Carl Weathers Got a Tribute in a Car Movie– Kind Of
If you loved 1980s action movies with sliding supercars and exploding, well, everything, you know of action star Carl Weathers. Tragically, the celebrity passed away on February 1st in Los Angeles, California at the age of 76. In life, Weathers made his mark on comedy and action movies alike. However, the actor and former NFL player’s famous name made an appearance in a car movie. Well, sort of.
Disney Fans assert ‘Rocky’ and ‘Predator’ actor Carl Weathers lent his name to a ‘Cars’ character
When associating Carl Weathers and cars, you might summon images of Weathers clinging to the roof of a yellow cab in “Action Jackson” (1988). However, the late action star and former NFL player’s name features in a car movie, just not in the capacity you’d expect.
In Disney and Pixar’s animated movie franchise “Cars,” a character by the name of Cal Weathers hits the race track in “Dinoco” Blue. While former racing driver Kyle Petty voiced the light-blue stock car, fans claim the name is a nod to Carl Weathers.
Interestingly, it’s far from the first time Disney and Pixar proved their affinity for the “Rocky” actor. Pixar cast Weathers as Combat Carl in the “Toy Story” franchise. Apropos, given the action star’s first name and role as a commando in “Predator.” Further, “Star Wars” fans will remember Weathers’s role as Greef Karga in the recent “Mandalorian” franchise. Clearly, Weathers had no problem dazzling Disney fans.
Still, when it comes to cars, Carl Weathers kept his preferences close to the vest. Nosy paparazzi have caught shots of the former NFL player emerging from a black Mercedes-Benz S-Class.
However, Weathers’s co-star in the “Rocky” films, Sylvester Stallone, is a different story. Stallone drove a 1988 Lamborghini Jalpa on-screen. Unlike Carl Weathers, Stallone is a bit more open with his personal collection. He owns a Ferrari 612 Scaglietti, a classic Chevrolet Corvette, and a Rolls-Royce Phantom.
Still, one could argue that Carl Weathers’s time in spaceships in the “Mandalorian” might have Rocky Balboa’s Lamborghini Jalpa topped. Either way, we’ll miss seeing Weathers on the big screen.
Source: IMCDB, Speed Society
