Merlin Jay Olsen (September 15, 1940 - March 11, 2010)
was a former American football player in the National Football League and an actor. He played his entire 15-year career with the Los Angeles Rams and was elected to the Pro Bowl in 14 of those seasons, a current record shared with Bruce Matthews. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame. He also enjoyed success as an actor. When Little House on the Prairie actor Victor French left to star in his own comedy Carter Country in 1977, Olsen was tapped to play Michael Landon's new sidekick Jonathan Garvey for several years. One memorable quote from Merlin during the series, "I don't know nothin' bout football!" was when Charles and Jonathan were to coach a boys football team. A couple of years later, Landon cast Olsen as the masquerading priest Father Murphy.
In Memory
Merlin Jay Olsen (September 15, 1940 - March 11, 2010)
Born to Lynn Jay and Merle Barrus Olsen in Logan, Utah, September 15, 1940, Olsen was the second of nine children, and the first son, of the couple. He had three brothers and five sisters: Colleen, Clark, Lorraine, Gwen, Phil, Winona, Ramona, and Orrin.
He married Susan Wakley on March 30, 1962, and they had three children: Kelly, Jill, and Nathan, and four grandchildren. Olsen belonged to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was a passionate fisherman, his favorite being fly fishing.
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