Merlin Olsen
Known for Acting · 17 credits
- Born
- 1940-09-15
- Died
- 2010-03-10
- Place of birth
- Logan, Utah, USA
- Also known as
- Merlin Jay Olsen
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).
Known For
TV Shows (10)
Little House on the Prairie
1974
as Jonathan Garvey
Petticoat Junction
1963
Monday Night Football
1970
as Defensive Tackle / Left Defensive Tackle / Defensive tackle
Shindig!
1964
Father Murphy
1981
as John Michael Murphy
The Brian Keith Show
1972
Aaron's Way
1988
as Aaron Miller
Joe Montana: Cool Under Pressure
2022
as Self (archive footage)
Kung Fu
1972
as Perlee Skowrin
Fathers and Sons
1986
Movies (7)
About Merlin Olsen
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 o… With 17 credits spanning from 1963 to 2022, Merlin Olsen has appeared in 7 films and 10 TV shows.
Fans searching for Merlin Olsen movies, Merlin Olsen filmography, or the latest projects starring Merlin Olsen can stream many of these titles on CineFlixo, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Merlin Olsen Movies
- The Undefeated (1969) — as Little George
- Something Big (1971) — as Sgt. Fitzsimmons
- One More Train to Rob (1971) — as Eli Jones
- A Fire in the Sky (1978) — as Stan Webster
- Mitchell (1975) — as Benton
Where to Watch Merlin Olsen Films
Most Merlin Olsen movies and series are available to stream on CineFlixo in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Merlin Olsen, check our movies catalogue and browse page.