Carl Weathers’ Super Bowl Ad With Rob Gronkowski Will Go Through a Major Change After His Death
The Super Bowl ad by the sports betting company FanDuel, featuring Carl Weathers, will be adjusted in the wake of his death. After a glorious 50-year career, featuring in movies like Rocky and Predator, the actor peacefully passed away in his sleep at the age of 76. The Super Bowl ad also starred football legend Rob Gronkowski.
Carl Weathers Super Bowl Ad Is Being Adjusted Out Of Respect For The Family
Carl Weathers, who shot to fame for playing Rocky Balboa’s adversary turned boxing mentor Apollo Creed in the Rocky franchise opposite Sylvester Stallone, died “peacefully in his sleep.” A statement came from the star’s family, who expressed that they were “deeply saddened” by his absence. The statement did not mention the cause of his death.
“We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Carl Weathers. 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.”
As soon as the news broke, FanDuel, the sports betting company with whom Carl Weather was shooting the Super Bowl advertisement, released a statement as well, saying that they would adjust the campaign to respect the family during their time of grief.
“We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Carl Weathers. Throughout his life, Carl was an iconic talent who had a profound impact on the people he worked with on and off the screen. FanDuel was fortunate to have had an opportunity to work with him during our Super Bowl campaign. We are adjusting our campaign accordingly out of respect for the family during their time of grief.”
Also Read: Carl Weathers’ Cause of Death: How Did the Apollo Creed Actor Die?
In the teaser for the ad, viewers can see Carl Weathers coaching Rob Gronkowski for the company’s Kick of Destiny 2 event. For the second year in a row, Gronkowski would attempt a field goal on Super Bowl Sunday. This gives fans all over the world who placed bets on FanDuel’s Sportsbook the chance to win $10 million collectively. He missed his chance last year. In another teaser, Gronkowski is seen walking in the desert when Weathers pulls up on a motorcycle, asking him to keep practicing his kick.
Carl Weathers Leaves Behind An Incredible Legacy
He rose to meteoric fame with his iconic role as Apollo Creed in the Rocky franchise. Following his death in the series, he went on to star in Arnold Schwarzenegger’s hit Predator to further cement his place in the Hollywood landscape. His iconic handshake with Schwarzenegger became a pop culture phenomenon later on.
He then moved on to comedic roles and teamed up with Adam Sandler on many projects, including Happy Gilmore. He then went on to reprise the role with a cameo in 2000’s Little Nicky and make a vocal cameo appearance a few years later in Eight Crazy Nights. His last most notable role was as Combat Carl in Toy Story 4.
He made guest appearances in TV shows like Good Times and The Six Million Dollar Man. He also appeared as the leading man in shows such as Street Justice, In the Heat of the Night, and the short-lived Chicago Justice. His most notable work was The Mandalorian‘s Greef Karga. He appeared in all three seasons, earning an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor.
Carl Weathers is survived by his two sons and his grandchildren.
