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Merlin Olsen

Merlin Olsen

Birthday: 1940-09-15 | Place of Birth: Logan, 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).

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Known For

Acting

Year
Title

Role

1988
Aaron's Way

as    Aaron Miller

1984
Time Bomb

as    Jake Calahan

1981
Father Murphy

as    John Michael Murphy

1980
1975
Mitchell

as    Benton

1971
Something Big

as    Sgt. Fitzsimmons

1969
The Undefeated

as    Little George