Carl Weathers’ 10 Best Performances In Movies And TV

Rocky and Predator star Carl Weathers has sadly died at the age of 76, leaving behind an incredible legacy built through a career spanning a little over five decades that saw him take on multiple iconic roles. Although the Rocky movies’ Apollo Creed is the role that defines Weathers’ career, his work in film and TV has seen the actor portraying members of law enforcement, mentors to younger characters, and even space bounty hunters. Weathers leaves behind movies and shows filled with hope, perseverance, and courageousness, with many of his characters serving as a source of inspiration for multiple generations.

In addition to the actor’s prolific work as a character actor, Weathers directed two The Mandalorian episodes, “Chapter 12: Siege,” and “Chapter 20: The Foundling,” which perfectly demonstrated his creativity and love for the arts. Although many of Weathers’ best movies and TV shows saw him take on more dramatic and action-based work, Weathers displayed a great deal of range with his work in comedies such as Happy Gilmore and Arrested Development. Not only did this demonstrate the actor’s abilities beyond his usual work, but it allowed him to inspire audiences not familiar with his action movies too.

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12 State’s Attorney Mark Jeffries – Chicago P.D., Chicago Justice, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2016, 2017, and 2018)

Jeffries continues Weathers’ trend of portraying honorable men.

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One of Weathers’ most prolific roles, State’s Attorney Mark Jeffries, appears in three different police procedurals, which not only demonstrates his importance to the Dick Wolf-created universe but also displays Weathers’ affinity for the character. In a world filled with hot-headed cops, violent and cunning criminals, etc. Mark’s incorruptibility and strong belief that an effective prosecutor must be clear, concise, and honest in their work makes him a cut above the rest in a show filled with complexly written characters. Additionally, Mark continued Weathers’ trend of playing respectable men.

10 In the Heat of the Night – Police Chief Hampton Forbes (1993 – 1995)

Weathers’ Forbes became the first Black Police Chief on the show.

A sequel to the 1967 film of the same name directed by the late Norman Jewison, In the Heat of the Night sees Weathers team up with venerated TV actor Carroll O’Connor as Police Chief Hampton Forbes. Although Hampton didn’t earn the title of police chief until after O’Connor’s Bill Gillespie’s retirement, the intuition, work ethic, and valor that Hampton displayed long before being promoted speaks to his pedigree as an agent of the law. Whereas Weathers’ action career slowed in the 1990s, his other work, like In the Heat of the Night, better showcased his acting range.

9 Billy “Hurricane” Smith – Hurricane Smith (1992)

Hurricane Smith displayed more of Weathers’ dramatic range.

Hurricane Smith sees Weathers as Billy “Hurricane” Smith, an oil field worker from Texas, journeying to Australia after his sister is kidnapped by members of organized crime. Although Hurricane Smith features its fair share of action scenes and set-pieces, it is notable for seeing Weathers demonstrate more of his dramatic abilities, which required the material to focus less on the ballistic and explosive affairs of the 1980s in favor of something much more subdued. Despite not being as well known as some of Weathers’ previous and future works, Hurricane Smith is one of his best action dramas.

8 Adam Beaudreaux – Street Justice (1991 – 1993)

Beaudreaux blends Weathers’ dramatic chops with his action genre flair.

Street Justice centers around Weathers as Adam Beaudreaux, a Vietnam veteran now working as a prolific police officer in the United States. While the TV series sees Weathers retreading familiar ground in the police procedural drama, it sets itself apart by its unlikely duo of Weathers and a young man from Canada working together to take down crime. Additionally, Weathers excels in his father-figure-like role of his younger partner Grady, which helped solidify his image as one of the industry’s best mentor figures. Despite not being as widespread, Adam marks a pivotal character in Weathers’ career.

7 Combat Carl – Toy Story 4 (2019)

Combat Carl sees Weathers in a self-reflexive role about his action movie career.

Arguably one of the best examples of Weathers displaying his comedic chops, Toy Story 4 sees Weathers as Combat Carl, a G.I. Joe-like toy that’s just as brave and dutiful as he is hilarious. While Toy Story 4 is filled with many great characters, ranging from Woody to Buzz Lightyear to Keanu Reeves’ Duke Kaboom, Combat Carl stands out because of his tongue-in-cheek style of humor that lovingly pokes fun at Weathers’ career. From Rocky references to even more obvious Predator references, Combat Carl allowed Weathers to display a more fun side to the otherwise austere actor.

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6 Greef Karga – The Mandalorian (2019 – 2023)

Greef is a recent yet iconic Star Wars character.

In what has become one of Weathers’ most recognizable roles, The Mandalorian‘s Greef Karga is the leader of the Bounty Hunters’ Guild – an organization that assigns contracts to the galaxy’s most prolific and deadly bounty hunters. As such, Greef is a self-preservationist at heart, typically avoiding developing emotional attachments to others. However, throughout The Mandalorian, Greef is shown displaying a warmer side to his character on rarer occasions – especially with Grogu. While the Greef is largely mysterious to everyone he interacts with, his strong character makes him an indelible part of The Mandalorian‘s cast.

In addition to Weathers’ superb work as Greef Karga, his commitment to the character and to the show at large afforded Weathers the ability to retain a greater sense of creative control over the character. While mostly known in the show for his acting, Weathers’ direction of two The Mandalorian episodes demonstrates perfectly the actor-director’s commitment to the material given to him, assuming it’s of a high standard. Not only were the episodes well-received, but they contributed to an even greater appreciation of Weathers’ work as the dutiful, no-nonsense leader.

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4 Sgt. / Lt. Jericho “Action” Jackson – Action Jackson (1988)

Action Jackson proved Weathers was a capable action star like Stallone and Schwarzenneger.

Arguably one of the most underrated action movies from the 1980s, Action Jackson sees Weathers as the tough-as-nails Detroit, Michigan cop, Jericho “Action” Jackson, as he takes on a ruthlessly power-hungry auto magnate with aims to eliminate all of his competition permanently. Rife with slow-motion action scenes, explosions, and the usual machismo that has sustained the action movie genre for decades, Action Jackson is distinct from its contemporaries in that it ostensibly features a Black man in the lead role of what is quite possibly the most recognized genre worldwide.

Action Jackson‘s distinction is important because the action movie genre in particular exemplifies a specific male fantasy that has worldwide appeal. While the Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger action vehicles featured diverse casts of characters, Action Jackson was one of the first to demonstrate to the world that a Black-led action movie could be just as viable as any other. Tough, determined, and maintaining a strong sense of honor and duty, Action Jackson is one of Weathers’ most important roles, as it helped carry the legacy of Blaxploitation era films like Shaft and Black Belt Jones into the modern age.

3 Colonel Al Dillon – Predator (1987)

Weathers’ Dillon remains an iconic representation of 1980s machismo.

In one of Weathers’ most distinct roles, Predator‘s Colonel Al Dillon sees the actor as a hardened Vietnam War veteran who, along with his fellow brothers in arms, takes on a unique assignment that sees the men return to the jungle hell they’d just escaped, to help take down an extraterrestrial threat. Filled with enough testosterone, guns, and attitude to sustain its feature-length runtime and jumpstart a franchise, Weathers’ work as Al is brilliant because he helps subvert the popular action movie tropes that Weathers’ mainstream career helped popularize in the first place.

Whereas movies like Rocky and Action Jackson emphasize the aggro sensibilities that were incredibly popular in Hollywood during the 1980s, Predator proudly showcases the same sensibilities before pulling the rug from underneath its feet. Weathers’ Al approaches the assignment with the arrogance and hubris that only a 1980s action movie character would, which, effectively convinces the audience that taking down Predator will be light work. However, as Al and the audience soon discover, the reality couldn’t be further from the truth, and Weathers’ assured performance helps make the reveal more shocking.

2 Derrick “Chubbs” Peterson – Happy Gilmore (1995)

Chubbs demonstrates Weathers’ ability to be a strong mentor while also being hilarious.

Arguably Weathers’ best mentor character, Derrick “Chubbs” Peterson, is a former pro golfer who is forced into retirement after an alligator bites off his right hand. Despite his early retirement, Chubbs takes the tragedy as an opportunity to coach Adam Sandler’s Happy Gilmore to victory in the film’s central golf tournament. Chubbs’ sense of humor about his own tragedy as well as his genuine mentorship of Happy makes him an effective leader and a great character in Weathers’ filmography. Through humor, Chubbs is able to rise above his shortcomings while helping Happy and the audience realize their potential in life.

1 Apollo Creed – Rocky IV (1985)

Creed’s motivational spirit and work ethic make him Weathers’ most influential character.

Despite starting the Rocky franchise off as the main antagonist, Apollo Creed eventually becomes Rocky’s greatest ally through his ability to humble himself and see a friend in a former foe. Not only does Weathers deliver the career-defining performance with the fervor and deftness necessary to sustain a franchise, but Weathers’ Creed undergoes enough character development to make his character arc one of the most believable in Hollywood. Despite his death at the hands of Ivan Drago, Creed’s infectious showmanship, boxing prowess, and rousing speeches make him an undeniable force in the franchise.

Creed’s determination to perform at his absolute best and rise to any occasion, irrespective of the challenges, not only inspired Rocky to become a better athlete and man, but it helped audiences reevaluate their feelings about themselves and their struggles. Apollo Creed, as well as the legacy of all other Carl Weathers‘ characters, lives on thanks to the dedication and talent he would always put into his roles.