Merlin Olsen
Acting
19
Acting Credits
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 th...
Known For
Filmography
Joe Montana: Cool Under Pressure
2022
as Self (archive footage)
Aaron's Way
1988
as Aaron Miller
Fathers and Sons
1986
Time Bomb
1984
as Jake Calahan
Father Murphy
1981
as John Michael Murphy
The Golden Moment: An Olympic Love Story
1980
as Todd Simms
A Fire in the Sky
1978
as Stan Webster
Mitchell
1975
as Benton
Little House on the Prairie
1974
as Jonathan Garvey
Kung Fu
1972
as Perlee Skowrin
The Brian Keith Show
1972
Something Big
1971
as Sgt. Fitzsimmons
One More Train to Rob
1971
as Eli Jones
Monday Night Football
1970
as Defensive Tackle
Monday Night Football
1970
as Left Defensive Tackle
Monday Night Football
1970
as Defensive tackle
The Undefeated
1969
as Little George
Shindig!
1964
Petticoat Junction
1963