Person
Merlin Olsen
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 (196…
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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).
Filmography
Movies and shows, newest first
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2022
Joe Montana: Cool Under Pressure
TV show Self (archive footage)
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1988
Aaron's Way
TV show Aaron Miller
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1986
Fathers and Sons
TV show
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1984
Time Bomb
Movie Jake Calahan
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1981
Father Murphy
TV show John Michael Murphy
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1980
The Golden Moment: An Olympic Love Story
Movie Todd Simms
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1978
A Fire in the Sky
Movie Stan Webster
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1975
Mitchell
Movie Benton
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1974
Little House on the Prairie
TV show Jonathan Garvey
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1972
Kung Fu
TV show Perlee Skowrin
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1972
The Brian Keith Show
TV show
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1971
Something Big
Movie Sgt. Fitzsimmons
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1971
One More Train to Rob
Movie Eli Jones
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1970
Monday Night Football
TV show Defensive Tackle
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1969
The Undefeated
Movie Little George
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1964
Shindig!
TV show
More credits
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1963
Petticoat Junction
TV show
