Hall of Famer, ‘Little House’ star Merlin Olsen dies

[RamboLiberal]

Source: MSNBC

SALT LAKE CITY - Pro Football Hall of Famer and former television actor Merlin Olsen has died. He was 69.

Utah State University assistant athletic media relations director Zach Fisher says Olsen died Wednesday night.

Olsen was an All-American at Utah State and a first-round draft pick of the Los Angles Rams in 1962.

He was part of the Rams’ “Fearsome Foursome” defensive line, which set an NFL record for the fewest yards allowed during a 14-game season in 1968.

Olsen is still the Rams’ all-time leader in career tackles with 915.


Read more: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/35817296/ns/sports-nfl/

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Great player, and seemed like a very decent man. RIP Merlin Olsen

[TwilightGardener]

1. For the life of me, I can't remember which role he played on that show.

He wasn't Mr. Edwards...wasn't Mr. Olsen...wasn't the minister...damn.

[Berry Cool]

2. He was the guy on the FTD flower commercials.

"Please, don't let this feeling end..."

C'mon, he was famous.

[TwilightGardener]

4. I remember that now!

[ixion]

3. he played Jonathan Garvey

just fyi...

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071007/fullcredits#cast

[TwilightGardener]

6. That was it! Thanks.

[WillParkinson]

5. He was Mr. Garvey

After Victor French left the show he became Mr. Ingall's new friend.

[Egnever]

7. this help?

[TwilightGardener]

8. Yep--though the character must not have made much impression on me.

I do remember Victor French, but Merlin Olsen hardly at all. Oh well, RIP, big guy.

[Tippy]

9. He played Jonathan Garvey on Little House

His wife died in a fire at the Blind School when she went back to save the baby.

[TwilightGardener]

10. I thought Mary died in that episode too. Remember a woman with a baby

trying to break out of a window.

[Tailormyst]

13. That was her.

He was also in the original episode/movie I believe.

[Tippy]

16. Mary didn't die,,her baby and Mrs Garvey did

[Tailormyst]

11. He was one of my favorites on Little House

May he rest in peace.

[Frank Cannon]

25. I liked him on Little House too. He was in some memorable episodes.

Another episode that left an impression on me is the one where he finds out that Mrs. Garvey had a sexual relationship with a man before he married her. He goes completely apeshit about this, treats Mrs. Garvey like shit, and goes out in search of the man to give him an ass-whoopin' or something.

Garvey finds the guy and is somewhat horrified to see that he's now a miserable, broken-down, lonely alcoholic. He realizes what he has with Mrs. Garvey, sees that he's being a huge asshole, and returns home to issue a sincere heartfelt apology and a promise never to take his wife for granted again.

He wasn't the best actor in the world, but he was earnest. He was also an effective, non-obnoxious football color commentator for NBC back in the '80s. He seemed like a good, decent guy, and I will miss him.

[Divine Discontent]

12. good guy, RIP

[xxqqqzme]

14. mesothelioma?

Isn't that the cancer resulting from asbestos exposure?

From Wikipedia

"...Olsen was a passionate fisherman, and enjoyed fly fishing the most. 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..."

[Hassin Bin Sober]

Correct.

[The Genealogist]

15. Strange tidbit about Merlin Olson in my life experience

Merlin Olson's face was the last I saw before I learned about the 9/11 attacks. I was doing contract work at the time, at home, and it was my policy to eat breakfast at the same hour the attacks happened to occur. I watched a spot of TV as I was eating my breakfast, had it on TBS watching Little House on the Prairie. When TBS broke in to go to national coverage of the events unfolding, the last scene I saw (remember it quite vividly) has Merlin Olson in it. Strange thing to associate with Merlin Olson, but I suppose a mind shocked with something ugly like those attacks works strangely.

[Journeyman]

17. Growing up in Los Angeles in the '60s was a magical experience for those who loved sports. . .

There were so many great teams, so many phenomenal players. And so many of them were very decent humans, as well. Sandy Kaufax. Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul Jabbar). Deacon Jones. John Wooden.

With all the negativity swirling around sports in recent years, all the thugs and criminals who seem to play ball these days, it's easy to imagine that the greats from that era just weren't scrutinized as well as players are today. But no, when you look back at their life's work in the decades since, you see that so many of them were, in fact, just as decent and caring as they seemed in their heyday, and for some even more so. Merlin Olsen certainly fits in that category. I missed him when he left football. I think I'll miss him more now that he's gone from our world.

[shanti]

21. sure was!

so many teams...lakers, rams, angels, dodgers. i was a fan of them all (still a lakers fan too).

[Faygo Kid]

18. Just saw him last night on a Biography episode about Michael Landon.

How strange. A real decent guy, and a truly great football player.

[Tippy]

19. Hallmark Channel has Little House on right now

a show about a boxer and Olson as Jonathan Garvey is in it.

[Doctor_J]

20. I loved 1960's NFL

He was larger than life, physically and in reputation.

[John Kerry VonErich]

22. "Benton, you're a lousy butler!"

Mitchell- MST3K

[Coventina]

28. I didn't notice your post until after I made mine!

:toast:

One of the best episodes ever!

[Vidar]

23. RIP Mr. Olsen.

[denbot]

24. My first football hero. RIP Mr Olsen

Back in the 60's the fearsome foursome was the best thing in L.A. sports, other then Sandy Koufax.

[Coventina]

26. RIP Mr. Olsen. My favorite acting work of his: "MITCHELL!"

:D

I'm sure that's going to work toward his heavenly reward!

[Codeine]

29. "This makes 'Driving Miss Daisy' look like 'Bullitt!' "

"The new Chrysler Fury. The car that thinks it's a house! "

[Blue_Tires]

27. r.i.p.