Carl Weathers dies at 76; ‘Rocky’ actor is a star of FanDuel’s Super Bowl campaign

Actor Carl Weathers died at age 76, according to reports, leading FanDuel to adjust its Super Bowl campaign. In the action-movie-inspired campaign for the sportsbook’s Super Bowl spot, Weathers played a trainer to Rob Gronkowski, who will attempt a field goal before the Feb. 11 game. FanDuel has been encouraging fans to pick whether Gronkowski makes or misses the attempt. The brand’s second-quarter game ad is meant to celebrate the outcome. “We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Carl Weathers,” FanDuel said in a statement. “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.” The brand said it would have no further immediate comment. Since early January, the Wieden+Kennedy-led campaign has been playing out over a series of ads leading up to the Super Bowl. The first of these shows a bedraggled Gronk wandering through the desert when Weathers pulls up in a sidecar motorcycle. The actor and former football player, famous for roles in sports movies such as “Rocky” and “Happy Gilmore,” plays Gronkowski’s trainer and leader of “Team Make”; a rival later emerged in John Cena, who leads “Team Miss.” Super Bowl commercials Tracking the latest brand and agency plans Enter here As of Friday afternoon, a FanDuel video teasing the ad was still posted on its YouTube page.

Carl Weathers dies at 76; ‘Rocky’ actor is a star of FanDuel’s Super Bowl campaign

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