Sylvester Stallone fights back tears in emotional new video as he pays tribute to ‘a legend’

Sylvester Stallone has paid tribute to his Rocky co-star Carl Weathers with an emotional video that noticed him combating back tears. 

Carl died age 76 on February 1, 2024, and in the hours after the information was introduced, Sylvester took to social media to honor the “legend” who starred as Apollo Creed alongside Sylvester’s Rocky Balboa in the primary 4 movies in the franchise. Watch the video beneath:

“We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Carl Weathers,” his household mentioned in a press release, shared on February 2. 

“He died peacefully in his sleep on Thursday, February 1st, 2024. … 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 recognized worldwide and across generations. He was a beloved brother, father, grandfather, partner, and friend.” 

© Jason LaVeris

Standing in entrance of a wall mural that depicted one among Rocky and Apollo’s remaining fights, Sylvester started: “Today is an incredibly sad day for me. I’m so torn up, I can’t even tell you. I’m just trying to hold it in because Carl Weathers was such an integral part of my life, my success, everything about it. 

“I give him unimaginable credit score and kudos as a result of when he walked into that room and I noticed him for the primary time I noticed greatness, however I did not understand how nice. I by no means might have achieved what we did with Rocky with out him. He was completely sensible.His voice, his dimension, his energy, his athletic means, however extra importantly, his coronary heart, his soul.” 

“It’s a horrible loss,” he continued, choking back tears. 

“And I’m standing right here in entrance of this portray as a result of it was in all probability the final second we had been ever in the rain collectively and I’ll always remember it. He was magic and I used to be so lucky to be a part of this life. So Apollo? Keep punching.”

© United Artists

Born in 1948, the actor had a storied life, enjoying as a linebacker in the NFL earlier than transitioning to appearing in the Seventies. In the Rocky franchise, he appeared in the primary 4 movies as the heavyweight champion of the world Apollo Creed, the primary antagonist to the titular Rocky Balboa. 

He was killed off in Rocky IV (1985) throughout a struggle with Russian heavyweight Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren) however his story continued with the 2015 sports activities movie Creed, which starred Michael B Jordan as Adonis Creed, Apollo’s son, who’s skilled by Rocky. 

© NBC

He later went on to star in the cult basic Predator, as effectively as the Adam Sandler comedy Happy Gilmore, enjoying the title character’s golf coach. 

Adam posted a tribute on X/Twitter in the hours after the information broke: “A true great man. Great dad. Great actor. Great athlete. So much fun to be around always. Smart as hell. Loyal as hell. Funny as hell. Loved his sons more than anything. What a guy!! Everyone loved him. My wife and I had the best times with him every time we saw him. Love to his entire family and Carl will always be known as a true legend.” 

In 2017 he joined the forged of the quick lived One Chicago spin-off Chicago Justice on NBC as State’s Attorney Mark Jefferies earlier than he joined the 2019 collection The Mandalorian alongside Pedro Pascal. 

Carl was Emmy-nominated for his work, and Pedro honored his co-star with an Instagram put up that merely learn: “Words fail.”