A recent report has revealed the official cause of death of actor Carl Weathers, who died in his California home earlier this month at the age 76.
According to the veteran actor’s certificate obtained by The Blast on Feb. 9, it shows the actor passed away as a result of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, shortly after midnight on Feb. 2, in his sleep.
The actor, best known for his role as Apollo Creed in the movie franchise “Rocky,” had reportedly been battling the disease for several years. According to his death certificate, Mr. Weathers’s son Matthew Weathers was listed as the person who informed authorities of his father’s passing.
“Carl was an exceptional human being who lived an extraordinary life,” his family said in a statement. “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.”
Mr. Weathers, who was born in 1948 in New Orleans and whose Hollywood career spanned more than five decades, was also well known for his roles in “Predator,” “Happy Gilmore,” and “The Mandalorian,” which earned him an Emmy nomination in 2021 for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series.
His best known role as boxing champion Apollo Creed started with his initial appearance in 1976’s “Rocky” alongside fellow actor and director Sylvester Stallone. He later reprised the role in three sequels, “Rocky II” in 1979, “Rocky III” in 1982, and finally “Rocky IV” in 1985, which saw the death of his character at the hands of Russian rival Ivan Drago.
A spin-off of the Rocky franchise, “Creed,” later saw Michael B. Jordan playing Apollo Creed’s son, Adonis, alongside Mr. Stallone, in a trilogy starting in 2015.
Mr. Weathers was also a voice actor, most notably for the character Combat Carl in the “Toy Story” franchise. He also featured in the TV sitcom “Arrested Development” as a fictionalized version of himself, as well as other TV shows, including “The Shield,” “Street Justice,” “Colony,” “Chicago P.D.” and “Brothers.”
Other roles included appearances in the 1977 science fiction movie “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” and in the 2007 comedy “The Comebacks.”
Mr. Weathers was also a director of several movies. Before starting his acting career, he played football for the San Diego State Aztecs before starting a professional NFL career as a linebacker for the Oakland Raiders, and later the BC Lions in the Canadian Football League.
Shortly before his death, Mr. Weathers took part in the filming of a Super Bowl commercial for FanDuel, a sports-betting company that Mr. Weathers had had a long-standing affiliation with, alongside former Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski.
The ad has been modified following the actor’s untimely death, but was still aired during the big game on Feb. 11, according to FanDuel’s executive vice president of marketing, Andrew Sneyd.
“The family has been very supportive that they would still like to see Carl in the work,” Mr. Sneyd stated.
Mr. Weathers was cremated in Los Angeles and his ashes given to his surviving family.
