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The Washington Post

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Merlin Olsen: NFL star, sports broadcaster, actor -- 1940-2010

The Hall of Fame defensive tackle for the Los Angeles Rams later became as well known as a football broadcaster and a television actor. He died March 11 of mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer. He was 69.

1969

Merlin Olsen played with the Los Angeles Rams from 1962 to 1976. In his 15 seasons, he never missed a game.

NFL

1964

Mr. Olsen played left tackle in the Rams' defensive line, with Lamar Lundy (85) at right end, Roosevelt "Rosey" Grier (76) at right tackle and David "Deacon" Jones (75) at left end. The "Fearsome Foursome" were together for only four years (1963-66), but they revolutionized defensive line play.

NFL Photos-AP

1970

In his 15 seasons with the Rams, Mr. Olsen was named to 14 consecutive Pro Bowl teams. While playing in the NFL in 1970, he received a master's degree from Utah State in economics.

NFL Photos-AP

1976

Mr. Olsen, in his final season with the Rams, faces down Atlanta Falcons guard Greg Kindle. With 915 tackles to his credit, Mr. Olsen still holds the Rams' all-time team record.

1977

With the help of actor-producer Michael Landon, Mr. Olsen secured the role of Jonathan Garvey in "Little House on the Prairie." He played the farmer-woodsman from 1977 to 1981.

1981

From "Little House," Mr. Olsen moved on to the title role in "Father Murphy," in which he played a frontiersman who disguises himself as a priest to protect a group of orphans.

Wally Fong-AP

1982

Mr. Olsen was awash in aloha spirit during a visit to Honolulu for the Pro Bowl. That same year, his first of eligibility, he was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

NFL Photos-AP

1983

The decorated athlete waves to the crowd as grand marshal of the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.

George Rose-Getty Images

1985

Mr. Olsen brought his front-line knowledge of the game to years of sideline commentary. "He was so thoroughly prepared, he should have been a lawyer," Mr. Olsen's longtime NBC broadcast partner Dick Enberg (left) told the Los Angeles Times in 2006.

George Rose-Getty Images

2001

Mr. Olsen accompanies former Rams teammate Jack Youngblood at his Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony in Canton, Ohio.

David Maxwell-AFP/Getty Images

2007

Mr. Olsen speaks during the Gridiron Legends Luncheon Series at the College Football Hall of Fame. Though not a promising athlete as a child, he became a two-time all-American at Utah State University.

Jim Rider-AP

2005

Mr. Olsen, at another induction ceremony in Canton, Ohio, "had as much to do as any other individual with glamorizing defensive football in the NFL," his official biography at the Pro Football Hall of Fame states.

Jonathan Daniel-Getty Images

Gallery Credits:
Producer, Photo Editor Stephen Cook Text Editor Doris N. Truong

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This Story NFL Hall of Famer starred in frontier TV dramas Article \| Merlin Olsen, 69, a Hall of Fame defensive tackle with the Los Angeles Rams who became equally well known after his playing days as a football broadcaster, television actor and commercial pitchman, died March 11 at a hospital in Duarte, Calif., outside Los Angeles. He had mesothelioma, a rare for... Merlin Olsen: NFL star, sports broadcaster, actor -- 1940-2010		Network News X Profile View More Activity TOOLBOX E-Mail This Save/Share + Digg Facebook Reddit Twitter myspace del.icio.us NewsTrust Stumble It! Reprints COMMENT 0 Comments Your browser's settings may be preventing you from commenting on and viewing comments about this item. See instructions for fixing the problem. Discussion Policy CLOSE Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post. Who's Blogging » Links to this gallery		More on washingtonpost.com • More Photo News » washingtonpost.com
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Merlin Olsen: NFL star, sports broadcaster, actor -- 1940-2010

The Hall of Fame defensive tackle for the Los Angeles Rams later became as well known as a football broadcaster and a television actor. He died March 11 of mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer. He was 69.

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