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Merlin Olsen, at right, with co-star Katherine Cannon in "Father Murphy". Source: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081861/mediaviewer/rm1763675904/?ref_=tt_ph_2 (May be subject to copyright) |
He always projected this aura of kindness, sincerity and respect in whatever he did.
Merlin Olsen’s birthday yesterday was a good chance to look back at a talented man who was a pro football player, broadcaster, actor and much more.
The early years
Merlin Olsen was born in Utah and raised a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, or the Mormons. He attended Utah State University, where he was a consensus All-American defensive tackle in his senior year in 1961 and won the Outland Trophy.
Merlin Olsen was born in Utah and raised a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, or the Mormons. He attended Utah State University, where he was a consensus All-American defensive tackle in his senior year in 1961 and won the Outland Trophy.
He was picked third overall in the 1962 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams, where he played his entire 15-year career. He retired after the Rams lost the 1976 NFC Championship Game. He was the NFL Rookie of the Year in 1962; the 1974 Bert Bell Award winner as NFL Player of the Year; a five-time First Team All-Pro, in 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, and 1970; a three-time Second Team All-Pro, in 1963, 1964, and 1965; and played in 14 straight Pro Bowls, every season but his last.
He was part of the legendary Fearsome Foursome of the Los Angeles Rams that also included Deacon Jones, Lamar Lundy and Rosey Grier. He finished his career with 91 quarterback sacks, nine fumble recoveries, and one interception. Tackles were not kept as a statistic back then, so we don’t know how big his impact on the defensive line truly was.
Massive I am sure, because he was elected to the Pro Football Hall Of Fame in 1982 – his first year of eligibility.
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Merlin Olsen, at left, withwith partner Dick Enberg, calling football games. Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/Oldschool_NFL/comments/ 1h8gzv7/merlin_olsen_and_dick_enberg_in_the_booth_at/ (May be subject to copyright) |
Olsen moved into the broadcast booth in 1977. He covered AFC games on NBC, primarily with Dick Enberg, for the rest of the 1970s and most of the 1980s, as well as the Rose Bowl.
I first saw Olsen covering the Rose Bowl from 1980 with Enberg, then started watching their NFL broadcsats soon after. Interestingly, he was the Rose Parade grand marshal in 1983, just before he was broadcasting the game. That was pretty cool.
I also remember him covering a Denver Broncos playoff game early in the career of Bronco quarterback John Elway. He was playing hurt, so in the pre-game Olsen cautioned the Broncos’ offence becomes very ordinary without Elway.
He was always an insightful, measured analyst, finishing his broadcasting career in 1991.
Strike season
There was an NFL players’ strike in 1982, that brought a halt to the season. With no games to broadcast, NBC decided to come north and broadcast some CFL games.
There was an NFL players’ strike in 1982, that brought a halt to the season. With no games to broadcast, NBC decided to come north and broadcast some CFL games.
While he was in Canada, he appeared on a CFL broadcast. When asked if he had any experience with the CFL, he said when he was coming out of college he had been contacted by the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He came north to see a game, but it turned out to be the 1962 Grey Cup, famously called the “Fog Bowl”. He then signed with the Rams.
Being dramatic
Merlin Olsen also transitioned into acting on NBC starting in 1977.
Merlin Olsen also transitioned into acting on NBC starting in 1977.
After roles in movies such as “The Undefeated”; “One More Train to Rob”; “Something Big”; and “Mitchell”; and guest spots in the TV shows “Petticoat Junction”; “Kung Fu”; and “Dr. Simon Locke”; he landed a role that would change the trajectory of his acting career.
In 1977, he started playing Jonathan Garvey, the best friend of pioneer Charles Ingalls on “Little House on the Prairie”. Olsen would appear in 51 episodes from 1977 to 1981.
Going it alone
In 1981, Merlin Olsen struck out on his own, landing the title role in a new drama called “Father Murphy”. He plays John Michael Murphy, a frontiersman in the 1870s, who works with prospector Moses Gage, played by Moses Gunn, to protect a group of orphans being threatened with going to a workhouse. Murphy disguises himself as a priest, befriends a teacher, played by Katherine Cannon, and they help the children.
In 1981, Merlin Olsen struck out on his own, landing the title role in a new drama called “Father Murphy”. He plays John Michael Murphy, a frontiersman in the 1870s, who works with prospector Moses Gage, played by Moses Gunn, to protect a group of orphans being threatened with going to a workhouse. Murphy disguises himself as a priest, befriends a teacher, played by Katherine Cannon, and they help the children.
I loved Father Murphy, especially in his guise as a priest. He was sometimes underestimated, and used those skills as a frontiersman to win the day. Moses Gunn was also awesome as his partner and friend.
“Father Murphy” ran two seasons from 1981 to 1983 for a total of 34 episodes.
Rest of the decade and beyond
Merlin Olsen finished the decade with roles in an episode of “Walking Tall”; the television movies “The Juggler of Notre Dame” and “Time Bomb”; and starring roles in two series.
Merlin Olsen finished the decade with roles in an episode of “Walking Tall”; the television movies “The Juggler of Notre Dame” and “Time Bomb”; and starring roles in two series.
In the sitcom “Fathers and Sons” in 1986, he plays a father and baseball coach to his sons. The show lasted four episodes.
Then, in 1988, he starred in “Aaron’s Way”. Olsen played Aaron Miller, the head of an Amish family that moves to California. They struggled to adjust to life in California and retain their traditional values. “Aaron’s Way” lasted one season and 14 episodes.
It was Olsen’s last appearance on television.
Sadly, Merlin Olsen died of cancer on March 11, 2010.
He was 69 years old.
Parting thoughts
Merlin Olsen was an impressive man. I never saw him play football, but his statistics speak for themselves, as does his All-Pro and Pro Bowl selections, and induction to the Pro Football Hall Of Fame.
Merlin Olsen was an impressive man. I never saw him play football, but his statistics speak for themselves, as does his All-Pro and Pro Bowl selections, and induction to the Pro Football Hall Of Fame.
It also informed his work as a broadcaster, which was insightful, measured, and called wholesome by some. I like the fact he called the game, did not insert himself into it, did not use jargon or clichés, remained objective, and was still entertaining without bluster or bravado.
He brought that same demeanor to his acting, where he was measured, understated and genuine.
It was interesting sometimes seeing him in the broadcast booth one day, then playing a 19th Century frontiersman the next.
I can’t imagine Joe Buck calling a Colts game on Sunday night, then seeing him in “Yellowstone” on Monday.
It would be hard to lead a double life like that, and maintain credibility on both ends, yet Merlin Olsen did it.
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