At the age of 69, famous NFL player, actor, and broadcaster Merlin Olsen passed away on March 11, 2010. He had a successful NFL career as a defensive tackle for the Los Angeles Rams and was as well-known for his television parts in series like Father Murphy and Little House on the Prairie. This article will discuss Merlin Olsen’s life and accomplishments in addition to his death and its cause.
Merlin Olsen Cause of Death
Mesothelioma is an aggressive and uncommon cancer that strikes the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart. Olsen received a diagnosis of this rare disease in 2009. Together with his wife Susan, he sued NBC Studios, 20th Century Fox, and Sherwin Williams, asserting that his time working in television and film exposed him to asbestos, a chemical known to cause cancer.
Despite undergoing radiation and chemotherapy, his illness only got worse. His passing occurred on March 11, 2010, at Chicago, Illinois’s Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The people closest to him include his wife, three kids, eight siblings, and a plethora of nieces and nephews. The NFL community, Olsen’s loved ones, and fans all shared in the grief over his passing.
In addition to being a caring and compassionate man, he was regarded as a gentle giant and a ferocious competitor. During the 2010 season, the Rams paid tribute to him by donning jersey patches featuring his number 74.
Additionally, in 2009, Utah State University erected a football field in his honor. Both the Los Angeles Sports Hall of Fame and the Utah Sports Hall of Fame posthumously honored him after his passing in 2010 and 2011, respectively.
The NFL Career of Merlin Olsen
Born on September 15, 1940, in Logan, Utah, Merlin Olsen attended Logan High School and was a three-sport standout. He continued his education at Utah State University, where he was a standout defensive lineman and twice named to the All-American team. Furthermore, in 1961, he was named the greatest interior lineman in the country and awarded the Outland Trophy.
Olsen became one of the league’s top defensive players after the Los Angeles Rams selected him in the first round of the 1962 NFL Draft. He and Deacon Jones, Lamar Lundy, and Roosevelt Grier were the infamous “Fearsome Foursome” of the Rams’ defensive line. Over the course of 15 seasons (1962–1976), he appeared in every game for the Los Angeles Rams.
Along with Bruce Matthews, Tony Gonzalez, Peyton Manning, and Tom Brady, he holds the record for most straight Pro Bowl selections with fourteen. In 1974, he was named the NFL’s most valuable player and was named to the first team All-Pro six times, the second team All-Pro four times, and the Bert Bell Award winner.
He was selected to the NFL’s All-Decade Teams for the 1960s, 1970s, 75th, and 100th celebrations. In 1982, during his first year of eligibility, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Olsen led the team and was renowned for his strength, intellect, and technique. Off the field, his sportsmanship, honesty, and charity earned him admiration as well.
The United Way, the March of Dimes, and the Children’s Miracle Network were among the many humanitarian and charity organizations he supported. Before he played in the NFL, he was a missionary in Canada and a devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The Acting and Broadcasting Career of Merlin Olsen
Olsen went on to star in films and television after hanging up his cleats in 1976. From Mitchell to The Undefeated to Kung Fu to The Love Boat to The Golden Girls, he was in it all. From 1977 until 1981, he portrayed the character of Jonathan Garvey on Little House on the Prairie. Garvey was a farmer and friend of Charles Ingalls.
Between 1981 to 1983, he was the lead actor in his own television series Father Murphy, in which he played a priest who had a past as an outlaw and now helped abandoned children.
For NBC, Olsen also provided commentary for football games, including those in the National Football League, college football, and the Rose Bowl. His expertise, wit, and understanding earned him pairings with Dick Enberg and Charlie Jones. Commercials and voiceovers for brands like Gillette, FTD, and The X-Files were also his forte.
Conclusion
An extraordinary individual, Merlin Olsen achieved great success in football, acting, television, and charity. He was a national treasure, an NFL icon, and a television celebrity. He was just 69 years old when he passed away from mesothelioma, an asbestos-related illness. His faith, generosity, and exceptional character are his legacies. Anyone who knew him or saw him play can’t help but be inspired.
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