Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1976: Carl Weathers in Rocky

Carl Weathers did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Apollo Creed in Rocky.

Carl Weathers as Apollo Creed was actually the only mainstay of the Rocky series, with a large role, that was not nominated for the 1976 Academy Awards. That's unfortunate as this also extends to the character of Apollo is not frequently mentioned in terms of the strength of the original film. Not that he's in any way a criticized element, but rarely is given the credit it should be in terms of the writing and the performance. Since the film is about Rocky (Sylvester Stallone), and his struggle it would have been easy enough to deal with his eventual opponent, The World Heavyweight Champion, as either a non-entity entirely or perhaps an overdone villain. Apollo is neither of those things and through his few scenes throughout the film we get an rather interesting character. His first appearance is for show as we see him on TV handling an interview. Weathers is excellent in his development of Creed's mannerisms in this scene as he takes on Muhammad Ali's style mannerisms of almost dancing when speaking, yet Weathers alters them enough to make them his own in making Apollo not just an imitation.

The next time we see Apollo though it is in a more private setting as he tries to come up with a new fighter for his bi-centennial fight, after his previous opponent must recover from an injury. Weathers is terrific because he does not just present Apollo as he was in the interview, instead he shows frankly a very different man. The mannerisms are still there but only to a far more muted, frankly a far more natural degree. Weathers presents Apollo as much more of a business man in the scene as he discusses the raw facts of what they need to do for the fight. That's not all though and Weathers is brilliant in portraying Apollo as he is basically his own promoter as he comes up with the idea for the fight, which is to get a local nobody a chance at the World Championship belt. There is a special glint in his eyes, and Weathers is marvelous in giving the idea such light as he develops it in his head before pitching it to the rest of the men. In his eyes Weathers conveys so well basically the dollar signs in Apollo's eyes as he states he details of the ideas and even more so when he finds the perfect fighter, none other than the Italian Stallion, Rocky Balboa.

Weathers also technically helps in giving more sense to why Rocky stands a chance, who in this film is not a great fighter. As Weathers shows that there is never the fight on his mind except just a few brief reassurances to his trainer, where Weathers exudes such confidence in his wave away of any potential challenge showing that it is obvious to Apollo that Rocky is not worth a second thought. Most of the time though it is all about the returns of the fight. This eventually leads to the fight itself which Weathers portrays the true showman in Apollo particularly in his over the top entrance. Weathers is extremely entertaining in portraying just the whole pomp of Apollo as his act is clearly trying to get the most of the crowd. The whole put on is absurd and purposefully so as Weathers makes it the true performance it should be with the mannerisms more overt than ever before since the whole crowd needs to see them. His whole physical of portrayal of the fight is worthy of mention as he actually makes a bit of an arc within it. In the opening he continues the act as Weathers continues to be properly over the top as even his punches are done as rather ridiculous and only for the show. Eventually though Rocky shows that he's in for the fight, and Weathers properly adjusts his performance to an actual match. As it continues though Weathers is great in depicting an ever growing intensity, as well his own physical pain, as he finally takes the fight seriously. Weathers gives a strong performance here by finding the depth to Apollo past simply Rocky's opponent. He's far more than that as Weathers develops, in just a few scenes, the whole way this true prizefighter operates, as a businessman, as a promoter, an entertainer, and when he needs to be a fighter.