Carl Weathers

Arrested Development/Netflix

Carl Weathers

Arrested Development/Netflix

Carl Weathers to appear in Super Bowl commercial weeks after his sudden death

Arrested Development/Netflix

Late actor Carl Weathers will appear in a Super Bowl commercial weeks after his death.

The Rocky star died in his sleep at his home in Los Angeles on February 1, he was 76 years old.

The commercial will focus on former NFL athlete Rob Gronkowski attempting to kick a field goal, the same as last year. The Hollywood star had already filmed his part in a teaser for the commercial, picking Gronkowski up on a motorbike after failing to make the goal last year.

Following the news of the Predator star’s death, online sports-betting company, FanDuel, behind the advert, has indicated it planned to make adjustments to the final product.

But Andrew Sneyd, executive vice president of marketing, confirmed Weathers will still appear.

The company has been in touch with Weathers family and estate, and while some adjustments will be made, he’ll make an appearance.

Sneyd said: “The family has been very supportive that they would still like to see Carl in the work.

“We need to change what we are doing in the Bowl. The live event itself carries forward and as is. Rob will kick the field goal and he will be even more inspired to make it. He really enjoyed meeting Carl and found him to be such an optimistic and energetic person.”

Sneyd continued to Variety: “We had built a master. One is an edit if he makes the kick and we have an edit if he misses. That content we had in those masters wouldn’t be appropriate for us to do any more.

“Since the news of Carl’s passing came, we have been working with editors to help us get back to something that does make sense.

“We have been viewing edits through tears. We really enjoyed the short time we had to work with him. He’s a wonderful man and he genuinely is an inspiration and had such a positive outlook on the world. We want to make sure we try to meet this moment with the respect it deserves.”

Weathers, born in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1948, had a short stint in the NFL and Canadian Football League before putting up his boots for scripts instead.

His break-out roles included Bucktown and Friday Foster, before being cast as Apollo Creed in Rocky and Rocky II, opposite Rocky Balboa, played by Sylvester Stallone.

He then played CIA agent Dillion alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in Predator and took up the comedic role of Derick Peterson (“Chubbs”) next to Adam Sandler in Happy Gilmore.

The celebrity is survived by his two sons, Jason and Matthew, whom he shared with his ex-wife Mary Anne Castle.