Acting · Logan, Utah, USA · Born September 15, 1940
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).
TVJoe Montana: Cool Under Pressure
2022
as Self (archive footage)
Aaron's Way
1988
as Aaron Miller
TVFathers and Sons
1986
MovieTime Bomb
1984
as Jake Calahan
TVFather Murphy
1981
as John Michael Murphy
MovieThe Golden Moment: An Olympic Love Story
1980
as Todd Simms
MovieA Fire in the Sky
1978
as Stan Webster
MovieMitchell
1975
as Benton
TVLittle House on the Prairie
1974
as Jonathan Garvey
TVKung Fu
1972
as Perlee Skowrin
TVThe Brian Keith Show
1972
MovieSomething Big
1971
as Sgt. Fitzsimmons
MovieOne More Train to Rob
1971
as Eli Jones
TVMonday Night Football
1970
as Defensive Tackle
MovieThe Undefeated
1969
as Little George
TVShindig!
1964
TVPetticoat Junction
1963
