Jason Weathers Biography
Jason Weathers is an American best known as the son of the football linebacker, actor and director Carl Weathers.
Jason Weathers Career
Carl Weathers, Weathers’ father, participated in college football as a defensive end. His collegiate journey commenced in 1966 at Long Beach City College. Here, he couldn’t play that year due to an ankle injury sustained while warming up for practice with a fellow linebacker. This was caused by tripping over a curb surrounding the running track. He later transferred to San Diego State University, where he contributed as a letterman for the San Diego State Aztecs in 1968 and 1969. Weathers played a pivotal role in the Aztecs’ triumph in the 1969 Pasadena Bowl, concluding the season with an impeccable 11–0 record and securing a No. 18 ranking in the Final UPI Poll.
During this successful stint, he played under the guidance of head coach Don Coryell. At San Diego State, Weathers also earned a master’s degree in theater arts. He inked a deal with the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League (NFL) as an undrafted free agent in 1970. Initially playing as a linebacker, he participated in seven games for the Raiders that year, contributing to their victory in the AFC West Division and advancing to the inaugural AFC Championship Game. Ahead of the 1971 season, he transitioned to the role of strong safety. However, he played in just one game in 1971 before being released by the Raiders in September of that year. Shortly after his release, he joined the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL) in September 1971.
He remained with the Lions until 1973, engaging in a total of 13 games during his tenure. During off-seasons, he pursued his education at San Francisco State University, ultimately earning a bachelor’s degree in drama in 1974. He concluded his football career in 1974, embarking on a new journey into the field of acting. Throughout his NFL career, spanning two seasons, he appeared in eight games but did not record any statistics. In the CFL, his only recorded stat was a single fumble recovery. In later years, he took on roles such as narrating NFL Films’ season recaps for the 1999, 2000, and 2001 seasons. Additionally, he made an appearance on NFL Network’s pre-draft coverage during the 2017 NFL Draft. He then commenced his foray into acting as an extra while still pursuing a football career.
His initial significant roles emerged in two blaxploitation films directed by his longtime friend Arthur Marks: “Bucktown” (1975) and “Friday Foster” (1975). Notably, he has made appearances in various TV shows, such as the 1975 “Good Times” episode titled “The Nude,” the 1975 “Kung Fu” episode titled “The Brothers Caine,” and an episode of “Cannon” titled “The Hero.” Additionally, he showcased his acting prowess in the crime-drama “Starsky & Hutch” and the “Barnaby Jones” episode “The Bounty Hunter” in 1976. His breakthrough came during auditions for the role of Apollo Creed in “Rocky.” While auditioning alongside Sylvester Stallone, he candidly criticized Stallone’s acting, ultimately securing the role. He reprised the character in the subsequent three Rocky films: “Rocky II” (1979), “Rocky III” (1982), and “Rocky IV” (1985).
He has diversified his acting portfolio, appearing in films like “Force 10 from Navarone” (1978), “Predator” (1987), “Action Jackson” (1988), and “Hurricane Smith” (1992). He worked alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jesse Ventura in “Predator.” Furthermore, he ventured into television, playing roles such as Sgt. Adam Beaudreaux in “Street Justice.” In addition to that, he also played the role of Hampton Forbes in the final two seasons of “In the Heat of the Night” (1992–1994), and MACV-SOG Colonel Brewster in the CBS series “Tour of Duty.” In 2004, he experienced a career resurgence in comedy with appearances in “Arrested Development” and subsequent roles in comedies like “The Sasquatch Gang” and “The Comebacks.” He showcased his versatility by providing the voice for Colonel Samuel Garrett in the video game “Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction.”
Furthermore, he continued his multifaceted career, participating in various TV shows, commercials, and film projects. This included a role in the Rocky series’ sixth installment, “Rocky Balboa” (2006). Although initially reluctant, he reconciled with Stallone and permitted the use of his footage in “Creed” (2015). In 2019, he made a notable appearance as Greef Karga in the first and second seasons of the Star Wars series “The Mandalorian,” demonstrating his enduring talent. His outstanding performance in the series earned him an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor.
Carl Weathers Salary
Weathers earns an annual salary of about $120,000-$210,000.
Carl Weathers Net Worth
Weathers has an estimated net worth of about $7 Million – $9 Million which he has earned through his career as an actor.
Carl Weathers Age
Weathers was born on January 14, 1948, in New Orleans, Lousiana, United States. He passed away on February 1, 2024 in Los Angeles, he was 76 years old at the time of his passing.
Carl Weathers Height and Weight
Weathers stands at a height of 5 feet 11 inches tall however, information about his weight has not been disclosed.
Carl Weathers Family
Weathers is the son of Agnus Weathers, his father, worked as a day labourer. He has five siblings among them Allis J Weathers and Emily E Utterback.
Jason Weather Divorce
Mary Anne Castle was the inaugural spouse of Weathers. They exchanged vows in 1973, the very year that marked his entry into the entertainment industry with his first appearance in the 1973 neo-noir action film “Magnum Force.” The union between Weathers and Mary Anne endured for a decade before they decided to part ways, finalizing their divorce in 1983. Throughout their marriage, they welcomed two sons into the world, named Matthew Weathers and Jason Weathers.
Following his first divorce, Weathers swiftly entered into his second marriage with Rhona Unsell in February 1984. By this time, he had already solidified his status as a bona fide Hollywood star, with notable roles in three Rocky movies and appearances in episodes of popular TV shows like “Starsky & Hutch” and “Barnaby Jones” before his second wedding. His and Rhona’s marital bond turned out to be the lengthiest among his three unions, enduring for 22 years. However, the couple decided to end their relationship in 2006. Despite their extended companionship, they did not have any children together.
Jennifer Peterson became Weathers’s third wife when they married in March 2007, a year after his second divorce. At that time, he was deeply immersed in his acting career, notably shifting his focus towards television appearances rather than movie roles—a trend that persisted until his passing. Jennifer, as per her IMDb profile, is an award-winning creative content producer, director, and writer. She attended the AFI Directing Workshop for Women. Some of her notable projects include the 2000 short film “Pumpkin Hill” and the annual Hallmark show “American Rescue Dog Show.” Despite their union, their marriage concluded after only two years, with their separation occurring in January 2009. Similar to his previous marriages, they did not have any children together.
Carl Weathers Death
The global film and entertainment community is in shock and mourning following the unexpected passing of actor Weathers. He unfortunately died on Thursday at the age of 76 in his Los Angeles home. He initially gained fame in the 1970s as the antagonist in the renowned ‘Rocky’ franchise, portraying the character Apollo Creed. According to a statement released by his family and reported by Deadline, the cause of Carl Weathers’ death is described as follows: “We express deep sadness at the loss of Weathers. He peacefully passed away in his sleep. He was an extraordinary individual who led a remarkable life. His contributions to film, television, the arts, and sports have left an enduring impact, recognized globally and across generations. He was a cherished brother, father, grandfather, partner, and friend.”
Social Media Platform
Weathers is very active on his Twitter and Instagram pages. He has 159k followers on Twitter and 44.3k followers on Instagram.