Anecdotes

During his professional football career, he played for the NFL Oakland Raiders (1970-71) and the CFL B.C. Lions (1971-73).

His most famous character, the flashy boxer Apollo Creed from the Rocky films, was loosely based on Muhammad Ali.

One of the original actors that auditioned for the role of Captain Benjamin Sisko on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993). The role eventually went to Avery Brooks.

Attended and graduated from San Diego State University (SDSU) with a masters' degree in theater arts.

Before his career as an actor, he was a professional football player.

Played for the B.C. Lions of the Canadian Football League from 1971 - 1973. Played linebacker in 18 games and wore #55.

College football coach at San Diego State University (SDSU) was College Football Hall-of-Fame coach Don Coryell ("Air").

Played college football at San Diego State University (SDSU). One of his teammates was Fred Dryer. Coincidentally, Fred Dryer starred in Rick Hunter (1984) which was originally going to also be the title of Predator (1987), which starred Carl.

He has appeared in two films that have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant": Rocky (1976) and Rencontres du troisième type (1977).

Attended and graduated from San Francisco State University (SFSU) with a bachelor's degree in drama.

He was posthumously awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7076 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on August 29, 2024. His Walk of Fame star is located near the Hollywood and La Brea Gateway.

Inducted into the International Mustache Hall of Fame in the category Film & Television. (2016)

Carl's longtime partner was actress Christine Kludjian from 2014, until his death in 2024.

Currently assisted the U.S. Military with simulated Iraqi villages in Fort Irwin, California. He had directed and narrated at least one training video: "IKAF First Aid". IKAF stands for "individual first aid kit". (avril 2006)

Attended and graduated from Long Beach Polytechnic High School in Long Beach, California (1966).

Took drama classes with actress and director Donna Pescow.

In the Mad magazine spoof of Rocky (1976), Carl's character is named Appalling Greed.