Sly emotionally recalls his life-changing meeting with his 'Rocky' co-star in a video, as Michael B. Jordan, Dolph Lundgren and Giancarlo Esposito also pay tribute via social media.
- Feb 3, 2024
AceShowbiz - Sylvester Stallone has paid a touching tribute to Carl Weathers after the latter died "peacefully in his sleep" on Thursday, February 1. Mourning the loss, the Rocky Balboa depicter credited his "Rocky" co-star for a life-changing experience in his life in a video posted to Instagram on Friday.
"Hello, everyone. Today is an incredibly sad day for me," the 77-year-old began. "Carl Weathers was such an integral part of my life which he says everything about it. I give him incredible credit .... because when he walked into that room, and I saw him for the first time, I saw greatness, but I didn't realize how great. I never could have accomplished what we did with Rocky without him."
"He was absolutely great. His voice, his size, his power, his athletic ability, but more importantly, his heart, his soul," the "Rambo" star continued to remember the late actor. "It's a horrible loss." In his video, Sly spoke in front of a brightly-colored painting, which showed him and Carl boxing. He explained that he was doing so because "it was probably the last moment we were ever in the ring together, and I'll never forget it."
"He was magic, and I was so fortunate to be part of his life," Sly concluded. "Apollo, keep punching." He added in the caption, "We lost a legend yesterday. My life was forever changed for the better the day I met Carl Weathers. Rest in power and keeping punching."
Arnold Schwarzenegger took to his own social media pages to pay tribute to his "Predator" co-star. He wrote, "Carl Weathers will always be a legend. An extraordinary athlete, a fantastic actor, and a great person. We couldn't have made Predator without him. And we certainly wouldn't have had such a wonderful time making it. Every minute with him - on set and off - was pure joy. He was the type of friend who pushes you to be your best just to keep up with him. I'll miss him, and my thoughts are with his family."
Pedro Pascal, who worked with Carl on "The Mandalorian", simply penned, "Words fail," with a broken heart emoji. Another "The Mandalorian" actor, Giancarlo Esposito, posted a picture of him with the late actor and wrote, "I will sorely miss my dear friend and brother Carl Weathers. You are truly one of the most wonderful human beings I have had the honor and pleasure of spending time with! I am grateful for your influence and support of all things good in my life. This is how I will always remember you. My dear friend and brother."
"Rocky IV" star Dolph Lundgren chimed in, "I was saddened to hear the news this morning. Along with the world, I will miss Carl. He was a great actor, a terrific athlete and a good friend. I cherish many special memories of Carl, both professionally and personally. Like Apollo Creed, he had that special charm that always brought a smile to your face."
Michael B. Jordan, who plays Adonis Johnson, the son of Carl's character Apollo Creed, in the "Creed" film series, posted on his Instagram Story, "We lost a legend."
Carl's family announced his passing on Friday. "We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Carl Weathers. He died peacefully in his sleep on Thursday, February 1st, 2024," they said in a statement.
The statement continued to read, "Carl was an exceptional human being who lived an extraordinary life. Through his contributions to film, television, the arts and sports, he has left an indelible mark and is recognised worldwide and across generations. He was a beloved brother, father, grandfather, partner, and friend."
