Hall of Fame Professional Football Player, Actor, Broadcaster. For fifteen seasons (1962 to 1976), he played at the left and right-defensive tackle positions in the National Football League with the Los Angeles Rams. Born Merlin Jay Olsen, he attended James Logan High School in Utah, and played collegiate football at Utah State University. While with the Aggies, Olsen established himself as a hard-hitting, physically dominating player (a style which carried over into his pro career); as he was recipient of the Outland Trophy as the nation's best interior lineman in 1961, also achieving All-American honors. Off the field, he was a highly-regarded scholar. He was chosen by the Rams during the 1st round of the 1962 NFL Draft and appeared in 208 career regular season games. He achieved All-Pro status thirteen-times (1963 to 1975), Pro-Bowl recognition fourteen-times (1962 to 1975); and along with Rosey Grier, Deacon Jones and Lamar Lundy anchored the famed 1960s defense known as "The Fearsome Foursome". In 1974, he was the recipient of the Bert Bell Trophy from the Maxwell Club. Following football, Olsen concentrated on his acting career (which began in TV guest appearances) and became a respected performer with roles as 'Jonathan Garvey' in the TV series "Little House on the Prairie" (1977 to 1981), as 'John Michael Murphy' in "Father Murphy" (1981 to 1984) and as 'Aaron Miller' in "Aaron's Way" (1988). He also appeared in a series of commercials as a spokesman for FTD florists. In addition, he served as a broadcaster on nationally televised NFL games with NBC along with Dick Enberg. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1980, and enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1982.
Hall of Fame Professional Football Player, Actor, Broadcaster. For fifteen seasons (1962 to 1976), he played at the left and right-defensive tackle positions in the National Football League with the Los Angeles Rams. Born Merlin Jay Olsen, he attended James Logan High School in Utah, and played collegiate football at Utah State University. While with the Aggies, Olsen established himself as a hard-hitting, physically dominating player (a style which carried over into his pro career); as he was recipient of the Outland Trophy as the nation's best interior lineman in 1961, also achieving All-American honors. Off the field, he was a highly-regarded scholar. He was chosen by the Rams during the 1st round of the 1962 NFL Draft and appeared in 208 career regular season games. He achieved All-Pro status thirteen-times (1963 to 1975), Pro-Bowl recognition fourteen-times (1962 to 1975); and along with Rosey Grier, Deacon Jones and Lamar Lundy anchored the famed 1960s defense known as "The Fearsome Foursome". In 1974, he was the recipient of the Bert Bell Trophy from the Maxwell Club. Following football, Olsen concentrated on his acting career (which began in TV guest appearances) and became a respected performer with roles as 'Jonathan Garvey' in the TV series "Little House on the Prairie" (1977 to 1981), as 'John Michael Murphy' in "Father Murphy" (1981 to 1984) and as 'Aaron Miller' in "Aaron's Way" (1988). He also appeared in a series of commercials as a spokesman for FTD florists. In addition, he served as a broadcaster on nationally televised NFL games with NBC along with Dick Enberg. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1980, and enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1982.
Bio by: C.S.
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