Merlin Olsen

Merlin Jay Olsen September 15 1940 March 11 2010 was an American professional football player announcer and actor For his entire 15year 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 thenrecord 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