History of Carl Weathers in Timeline

Share: FB Share X Share Reddit Share Reddit Share
Carl Weathers

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.

January 14, 1948: Carl Weathers Born

On January 14, 1948, Carl Weathers was born. He was an American actor, director and gridiron football player.

1966: Graduated from Long Beach Poly High School

In 1966, Carl Weathers played football and graduated from Long Beach Poly High School.

1966: College Career

In 1966, Carl Weathers started his college career in football as a defensive end at Long Beach City College, where he did not play due to an ankle injury.

1968: Letterman for the San Diego State Aztecs

In 1968, Carl Weathers became a letterman for the San Diego State Aztecs.

1969: Won 1969 Pasadena Bowl

In 1969, Carl Weathers helped the Aztecs win the Pasadena Bowl, finishing with an 11–0 record, and a No. 18 ranking in the Final UPI Poll.

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.

1973: Married Mary-Ann Castle

In 1973, Carl Weathers married Mary-Ann Castle.

1974: Retires from football

In 1974, Carl Weathers retired from football and began pursuing an acting career.

1974: Earns a bachelor's degree

In 1974, during the off-seasons of playing with the BC Lions, Carl Weathers attended San Francisco State University and earned a bachelor's degree in drama.

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.

Loading Video...

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.

Loading Video...

1976: Rocky Film Debut

In 1976, Carl Weathers played Apollo Creed in the first Rocky film.

Loading Video...

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.

Loading Video...

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.

Loading Video...

1979: Rocky II Film

In 1979, Carl Weathers reprised the role of Apollo Creed in the Rocky II film.

Loading Video...

1982: Rocky III Film

In 1982, Carl Weathers reprised the role of Apollo Creed in the Rocky III film.

Loading Video...

1983: Divorced Mary-Ann Castle

In 1983, Carl Weathers divorced Mary-Ann Castle.

1984: Married Rhona Unsell

In 1984, Carl Weathers married Rhona Unsell.

1985: Rocky IV Film

In 1985, Carl Weathers played Apollo Creed in Rocky IV film.

Loading Video...

1987: Predator Film

In 1987, Carl Weathers played Colonel Al Dillon in Predator film.

Loading Video...

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.

Loading Video...

1991: Street Justice TV Series

In 1991, Carl Weathers portrayed Det. Beaudreaux in the television series Street Justice.

Loading Video...

1992: Hurricane Smith Film

In 1992, Carl Weathers starred in the action film Hurricane Smith.

Loading Video...

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.

Loading Video...

1993: Street Justice TV series

In 1993, Carl Weathers portrayed Det. Beaudreaux in the television series Street Justice.

Loading Video...

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.

Loading Video...

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.

Loading Video...

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.

Loading Video...

2004: Arrested Development series

In 2004, Carl Weathers played a fictionalized version of himself in the comedy series Arrested Development.

Loading Video...

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.

Loading Video...

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: Divorced Rhona Unsell

In 2006, Carl Weathers divorced Rhona Unsell.

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.

Loading Video...

2007: Married Jennifer Peterson

In 2007, Carl Weathers married Jennifer Peterson.

2008: Appeared in ER

In 2008, Carl Weathers appeared in one episode of ER during its finale season.

Loading Video...

2009: Divorced Jennifer Peterson

In 2009, Carl Weathers divorced Jennifer Peterson.

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.

Loading Video...

2013: Arrested Development series

In 2013, Carl Weathers played a fictionalized version of himself in the comedy series Arrested Development.

Loading Video...

2014: Partnered with Christine Kludjian

In 2014, Carl Weathers began a partnership with Christine Kludjian.

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.

Loading Video...

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.

Loading Video...

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.

Loading Video...

2023: The Mandalorian Series

In 2023, Carl Weathers portrayed Greef Karga in The Mandalorian Star Wars series.

Loading Video...

February 2, 2024: Carl Weathers Death

On February 2, 2024, Carl Weathers died at the age of 76.

August 2024: Hollywood Walk of Fame Star Ceremony

In August 2024, Carl Weathers was honored for Hollywood Walk of Fame Star Ceremony.

2024: Death of Carl Weathers

In 2024, Carl Weathers' longtime partner Christine Kludjian was with him until his death.