How Carl Weathers Got His “Rocky” Role by Insulting Sylvester Stallone's Acting During the Audition

“Sometimes the mistakes are the ones that get you the gig,” the late actor said following the 2015 release of ‘Creed’

Carl Weathers used unconventional methods to secure his Rocky role.

Following the release of Creed, the seventh film in the boxing franchise, Weathers — who died on Thursday at 76 — reflected on his time as Apollo Creed, specifically detailing how he stepped into the character’s shoes.

Recalling the audition to The Hollywood Reporter in 2015, Weathers said, “There was nobody to read with, and they said you’re going to read with the writer [Sylvester Stallone].”

Related: Mariska Hargitay, Snoop Dogg, Octavia Spencer and More Pay Tribute to Carl Weathers After His Death at 76

Completely unaware that Stallone, 77, was set to star as the titular boxer, Rocky Balboa, the Mandalorian actor made a snap decision after the pair completed the audition for the 1976 film.

"We read through the scene and at the end of it, I didn’t feel like it had really sailed, that the scene had sailed, and they were quiet and there was this moment of awkwardness, I felt, anyway,” Weathers told THR. “So I just blurted out, ‘I could do a lot better if you got me a real actor to work with.' ”

“So I just insulted the star of the movie without really knowing it and not intending to,” he added.

Related: Pedro Pascal Remembers His Mandalorian Costar Carl Weathers: 'Words Fail'

Thankfully, the Rocky writer and star was pleased with the insult, because he felt it was something Apollo would actually say.

“Sometimes the mistakes are the ones that get you the gig,” Weathers noted.

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Weathers’ family announced the actor and former NFL linebacker’s death in a statement on Friday, sharing that he “died peacefully in his sleep,” Deadline and Variety reported.

Following his death, Weathers’ Rocky castmates shared tributes to the late star on social media.

In an Instagram video, Stallone, who stood in front of a painting of Rocky fighting Apollo, said he "never could have accomplished what we did with Rocky without" Weathers.

Related: Arnold Schwarzenegger Remembers Carl Weathers: 'We Couldn't Have Made Predator Without Him'

"He was absolutely brilliant. His voice, his size, his power, his athletic ability, but more importantly, his heart, his soul. It’s a horrible loss,” Stallone said. “He was magic, and I was so fortunate to be part of his life.”

Alongside the video, the actor wrote, “We lost a legend yesterday. My life was forever changed for the better the day I met Carl Weathers. Rest in power and keeping punching [sic]."

Also on Instagram, Michael B. Jordan, who plays Apollo’s son, Adonis "Donnie" Creed, in the franchise, posted a tribute to the man who portrayed his onscreen father.

The actor, 36, shared a photo of Weathers with the caption: “We lost a Legend.”

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