Super Bowl LVIII: FanDuel will adjust ad that included Carl Weathers
Carl Weathers An ad featuring actor Carl Weathers for the Super Bowl will be adjusted in the wake of the actor's death on Feb. 1. (Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)
ByBob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
A Super Bowl ad that featured Carl Weathers in a cameo role is being adjusted in the wake of the actor’s death on Thursday.
FanDuel, an online sports betting platform, had released a preview of its upcoming Super Bowl ad last month, which featured retired NFL tight end Rob Gronkowski and a brief cameo from the “Rocky” star, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Weathers died peacefully on Thursday, and family members announced his death in a statement obtained by Deadline. He was 76.
FanDuel posted a notice on its social media sites mourning the actor’s death and announcing that it would modify the commercial.
“We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Carl Weathers,” the company wrote on X. formerly known as Twitter. “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.”
In the ad, Gronkowski, is sullenly walking in the desert toward Las Vegas, the site of this year’s Super Bowl. The former All-Pro with the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers wants to make things right after he missed last year’s “FanDuel Kick of Destiny,” Entertainment Weekly reported.
“I don’t kick. I catch,” a long-haired, unkempt Gronkowski yells.
Weathers, who played in the NFL in 1970 and ‘71 with the Oakland Raiders, pulls up in a motorcycle that has a sidecar and intercepts Gronkowski, gruffly telling him, “And this time, you won’t miss. Get in.”
The duo then speed through the desert together, according to Entertainment Weekly.
Weathers starred as Apollo Creed in the first four “Rocky” films and appeared in “The Mandalorian,” “Predator,” and “Happy Gilmore,” along with dozens of other movies and television shows.
Born Jan. 14, 1948, in New Orleans, Weathers went on to appear in more than 75 films and TV shows in a career that spanned five decades, Deadline reported. His credits include appearances on “Arrested Development,” “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” “ER,” and as Combat Carl in the “Toy Story” franchise.
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Through the years Kino. Rocky, USA, 1976, Regie: John G. Avildsen, Darsteller: Sylvester Stallone, Carl Weathers. (Photo by FilmPublicityArchive/United Archives via Getty Images) (United Archives/FilmPublicityArchive/United Arch)
Through the years Los Angeles, CA - 1985: Carl Weathers promotional photo for the ABC tv series 'Braker'. (Photo by Chic Donchin /American Broadcasting Companies via Getty Images) (Walt Disney Television Photo Arc/ABC)
Through the years Unspecified - 1986: (L-R) Robert Urich, Carl Weathers appearing in the ABC tv movie 'The Defiant Ones'. (Photo by American Broadcasting Companies via Getty Images) (Walt Disney Television Photo Arc/ABC)
Through the years Vanity and Carl Weathers publicity portrait for the film 'Action Jackson', 1988. (Photo by Lorimar/Getty Images) (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Through the years Los Angeles, CA - 1990: (L-R) Carl Weathers, Lonette McKee, Billy Dee Williams promotional photo for the ABC tv movie 'Dangerous Passion'. (Photo by Craig Sjodin /American Broadcasting Companies via Getty Images) (Walt Disney Television Photo Arc/ABC)
Through the years Carl Weathers and Paul Newman during 10th Annual Scott Newman Gala at Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, United States. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images) (Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty)
Through the years 1994: Promotional studio portrait of American actors Carl Weathers (left) and Carroll O'Connor (1924 - 2001), from the television series, 'In the Heat of the Night'. O'Connor wears a white cowboy hat. (Photo by Fotos International/Getty Images) (Fotos International/Getty Images)
Through the years Carl Weathers talks to Adam Sandler in a scene from the film 'Happy Gilmore', 1996. (Photo by Universal/Getty Images) (Archive Photos/Getty Images)
Through the years HOLLYWOOD, CA - AUGUST 7: Actors Carl Weathers and Sly Stallone pose at singer Frank Stallone's CD Listening and Release party at Capital Records on August 7, 2003 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK - MAY 18: (L-R) Actors Michael Straham, Joely Fisher and Carl Weathers attend Fox's Upfront presentation at New York City Center on May 18, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images for Fox) (Amy Sussman/Getty Images for Fox)
Through the years PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 18: Executive producer Dick Wolf, left, and actor Carl Weathers of the television show 'Chicago Justice' speak onstage during the NBCUniversal portion of the 2017 Winter Television Critics Association Press Tour at the Langham Hotel on January 18, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images) (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Through the years HOLLYWOOD, CA - JUNE 11: Carl Weathers attends the world premiere of Disney and Pixar's TOY STORY 4 at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, CA on Tuesday, June 11, 2019. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney) (Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)
Through the years ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 23: (L-R) Carl Weathers, Giancarlo Esposito, and Executive producer/writer Jon Favreau of 'The Mandalorian' took part today in the Disney+ Showcase at Disney’s D23 EXPO 2019 in Anaheim, Calif. 'The Mandalorian' will stream exclusively on Disney+, which launches November 12. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney) (Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)
Through the years ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - MAY 28: (L-R) Pedro Pascal and Carl Weathers attend the panel for “The Mandalorian” series at Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim, California on May 28, 2022. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney) (Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)
Through the years LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 11: (L-R) Din Djarin character and Carl Weathers attend The Mandalorian FYC Event at DGA Theater Complex in Hollywood, California on June 11, 2023. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney) (Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)
Through the years LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 11: Carl Weathers attends The Mandalorian FYC Event at DGA Theater Complex in Hollywood, California on June 11, 2023. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney) (Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)
Carl Weathers FILE PHOTO: Moderator Carl Weathers speaks onstage during The Mandalorian FYC Event at DGA Theater Complex in Hollywood, California on June 11, 2023. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney) (Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)
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