Merlin Olsen
Born Sep 15, 1940 · Logan, Utah, USA
Merlin Jay Olsen (September 15, 1940 – March 11, 2010) was an American professional football player, announcer, and actor. For his entire 15-year professional football career (1962 - 1976), he was a defensive tackle for the Los Angeles Rams. He was selected to play in the Pro Bowl a then-record 14 times (surpassed only by Tom Brady). He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame. As an actor, Olsen is best known for portraying farmer Jonathan Garvey on the fourth through seventh seasons of Little House on the Prairie (1977 - 1981). He went on to star as the title character in the Western series Father Murphy (1981 - 1983).
Known for
Fathers and Sons
1986
Time Bomb
1984
Father Murphy
1981
Super Bowl XV
1981
The Golden Moment: An Olympic Love Story
1980
Super Bowl XIII
1979
A Fire in the Sky
1978
Mitchell
1975
Little House on the Prairie
1974
The Brian Keith Show
1972
Kung Fu
1972
One More Train to Rob
1971
Something Big
1971
Monday Night Football
1970
The Undefeated
1969
Shindig!
1964
Petticoat Junction
1963