Merlin Olsen

Biography

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).

Known For

Little House on the Prairie

Petticoat Junction

Monday Night Football

Shindig!

The Undefeated

Father Murphy

All Movies (7)

Time Bomb1984 · as Jake Calahan
The Golden Moment: An Olympic Love Story1980 · as Todd Simms
A Fire in the Sky1978 · as Stan Webster
Mitchell1975 · as Benton
Something Big1971 · as Sgt. Fitzsimmons
One More Train to Rob1971 · as Eli Jones
The Undefeated1969 · as Little George

All TV Shows (12)

Joe Montana: Cool Under Pressure2022 · as Self (archive footage)
Aaron's Way1988 · as Aaron Miller
Fathers and Sons1986
Father Murphy1981 · as John Michael Murphy
Little House on the Prairie1974 · as Jonathan Garvey
Kung Fu1972 · as Perlee Skowrin
The Brian Keith Show1972
Monday Night Football1970 · as Defensive Tackle
Monday Night Football1970 · as Left Defensive Tackle
Monday Night Football1970 · as Defensive tackle
Shindig!1964
Petticoat Junction1963