MovieChat Forums > Rocky (1976) Discussion > How come Carl Weathers never became a bi...

How come Carl Weathers never became a bigger star post-"Rocky"?

posted 4 years ago by TMC-4 (20277)
18 replies | jump to latest

And before you bring it up, yes I know that he's now on The Mandalorian and he as a whole, been a steadily working actor for 40+ years. Following his final appearance in the Rocky franchise in the fourth movie, he was the second billed star in Predator behind Arnold Schwarzenegger, and the lead in the Joel Silver produced Action Jackson. Instead, his resume over the last 30 years is mostly TV (such as Street Justice and In the Heat of the Night) and low budget movies (and Happy Gilmore).

https://forum.dvdtalk.com/movie-talk/554958-what-actor-you-surpised-isnt-bigger-star-36.html

[–] sfeudy20 (37) 2 years ago

It's a valid question. I think he had a great career. Every time I watch him in Rocky and felt he should have at least been nominated for Best Supporting Actor. Being supported with a great script, Weathers made Apollo's character unforgettable. He is so charismatic. I think it was really hard to pull off the whole scene where they are trying to to find another fighter in Jergens' office, but Weathers style totally made it a plausible idea to go with Balboa.

[–] BOandBarbecue (2264) 2 years ago

he did not have unique talent or audience appeals of sly, arnie and bruce. you need both special talent and appeal to be mega action star. like a spark. weathers did not have that.

carl is on similar level to dolf lundgren, van dammage and seagals.

many movie fan need to learn that because actor do not become mega star, it does not mean they fail as actor. dwayne johnson is worst actor of time and he mega success. quality over quantity.