Merlin Olsen
Acting
1940-09-15 · 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).
Filmography
Joe Montana: Cool Under Pressure
2022 · Series
Aaron's Way
1988 · Series
Fathers and Sons
1986 · Series
Time Bomb
1984 · Movie
Father Murphy
1981 · Series
The Golden Moment: An Olympic Love Story
1980 · Movie
A Fire in the Sky
1978 · Movie
Mitchell
1975 · Movie
Little House on the Prairie
1974 · Series
Kung Fu
1972 · Series
The Brian Keith Show
1972 · Series
Something Big
1971 · Movie
One More Train to Rob
1971 · Movie
Monday Night Football
1970 · Series
The Undefeated
1969 · Movie
Shindig!
1964 · Series
Petticoat Junction
1963 · Series