MO
Merlin Olsen
Actor
Born September 15, 1940Died March 10, 2010 (69 years)
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).
Merlin Olsen Filmography
| 1988 | Aaron's Way (TV Series) · as Aaron Miller |
| 1984 | Time Bomb · as Jake Calahan |
| 1982 | The Juggler of Notre Dame · as Jonas |
| 1981 | Father Murphy (TV Series) · as John Michael Murphy |
| 1981 | Walking Tall (TV Series) · as Webb Mcclain |
| 1980 | The Golden Moment: An Olympic Love Story · as Todd Simms |
| 1978 | A Fire in the Sky · as Stan Webster |
| 1975 | Mitchell · as Benton |
| 1974 | Little House on the Prairie (TV Series) · as Jonathan Garvey |
| 1972 | The Brian Keith Show/The Little People (TV Series) |
| 1972 | Kung Fu (TV Series) · as Perlee Skowrin |
| 1971 | Something Big · as Sgt. Fitzsimmons |
| 1971 | Police Surgeon (1971) (TV Series) · as The Cat |
| 1971 | One More Train to Rob · as Eli Jones |
| 1969 | The Undefeated · as Little George |
| 1964 | Shindig (TV Series) |
| 1963 | Petticoat Junction (TV Series) |
| 2022 | Joe Montana: Cool Under Pressure (TV Series) · as Self (archive Footage) |
| 2010 | The 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards · as Self - Memorial Tribute |
| 1996 | E! True Hollywood Story (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1991 | The 43rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 1991 | |
| 1989 | Super Bowl XXIII · as Self - Color Commentator |
| 1989 | Pat Sajak Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1987 | Biography (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1986 | NBC 60th Anniversary Celebration · as Self |
| 1986 | Super Bowl XX · as Self - Color Commentator |
| 1984 | |
| 1984 | TV Bloopers And Practical Jokes (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1983 | Super Bowl XVII · as Self - Announcer |
| 1982 | NFL Films Presents (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1981 | |
| 1981 | Super Bowl XV · as Self - Game Analyst |
| 1980 | Hour Magazine (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1979 | Super Bowl XIII · as Self - Announcer |
| 1977 | CHiPs (TV Series) · as Merlin Olsen |
| 1973 | Tomorrow with Tom Snyder (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1970 | ESPN Monday Night Football (TV Series) · as Self - Los Angeles Rams Defensive Tackle |
| 1969 | Hee Haw (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1965 | The NFL on NBC (TV Series) · as Self - Color Commentator |
| 1964 | The Hollywood Palace (TV Series) · as Self - Fearsome Foursome |
| 1962 | The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1961 | The Mike Douglas Show (TV Series) · as Self - Actor |
| 1956 | The NFL on CBS (TV Series) · as Self - Los Angeles Rams Defensive Tackle |
| 1950 | The Bob Hope Show (TV Series) · as Self - 1961 Look All-America Football Team |