Merlin Olsen

Merlin Olsen

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

Filmography

2022

Joe Montana: Cool Under Pressure
Joe Montana: Cool Under Pressure
as Self (archive footage)
TV - Released: 1/6/2022

1988

TV
Aaron's Way
as Aaron Miller
TV - Released: 3/9/1988

1986

Fathers and Sons
Fathers and Sons
TV - Released: 4/6/1986

1984

Time Bomb
Time Bomb
as Jake Calahan
Movie - Released: 3/25/1984

1981

Father Murphy
Father Murphy
as John Michael Murphy
TV - Released: 11/3/1981

1980

The Golden Moment: An Olympic Love Story
The Golden Moment: An Olympic Love Story
as Todd Simms
Movie - Released: 5/25/1980

1978

A Fire in the Sky
A Fire in the Sky
as Stan Webster
Movie - Released: 11/26/1978

1975

Mitchell
Mitchell
as Benton
Movie - Released: 9/10/1975

1974

Little House on the Prairie
Little House on the Prairie
as Jonathan Garvey
TV - Released: 9/11/1974

1972

Kung Fu
Kung Fu
as Perlee Skowrin
TV - Released: 10/14/1972
The Brian Keith Show
The Brian Keith Show
TV - Released: 9/15/1972

1971

Something Big
Something Big
as Sgt. Fitzsimmons
Movie - Released: 11/19/1971
One More Train to Rob
One More Train to Rob
as Eli Jones
Movie - Released: 2/19/1971

1970

Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football
as Defensive Tackle
TV - Released: 9/21/1970
Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football
as Left Defensive Tackle
TV - Released: 9/21/1970
Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football
as Defensive tackle
TV - Released: 9/21/1970

1969

The Undefeated
The Undefeated
as Little George
Movie - Released: 10/4/1969

1964

Shindig!
Shindig!
TV - Released: 9/16/1964

1963

Petticoat Junction
Petticoat Junction
TV - Released: 9/24/1963