Farewell Carl Weathers, who passed away at 76. He was a staple of American popular culture.
As Apollo Creed in the Rocky films, he left an indelible mark. If you haven’t seen the Rocky movies in a while, this is the perfect reason to fire them up. The first one, especially, is one of the all-time great American movies. Weathers’ performance provides the perfect foil for Sylvester Stallone’s: slick and charismatic in every way Rocky Balboa is rumbled and sheepish. He was never villainous, and his transition from Rocky’s foe to friend is seamless. It’s a testament to how truthfully Weathers played the role. Apollo made such an impact that it’s Creed’s name that adorns the best sequels to the original Rocky films.
But of course, I’m writing about him here because of his presence in Star Wars. As Greeg Karga in The Mandalorian he lent his considerable gravitas and humor to the series. Karga evolved from outlaw to community leader without a false note. He would have been a mighty presence in the upcoming feature film. I hope and expect he’ll receive a tribute and a send-off worthy of his contributions.
As a director behind the camera, Weathers also made phenomenal action-driven episodes. “The Siege” was straight of a 1980s fantasy of Star Wars, and of course, he directed “The Foundling,” one of the best episodes of the series. It’s the episode that welcomed Jedi Master Kelleran Beq into the Star Wars universe, and healed a major scar on Star Wars fandom. Weathers sensitively (and forcefully) facilitated the arrival of Ahmed Best’s new place and face in the Star Wars galaxy.
So, thank you Carl Weathers. You will be missed, and you will be remembered.