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