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Merlin Olsen Snapshot

First Name

Merlin

Last Name

Olsen

Date of Birth

15 September 1940

Height

Star Sign

Virgo

Gender

Male

Build

Athletic

Hair Color

Grey

Place of Birth

Logan, UT

Ethnicity

White

Religion

Mormon

Claim to Fame

Father Murphy

Nationality

American

Date of Death

10 March 2010

Place of Death

Los Angeles, CA

Cause of Death

Cancer Mesothelioma

Wikipedia Text

Merlin Jay Olsen (September 15, 1940 � March 11, 2010) was an American football player in the National Football League, NFL commentator, and actor. He played his entire 15-year career with the Los Angeles Rams and was elected to the Pro Bowl in 14 of those seasons, a current record shared with Bruce Matthews. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame. As an actor he portrayed the farmer Jonathan Garvey on Little House on the Prairie. After leaving that series, he starred in his own NBC drama, Father Murphy, playing the title role of a foster dad posing as a traveling priest.

Role ID

Actor/Actress

Has Detailed Data (New)

Couple Profile

Merlin Jay Olsen (born September 15, 1940) is a former American football player in the National Football League and an actor. He played his entire 15-year career with the Los Angeles Rams and was elected to the Pro Bowl in 14 of those seasons, a current record shared with Bruce Matthews. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame. He also enjoyed success as an actor. When Little House on the Prairie actor Victor French left to star in his own comedy Carter Country in 1977, Olsen was tapped to play Michael Landon`s new sidekick Jonathan Garvey. One memorable quote from Merlin during the series, "I don`t know a thing about football" was when Charles and Jonathan were to coach a boys football team. A couple of years later, Landon cast Olsen as the masquerading priest Father Murphy. He has been a commercial spokesman for FTD Florists. His most recent television acting work was in the short-lived 1988 TV series Aaron`s Way, in which he played the lead role. Olsen has often co-hosted the Children`s Miracle Network telethons, a humanitarian organization founded in 1983 by Marie Osmond and John Schneider. He is married to Susan Wakely (30 March 1962 - present) . They have 3 children, Kelly, Jill, and Nathan. One of his younger brothers is Phil Olsen. They played together with the Rams from 1971-1974. Brothers, Merlin, Phil and Orrin all played in the NFL. Another brother, Clark, has a son, Hans, who later played professional football, in the family tradition. Merlin is a passionate fisherman, and enjoys fly fishing the most. In total, he has three brothers and five sisters. Colleen, Clark, Lorraine, Gwen, Phil, Winona, Ramona, and Orrin. Merlin is the first son, and second child of nine children born to Merle Barrus and Lynn Jay Olsen. He has four grandchildren. Olsen passed away on March 10, 2010 from cancer. His death was announced by his brother Orrin, who said he had been treated for mesothelioma, a form of cancer. He was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2009 and underwent three courses of chemotherapy. In January 2010 he filed a lawsuit against NBC Studios, NBC Universal, and 20th Century Fox for exposing him to asbestos.

Couple Profile Source

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merlin_Olsen

Full Name at Birth

Merlin Jay Olsen

Weight

270

Draft

Drafted by the Denver Broncos in the 1st round (2nd overall) of the 1962 AFL Draft., Drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the 1st round (3rd overall) of the 1962 NFL Draft.

American Football Position

Defensive Tackle

Hall of Fame

Inducted into Hall of Fame in 1982

University

Utah State

Middle Name

Jay

Country Of Origin

USA

State Of Origin

Utah