaux in the television series Street Justice.
1994: In the Heat of the Night
In 1994, Carl Weathers' character, Hampton Forbes, was in the final two seasons of In the Heat of the Night.
1996: Happy Gilmore film
In 1996, Carl Weathers co-starred in the Adam Sandler comedy Happy Gilmore, as Chubbs, a golf legend teaching Happy how to play golf. During filming, he fractured two vertebrae and was in excruciating pain for years.
1999: Narrates NFL Films recap
In 1999, Carl Weathers narrated NFL Films' season recap.
2000: Narrates NFL Films recap
In 2000, Carl Weathers narrated NFL Films' season recap.
2001: Narrates NFL Films recap
In 2001, Carl Weathers narrated NFL Films' season recap.
2003: Appeared in a skit on Saturday Night Live
In 2003, Carl Weathers appeared in a skit on Saturday Night Live.
2004: Arrested Development series
In 2004, Carl Weathers played a fictionalized version of himself in the comedy series Arrested Development.
2004: Career revival as a comedic actor
In 2004, Carl Weathers received a career revival as a comedic actor, appearing in Arrested Development, The Sasquatch Gang, and The Comebacks. He also guest starred in The Shield.
2005: Narrator on Conquest!
In 2005, Carl Weathers was a narrator on Conquest! The Price of Victory — Witness the Journey of the Trojans!, an 18-part television show about USC athletics.
2006: Rocky Balboa Film
In 2006, for the Rocky Balboa film, Stallone asked Weathers for permission to use footage from previous Rocky films, but Weathers wanted an actual part in the movie. Stallone refused, and Weathers decided not to allow Stallone to use his image for flashbacks.
2008: Appeared in ER
In 2008, Carl Weathers appeared in one episode of ER during its finale season.
2009: Brothers sitcom and advertising campaigns
In 2009, Carl Weathers portrayed the father of Michael Strahan and Daryl "Chill" Mitchell's characters on the short-lived Fox sitcom Brothers, acted in advertising for Old Spice, appeared in advertisements for Credit Union of Washington, and starred in commercials for Bud Light.
2013: Arrested Development series
In 2013, Carl Weathers played a fictionalized version of himself in the comedy series Arrested Development.
2015: Agreed to allow footage
In 2015, Carl Weathers agreed to allow footage of him from previous films to be used throughout Creed after patching up his differences with Stallone.
2017: Appears on NFL Network
In 2017, Carl Weathers appeared on NFL Network's pre-draft coverage.
2017: Star vs. the Forces of Evil
In 2017, Carl Weathers voiced Omnitraxus Prime in Star vs. the Forces of Evil.
2019: The Mandalorian Series
In 2019, Carl Weathers appeared as Greef Karga in several episodes of the first season of the Star Wars series The Mandalorian.
2023: The Mandalorian Series
In 2023, Carl Weathers portrayed Greef Karga in The Mandalorian Star Wars series.
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