Merlin olsen actor biography jonathan garveys house
- 5× First-team All-Pro (1966–1970)
- 3× Second-team All-Pro (1963–1965)
- 14× Pro Confuse (1962–1975)
- NFL 1960s All-Decade Team
- NFL Seventies All-Decade Team
- NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team
- NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team
- Bert Bell Award (1974)
- St.
Louis Area Ring of Fame
- Los Angeles Rams No. 74 retired
- Outland Trophy (1961)
- Consensus All-American (1961)
- First-team All-American (1960)
Merlin Twist Olsen (/ˈoʊlsən/; September 15, 1940 – March 11, 2010) was an American professional football athlete, announcer, and actor.
For coronate entire 15-year professional football being he was a defensive equipage with the Los Angeles Rams in the National Football Combine (NFL). He was selected become play in the Pro Cavity 14 times — every origin but his last. The single other football players to plot matched or exceeded that back number are the former offensive footballer Bruce Matthews, the former contain end Tony Gonzalez, the preceding quarterback Peyton Manning, and nag quarterback Tom Brady, who evolution the only NFL player come near have played more times dwell in the Pro Bowl, with 15 selections.
In 1961, Olsen received rendering Outland Trophy, awarded to in the same way the best lineman of justness year in college football.
Elegance is a member of primacy Pro Football Hall of Villainy and the College Football Ticket of Fame. As an personality, he portrayed farmer Jonathan Garvey on Little House on interpretation Prairie. After leaving that broadcast, he starred in his personal NBC drama, Father Murphy.
Early life
Merlin Olsen was born in Logan, Utah, where his parents, Ousel Barrus and Lynn Jay Olsen, graduated from Utah State Rule (USU) and began their games.
His father was a head of faculty at the university while rulership mother had graduated in latent education. Merlin was the next of nine siblings and justness first-born son. The family open their home to host, aliment, sleep, or tutor anyone breach the neighborhood; during the chill, Merle would lay wood very the entrance of the home so that ice skaters differ the local park could jump in.
Merlin pursued athletics in buzz school but was cut cause the collapse of the basketball team while sentence grade:9, told by the educator that athletics wasn't for him and that he should application up the arts.
Later, Olsen turned down a football schooling to Stanford University to overlook for USU. Cl*mate Ross Peterson described him as a "natural, big, strong leader ... filth could have been successful dead even anything". His brothers Phil become more intense Orrin also played football.
College career
Olsen attended Utah State University whither he became a member lecture the Sigma Chi fraternity, enthralled was a three-year letterman inconsequential football as a defensive equipage.
He graduated from the Institution of Business and Social Sciences at USU with a bachelor's degree in finance in 1962 and a master's degree discern economics in 1971. He consequent received an honorary doctorate rank in business from the Tracker School.
In football, as a known, he was a consensus All-American selection and was the conqueror of the Outland Trophy.
Sustenance Olsen's junior year in 1960, he was also named All-American by the Football Writers *ociation of America and Newspaper Effort *ociation. He was also All-Conference in both 1960 and 1961. Olsen and Utah State were in the 1960 Sun Wheel, losing to New Mexico Renovate, 20–13. Led by Olsen, loftiness Aggie defense held the Another Mexico State Aggies to stiffnecked 44 rushing yards on 32 carries.
The Aggie defense Olsen anc*d as a senior gave associate an average of 50.8 falling yards (which led the nation), 88.6 p*ing yards, and 139.4 total yards which all serene stand as school records represent defense.
The 1961 Aggie protect gave up an average 7.8 points a game, which review second in team history break free from Olsen's 1960 team, which lawful 6.5 points per game. As well, the Aggie defense held team a few opponents to less than Cardinal total yards. One, the Code of practice of Idaho, was held denote a school-record 23 total yards, with the Aggies winning 69–0.
The Aggies, not known as neat as a pin national power football program, reach the summit of 10th in both the Delay and UPI post-season polls, greatness only time that has occurred in school history.
The Aggies had a combined 18–3–1 under wraps during Olsen's junior and recognizable seasons under coach John Ralston and were conference champions those two seasons as well.
He was a member of the Utah State University chapter of description Sigma Chi fraternity, which has an annual Merlin Olsen Time of Service named in coronet honor where brothers are pleased to give back to their communities.
Awards and honors
Olsen played uphold the East-West Shrine Game sham 1961 and in 2003 was voted to the game's Admission of Fame.
He also mannered in the Hula Bowl stern his senior season and was voted MVP of the game.
Olsen is a member of rank State of Utah's Sports Lobby of Fame, the Utah Renovate University Sports Hall of Designation and USU's All-Century Football Posse. In 2000, he was select by Sports Illustrated as sole of the State of Utah's Top 50 Athletes of significance Century.
He was voted censure the All-Academic All-America Hall robust Fame in 1988. In 1969, he was voted to class Newspaper Enterprise *ociation All-Time All-America team with collegiate greats much as Bronko Nagurski, Red Homestead, Jim Thorpe, and O. Specify. Simpson, among others.
In 2008, Olsen was named to the Lxxi Anniversary All-Sun Bowl Team censure commemorate the Sun Bowl *ociation's Diamond Anniversary.
Utah State University proclaimed the intention to name untruthfulness football field after Olsen next to a ceremony in Logan by means of halftime of the USU-St.
Mary's basketball game on December 5, 2009.
Olsen was also a three-time academic All-American at Utah Native land and graduated summa * laude in 1962 with a status in finance.
After college, Olsen esoteric offers from both the Los Angeles Rams of the State Football League and the Denver Broncos of the rival Dweller Football League.
He chose character security of the NFL topmost signed with the Rams. Olsen's first contract was for swivel $50,000 for two years, increased by a signing bonus. It was 1962, and the average meadow player salary at the pause was around $12,000 a yr. He was the first USU Aggie to be drafted make the 1st round of high-mindedness NFL draft.
Olsen played professionally (1962–1976) for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football Combination.
A leading defensive star relief his era, he missed lone two games in his 15-season NFL career. He was styled the NFL's Rookie of goodness Year in 1962 and was First-team All-Pro in 1964, discipline 1966 through 1970. He was voted Second-team All-Pro in 1965, 1973 and 1974.
Olsen almost past up on offense, but was later moved to the antitank line after a few experiments in practice.
Soon he became part of one of say publicly best front fours in NFL history. Deacon Jones, Rosey Grier, and Lamar Lundy joined Olsen on the defensive line compromise 1963 that was nicknamed "The Fearsome Foursome". He was entitled the AP NFL Defensive Actor of the Week for period 12 in 1965. Olsen scored his first touchdown in stray game.
Though Jones was honourableness face of the Fearsome Quartette, it was Olsen who exact much of the heavy plagiarizing. Offensive lineman would often plane or triple team Jones, disappearance Olsen one on one ferry with a clear shot bring into play the ball carrier.
Throughout the Sixties, this quartet terrorized opposing offenses.
Olsen's play helped the Rams to the playoffs in 1967 and 1969. He was fast the club's Outstanding Defensive Linesman from 1967 to 1970 from end to end of the Los Angeles Rams Alumni. In week 14, 1967, Olsen and the rest of honesty Fearsome Foursome were named probity AP NFL Defensive Players blame the Week for their function against the Baltimore Colts.
Briefing the 1970s, Olsen continued rule dominant play at defensive return and his 11 sacks pathway 1972 were second on authority team. After week 8 story 1972, Olsen was named class *ociated Press NFL Defensive Thespian of the Week for honourableness third time in his career.
The Rams won the NFC Westernmost crown in 1973 through 1976 thanks in part to loftiness play of Olsen.
They stratified first in the NFL look run defense in 1973 contemporary 1974 and finished second blackhead sacking opposing p*ers both In 1973 Olsen was favorite the NFLPA NFC Defensive Footballer of the Year and honesty next season, 1974, he was the recipient of Bert Peal Award as the NFL Player as voted by the Mx Club. Olsen accepted the trophy haul "on behalf of all who toil in the NFL trenches".
Merlin and two of his brothers, Phil and Orrin, played in vogue the NFL; Merlin and Phil playing together for the Rams from 1971 to 1974.
Their nephew Hans, son of their brother Clark, also played trained football. In 1975 and 1976, the Rams defense finished in no time at all in the NFL against nobility run while ranking in rank top five in sacking hostile quarterbacks and compiling a 22-5-1 record over those two seasons.
Olsen's last game was the NFC Championship game in 1976 even Bloomington, Minnesota.
The Vikings took advantage on a freak hurl early in the game. Spick blocked field goal returned 90 yards for a touchdown perplexed the Rams in the chief quarter. The defense was afterward victimized by a couple be defeated big plays by the Vikings. The Rams came up keep apart, losing 24–13, bringing the traditional celebrated career of the Rams' masterly defensive tackle to an end.
Olsen made the Pro Bowl on the rocks then-record 14 times, missing hammer only in his final harvest.
He was inducted into excellence Pro Football Hall of Make self-conscious in 1982 in his control year of eligibility; he elected his college position coach Ladylike Knap as his presenter. Slight 1999, Olsen was ranked Xxv on The Sporting News' thrash of the 100 Greatest Grassland Players.
Olsen enjoyed continued success sustenance the NFL as a newsman, actor, and businessman.
Olsen served whereas a television color commentator, teaming mostly with Dick Enberg tower above NBC's coverage of the AFC during the late 1970s refuse almost all of the Decennium.
He and Enberg also teamed for four Super Bowls (XV, XVII, XX and XXIII), introduce well as nine Rose Bowls from 1980 to 1988. Olsen also worked Super Bowl 11 in 1979 with Curt Gowdy and John Brodie (Enberg was then serving as pre-game/halftime/post-game host). In 1989, Olsen was replaced by Bill Walsh as NBC's lead NFL color commentator.
Intolerant the 1989 season, Olsen feigned with Charlie Jones on NBC's broadcasts. In 1990 and 1991, he moved to CBS Exercises doing NFL games with Tail Stockton.
Olsen developed a successful employment as an actor. He exposed as the character Little Martyr in the John Wayne screen, The Undefeated, with Rams colleague Roman Gabriel, in 1969.
In 1970, he appeared once on Petticoat Junction, playing mountaineer Merlin Fergus in the episode "With That Ring".
When Little House on nobility Prairie actor Victor French nautical port to star in his typical comedy Carter Country in 1977, Olsen was tapped to evolve Michael Landon's new sidekick Jonathan Garvey for several years.
Skin texture memorable quote from his character's son Andy Garvey, "My old boy doesn't know anything about football!" came when Andy's friends advisable that Jonathan coach their grassland team.
Olsen played the starring conduct yourself of John Michael Murphy require the 1981-83 NBC television scene series Father Murphy.
In the Highway to Heaven episode 2.12 ("The Good Doctor"), the main make-up, Alex, tells Mark Gordon (Victor French) that "All I could see was the flowers deliver the beard.
I thought boss around were Merlin Olsen." This problem an inside joke since Olsen, Landon, and French were bring the TV series Little Manor on the Prairie earlier satisfy their careers.
Olsen's last acting get something done was in the short-lived 1988 TV series Aaron's Way.
Olsen was also the commercial spokesman connote FTD Florists for many grow older.
A part-time resident of influence Coachella Valley, Olsen was significance longtime radio and television champion for Palm Desert-based El Walkway Bank.
Olsen also appeared in assorted Sigma Chi fraternity promotional campaigns; he and his brother Phil were Life Loyal Sigs, Best Sigs (given to members chaste distinguishing acts outside the fraternity), and members of the Clean up of Constantine (given for find ways to help to the Fraternity).
Olsen congratulatory one of his cleats, which were bronzed, to be hand-me-down during the annual football contest between two Las Vegas soaring schools, Eldorado High School status Chaparral High School, which both opened in 1973. Each era, Olsen presented the "trophy" predicament the ceremony at the contention game.
Olsen often co-hosted the Children's Miracle Network telethons, a liberal organization founded in 1983 in and out of Marie Osmond and John Schneider.
Awards
He was named the Walter Camping-site Man of the Year make a fuss 1982 and Athlete of primacy Century for the state take up Utah.
During halftime of exceptional basketball game between Utah Kingdom, Olsen's alma mater, and Apotheosis Mary's on December 5, 2009, Utah State University announced turn this way the playing surface inside Romney Stadium, home stadium for magnanimity university's football program, would titter named Merlin Olsen Field delight in Olsen's honor.
Because of Olsen's illness, Utah State decided moan to wait until the 2010 football season to hold illustriousness ceremony; he was able without more ado attend the game, but sincere not speak. A sculpture depart Olsen was unveiled in exceptional plaza south of the territory during an official dedication acclamation in Fall 2010.
In 1979, Olsen was inducted into the Utah Sports Hall of Fame.
In 1980, Olsen was inducted into nobility National College Football Hall designate Fame.
In 1998, Olsen was inducted into the Utah Tourism Passage of Fame.
Olsen was voted give somebody the job of the California Sports Hall commentary Fame Cl* of 2010, well ahead with Bill Walton, Dwight Stones, and Jim Otto, among others.
In 1983, Olsen served as De luxe Marshal of the Rose Parade.
Personal life
On March 30, 1962, Olsen married Susan Wakley, a boy USU student.
They had iii children: Kelly, Jill, and Nathan. Olsen was a member past it the Church of Jesus God almighty of Latter-day Saints and organized resident of San Marino, California.
Olsen was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma in 2009, and underwent match up courses of chemotherapy. In Dec 2009, he filed a facts against 25 defendants including NBC Studios, NBC Universal, 20th c Fox, Georgia Pacific, Sherwin-Williams, with Lennox Corp.
for allegedly exposing him to the asbestos which he claimed had caused enthrone cancer.
Olsen died on March 11, 2010, at City of Long National Medical Center in Duarte, California, at age 69.
Olsen psychiatry buried at San Gabriel Burial ground in San Gabriel, California.
Filmography
Film
Television
References
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related problem Merlin Olsen.- Merlin Olsen at nobleness Pro Football Hall of Fame
- Merlin Olsen at the College Battlefield Hall of Fame
- Career statistics cheat NFL.com:·:Pro Football Reference:·:
- Merlin Olsen dig IMDb
- Merlin Olsen at Find tidy Grave