Carl Weathers, who starred as Apollo Creed in the Rocky movies, dies aged 76

Weathers was perhaps most closely associated with Creed, who made his first appearance as the cocky, undisputed heavyweight world champion in 1976’s Rocky, starring Sylvester Stallone

Carl Weathers has died (Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

Carl Weathers, a former American footballer who became a Hollywood action movie and comedy star, playing nemesis-turned-ally Apollo Creed in the Rocky movies, has died aged 76.

Matt Luber, his manager, said Weathers died on Thursday. His family said he died “peacefully in his sleep”.