Link (http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/03/11/reports-merlin-olsen-dies-at-69/)

Merlin Olsen, the Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive tackle who played his entire 15-year career for the Los Angeles Rams, has died at the age of 69, according to reports.

Howard Balzer of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat reports that Olsen died early this morning. The Cache Valley Daily, a newspaper based in Olsen's hometown of Logan, Utah, reports that Olsen was diagnosed with mesothelioma and had been undergoing several rounds of chemotherapy.

Olsen played college football at Utah State, and as a senior in 1961 he won the Outland Trophy as the nation's best lineman.

In 1962 the Rams selected him with the third overall pick in the NFL draft and the Denver Broncos selected him with the second overall pick in the AFL draft. He chose the Rams after the rival teams from rival leagues engaged in a bidding war for his services.

Olsen was worth the money. He was chosen as Rookie of the Year in 1962, and he was selected to the Pro Bowl in each of his first 14 NFL seasons. He retired after the 1976 season and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1982

Link (http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gameon/post/2010/03/merlin-olsen-dies-hall-of-famer-was-69/1)

The Fearsome Foursome has lost one of its members. Merlin Olsen, a Pro Bowler in 14 of his 15 seasons as a defensive lineman for the Los Angeles Rams, has died at the age of 69.

Olsen was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2009 and had undergone chemotherapy. The turf at the football stadium at Utah State, where he was an Outland Trophy winner, recently was named Merlin Olsen Field.

Olsen missed only two games in his career, and shared the Fearsome Foursome billing with Deacon Jones, Rosey Grier and Lamar Lundy. In 1999 Sports Illustrated ranked him No. 25 on its list of 100 greatest NFL players.

He also had a successful career in television, as Michael Landon's sidekick on Little House on the Prairie, and as a masquerading priest in Father Murphy.

This is so very sad. I remember him mostly from Little House and as an NFL announcer. R.I.P. Merlin. :(

I just heard that on the radio. How sad. :rip:

:rip:

So sad to hear of Merlin's passing... :(

Melissa Gilbert called Merlin Olsen a gentle giant and one of the nicest men she ever knew. What a wonderful way for him to be remembered. :rip:

:rip: Merlin Olsen

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I remember him from the flower commecials. I loved the wrestling episode of Little House. Big John Garvey. I also liked Crossed Connections where Harriet listens in on Alice garvey and her mother's conversation about her first husband. He was emotional in the May We Make Em Proud episode,after Charles said Jonathan Garvey! What are you doing,Man I love! He blamed God for the death for his wife. on A New Beginning,Andew blamed Adam and Mary for the death of his Ma,because She was the one to get Adam Jr. Merlin Olsen will be missed:(

I forgot Father murphy:mad:

I remember him as Jonathan Garvey on Little House on The Prairie and on the flower commercials.

RIP

:(

I forgot Father murphy:mad:
The actress who played Mr. Merlin's love interest on Father Murphy, Katherine Cannon, eventually became Mrs. Dean Butler (Manly on LHOP)! :cool:

I got an email from Brenda Turnbaugh (Grace Ingalls) about the news of Merlin's passing. Here's what she had to say:

"When I was young I was really taken with him. I remember at our cast goodbye at the conclusion of the series- I asked him to dance and we have the cutest picture of the two of us."

I got an email from Brenda Turnbaugh (Grace Ingalls) about the news of Merlin's passing. Here's what she had to say:

"When I was young I was really taken with him. I remember at our cast goodbye at the conclusion of the series- I asked him to dance and we have the cutest picture of the two of us."
It's nice that Brenda has such a sweet memory of her friendship with Merlin Olsen. I sure that will be of comfort to her at this sad time.

It's nice that Brenda has such a sweet memory of her friendship with Merlin Olsen. I sure that will be of comfort to her at this sad time.
Yeah, I emailed her the article from the AP about his passing and she was very sad, of course. I also told her how great it is that she has such a wonderful memory of him that she can cherish forever. :D

one of my schoolteachers met him years ago and said he was so nice he will be missed r i p merlin

Here's what Merlin Olsen's LHOP wife, Hersha Parady (Alice Garvey) said on her Facebook page:

"We are all very saddened by Merlin's passing...he was a very sweet, lovely man..."

Sad.

I remember him announcing with Dick Enberg I think, when NBC had the AFC games in the 1980's.

:rip:

:rip:

I am so sorry to hear this My condolences to his family and me he rest in peace. He was a fine man, athlete and actor; a man of many talents!

:rip:

He just seemed like such a nice man. He will be missed. :(

Here's what Patrick Labyorteaux (Merlin's onscreen son) said on his Facebook fan page:

"So, so sad to hear of the passing of Merlin Olsen. He was a gentle giant of a man and was the best father on and off the screen. RIP."

Every quote I've read about Merlin Olsen since his passing has been so positive and so full of love. He must of been a very special person judging by how loved and respected he was by the people in his life.

^ What a great way to be remembered, to be sure. Not only is he getting loving tributes from his LHOP colleagues, but by his NFL teammates. I saw Rosey Grier interviewed a couple of days ago and he got very emotional.

I am watching his episodes on Up-TV daily and I really like him on the show. He added a lot to it and I don't even think of him as a former football player.