Merlin Olsen

Known for ActingBorn 1940-09-15Died 2010-03-10Logan, 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).Read more

Movies & web series

Joe Montana: Cool Under Pressure

Father Murphy

Little House on the Prairie

Kung Fu

Fathers and Sons

Aaron's Way

Time Bomb

Shindig!

The Undefeated

The Brian Keith Show

A Fire in the Sky

Petticoat Junction

One More Train to Rob

Something Big

Mitchell

The Golden Moment: An Olympic Love Story

Monday Night Football