RIP Merlin Olsen

[El Supremo]

SALT LAKE CITY — Pro Football Hall of Famer and former television actor Merlin Olsen has died. He was 69.

Utah State University assistant athletic media relations director Zach Fisher says Olsen died Wednesday night.

Olsen was an All-American at Utah State and a first-round draft pick of the Los Angles Rams in 1962.

He was part of the Rams' "Fearsome Foursome" defensive line, which set an NFL record for the fewest yards allowed during a 14-game season in 1968.

Olsen is still the Rams' all-time leader in career tackles with 915.

Olsen moved on to acting with roles in "Little House on the Prairie" and later his own series "Father Murphy," which ran from 1981 to 1983.

He was diagnosed with mesothelioma last year.

Deacon Jones, Rosey Grier, and Lamar Lundy were the other Foursome. Merlin was a very likeable person.

[joeybee12]

1. Oh does this suck...RIP Merlin

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=7895091&mesg_id=7895091

Cross-post in GD.

[Auggie]

2. What I'll remember most is his teaming with Dick Enberg...

NBC's "A" team for AFC games for so many years... the counterpart to CBS's John Madden and Pat Summerall.

Dan Marino, Dan Fouts, The Cardiac Kids, Ken Anderson, The Steelers, The Raiders... he covered them all.

[fishwax]

3. shouldn't this be in the entertainment forum?

I'm not serious, of course. Olsen retired before my time, but I've seen footage on NFL Films and other sources. I do remember him from Little House on the Prairie when I was a kid, though, and so that's usually the first image of him that pops to mind.

And I also remember him as a color commentator, as Auggie mentioned. He called "The Drive" and "The Fumble." He seemed like a great guy, and I'm sorry to hear he's passed away.

[Onceuponalife]

4. RIP big guy

The Fearsome Foursome will never be forgotten!