Actor Carl Weathers, best known for portraying Apollo Creed in the Rocky film series, passed away at the age of 76.

The popular actor was also well-known for his parts in Happy Gilmore, The Mandalorian, and Predator. Weathers’s family confirmed his death, saying he passed away on February 1 while sleeping.

According to the family statement, Carl ‘was an exceptional human being who lived an extraordinary life,’ as reported by Deadline.

‘With his contributions to sports, the arts, television, and cinema, he has made a lasting impression and is well-known

both internationally and among different generations. He was a cherished friend, partner, father, grandfather, and brother.

Prior to being an actor, Weathers was an athlete. He was born in New Orleans on January 14, 1948. In 1969, he helped the San Diego State University football team win the Pasadena Bowl.

He became a free agent after the draft and signed with the Oakland Raiders, where he played in seven games and contributed

to their AFC West Division championship. After being released in 1971, he joined the Canadian Football League as a player.

He was studying drama at the same time, and in 1974 he gave up football to focus on his acting career.

His major break came in the 1976 movie Rocky, where he portrayed the legendary heavyweight champion Apollo Creed, who squared off against Rocky Balboa played by Sylvester Stallone.

Even though Weathers unintentionally made fun of the star’s acting prowess during his audition, he still managed to earn the part.

‘I simply blurted out, ‘I could perform much better if you got me a real actor to work with,’’ he remembered

reading with Stallone to the Hollywood Reporter. ‘Well, I just made fun of the movie’s star without really realizing it or intending to.’

Weathers’s most well-known performance came from Rocky, the year’s top grossing movie and Best Picture Oscar winner.

Before his character was eliminated, he made a reappearance as Creed in the first three Rocky sequels.

(However, the character’s influence endures because Michael B. Jordan’s character, Adonis, is the focus of the popular spin-off series Creed.)

In addition, Weathers established himself as an action star by starring alongside Arnold

Schwarzenegger in the 1987 blockbuster Predator. Hurricane Smith and Action Jackson from 1988 were among the action movies that Weathers starred in.

In the 1996 comedy Happy Gilmore, he also played Adam Sandler’s golf coach, a role that remains memorable.

Weathers suffered years of pain after breaking two of his vertebrae during a stunt fall during the filming of the movie.

He had guest star roles on The Shield and Arrested Development, where he played a caricature

of himself as an economical acting instructor. He also starred in the television series Street Justice.

Later on, Weathers’ most well-known credit came from the popular Star Wars television series The Mandalorian.

In addition to directing two episodes of the show, he portrayed Greef Karga, the head of the Bounty Hunters’ Guild.

Weathers termed the part ‘one of the greatest things that’s happened in all of the years that I’ve been in entertainment’ and accepted an Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series.

In Toy Story 4, he played Combat Carl in his last motion picture appearance.