After three films in which he functions as little more than a means to illustrate Rocky's greatness, Apollo is offered the highest of honors: He dies to provide the franchise's white protagonist with motivation and character development.

Why did Apollo die in Rocky 4?

In Rocky IV, Creed decides to make a one-off return to the ring to fight a Soviet Union boxer by the name of Ivan Drago. The fight is billed as an exhibition, but unfortunately, Creed is knocked unconscious in the second round, resulting in his death.

Did Ivan Drago regret killing Apollo?

He seems to be a very pitiless and cold-hearted person as shown when he comments on Apollo Creed's death: "If he dies, he dies", indicating that Ivan feels no remorse (deep regret or guilt for a wrong committed) for his actions.

Why does Rocky feel responsible for Apollo's death?

As fans recall, Rocky felt guilty following Apollo's death in Rocky IV. He felt as if he could have done more to prevent Ivan Drago from continuing his assault on Apollo in the ring (like throwing in the towel despite his friend's wishes), so Rocky believed Apollo's death was his fault.

What happened to the actor that played Apollo Creed?

Carl Weathers, who starred as nemesis-turned-friend Apollo Creed in the Rocky film franchise, has died. He was 76. “Carl was an exceptional human being who lived an extraordinary life,” Weathers's family said in a statement on Friday.

What If Apollo Creed Didnt Die In Rocky IV - FanScription

What did Sylvester Stallone say about Carl Weathers' death?

“We lost a legend yesterday. My life was forever changed for the better the day I met Carl Weathers. Rest in power and keeping punching,” Stallone captioned an Instagram video posted on Feb. 2, before sharing a longer and emotional message in his clip.

Why didn't the referee stop the fight in Rocky 4?

Even though, that would have automatically stopped the fight and Drago would've been disqualified, as fighters are not permitted to assault the referee, the filmmakers didn't address this fact because there wouldn't have been a way for the story to move forward, which was for Rocky to avenge his friend.

What were Apollo Creed's last words?

Commentator #2 in Las Vegas : Hey guys, Ivan Drago is definitely for real! Apollo : [His last words] I want you to promise me you're not gonna stop this fight, no matter what. No matter what!

Why did Apollo Creed lose to Drago?

Rocky IV (1985)

With Rocky, Duke, and Paulie in his corner, Apollo is overly confident that he can dispose of Drago with ease. However, Apollo is not ready for the extreme size and strength of the Russian. After taunting Drago and landing a number of ineffectual punches, Creed is pummeled badly in the first round.

What did Drago say after killing Apollo?

Drago: [after "killing" Apollo in the ring] I can not be defeated. I beat all man. Someday, I will beat a real champion. If he dies, he dies.

Why did Drago's wife leave him?

She is a Soviet gold-medal swimmer who is the ex-wife and spokeswoman to Soviet captain Ivan Drago. Compared to Ivan himself, she is more despicable as she abandoned him after he lost to Rocky Balboa, and later appeared to have gone unchanged when interacting with her own estranged son Viktor.

Did Ivan Drago go to jail for killing Apollo?

In 1985, he killed an African-American boxer named Apollo Creed. In boxing business, he was undefeated until Christmastime of 1985 when Rocky Balboa defeated him. Shortly after his defeat, he was arrested alongside several other members of the Koloff crime family, causing the syndicate to become heavily weakened.

How did Adrian die in Rocky?

Adrian doesn't physically appear in Creed, having previously died from ovarian cancer, but photos of her are seen around Rocky's restaurant (which was named after her). When Rocky goes to the graveyard he first goes and puts her brother Paulie's favorite alcoholic drink on his gravestone next to Adrian's.

Why did Carl Weathers die?

Personal life and death

In 1984, he married Rhona Unsell, but their marriage ended in divorce in 2006. In 2007, Weathers married Jennifer Peterson; they divorced in 2009. Weathers died at his home in Los Angeles on February 2, 2024, at age 76, from atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Weathers' body was cremated.

How old was Apollo Creed in Rocky 4?

Drago enters professional heavyweight boxing in the beginning of the movie. Former champion Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), now 43 years old, comes out of retirement to challenge Drago to an exhibition match, assisted by Creed's former rival Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone).

Why is Creed's wife deaf?

One of the characters that I really enjoyed watching was Bianca, whom we learned in the first movie is an aspiring singer who happens to have hereditary disorder that leads her to develop progressive hearing loss.

What caused Apollo Creed's death?

Weathers reprised his role as Apollo Creed in “Rocky II” in 1979, which saw a rematch against Balboa. He was back again for 1982's “Rocky III,” and again for a final outing in 1985's “Rocky IV”, in which Creed was killed in the ring by a Russian heavyweight played by Dolph Lundgren.

What went wrong with Rocky 5?

Rocky V was released in the United States on November 16, 1990. The film received mixed to negative reviews from critics, with criticism for its screenplay, characterization, continuity errors, and medical inaccuracies; Stallone later expressed regret over the outcome of the film.

Why was Adrian removed from Rocky?

Adrian's death improved the original story of Rocky Balboa by providing a richer and more heart-wrenching narrative centered around grief and purpose. Adrian's absence allowed for the exploration of Rocky's relationship with his son, creating one of the best aspects of the movie and a fitting end for the character.

Why did Rocky lose everything in Rocky 5?

Rocky declines. After returning home, Rocky and Adrian discover they are broke after Paulie was fooled into signing a "power of attorney" over to Rocky's accountant, who squandered all of his money on real estate deals gone sour and failed to pay Rocky's taxes over the previous six years.

Are Carl Weathers and Sylvester Stallone friends in real life?

Stallone previously paid tribute to their decades-long friendship following news of his death. “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.

What did Arnold Schwarzenegger say about Carl Weathers?

On Instagram, Schwarzenegger posted a series of throwback pictures accompanied by a heartfelt caption that read, "Carl Weathers will always be a legend. An extraordinary athlete, a fantastic actor, and a great person.

How did Carl Weathers get the role in Rocky?

Weathers had unknowingly disrespected Rocky himself. That outburst got him the role because Stallone believed it exemplified Apollo Creed. That brash moment made Weathers a star. He carried that swagger through the 1980s and became an action hero for those who looked more like him than his white counterparts.