CineScope
Merlin Olsen picture

Merlin Olsen

Acting
Known For

69 Years Old

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).

Born

Logan, Utah, USA on 15th September 1940

Died

10th March 2010

All Credits

Little House on the Prairie Image
Little House on the Prairie
Jonathan Garvey
Petticoat Junction Image
Petticoat Junction
Something Big Image
Something Big
Sgt. Fitzsimmons
Shindig! Image
Shindig!
Monday Night Football Image
Monday Night Football
Defensive tackle
Monday Night Football Image
Monday Night Football
Left Defensive Tackle
Monday Night Football Image
Monday Night Football
Defensive Tackle
Father Murphy Image
Father Murphy
John Michael Murphy
No Image
Aaron's Way
Aaron Miller
The Brian Keith Show Image
The Brian Keith Show
The Undefeated Image
The Undefeated
Little George
Joe Montana: Cool Under Pressure Image
Joe Montana: Cool Under Pressure
Self (archive footage)
Kung Fu Image
Kung Fu
Perlee Skowrin
Fathers and Sons Image
Fathers and Sons
One More Train to Rob Image
One More Train to Rob
Eli Jones
A Fire in the Sky Image
A Fire in the Sky
Stan Webster
Mitchell Image
Mitchell
Benton
The Golden Moment: An Olympic Love Story Image
The Golden Moment: An Olympic Love Story
Todd Simms
Time Bomb Image
Time Bomb
Jake Calahan