In Rocky II, who plays the heavyweight champion Apollo Creed?

In Rocky II, Carl Weathers plays heavyweight champion Apollo Creed.

Weathers first portrayed Apollo in the 1976 film Rocky, where Creed selects Rocky Balboa as the challenger for a specially arranged title bout. Rocky II continues directly from that fight and focuses on the public pressure surrounding a rematch.

Apollo is a charismatic, fast, and highly skilled champion whose confidence is challenged by Rocky's unexpected performance. Weathers brought athleticism and showmanship to the role, making Apollo more than a conventional antagonist.

The character later becomes Rocky's friend and trainer. That development is central to the series, especially after Apollo's death in Rocky IV. Weathers appeared as Apollo in the first four Rocky films, while the Creed films continue the character's legacy through his son, Adonis Johnson Creed.