Not Quite so Fearsome Anymore

(Huzzah for Mark)

Or
In Lieu of Donations, Send Flowers, Like a Lovely FTD “In Memoriam” Arrangement

Or
The Family Murphy Has Lost Their Father...
(Kudos to Terrence Walsh)

Or
No Farther, Murphy
(More Merit for Mark)
Merlin Olsen, terrorizer of quarterbacks, raiser of barns, friend of Ron Burgundy, hawker of flowers, has died at the age of 69 of mesothelioma, in yet another case for the law offices of James Sokolove. After a stellar career at Utah State that included appearances in the Sun Bowl and the Gotham Bowl, he was drafted 3rd overall by the LA Rams in 1962. Joined by Rosey Grier, Lamar Lundy and Deacon Jones on the defensive line, Olsen anchored the 4th, but arguably best known, group to be known as the Fearsome Foursome. After a Hall of Fame career that included 14 Pro Bowl appearances in 15 years, Olsen moved smoothly to the broadcast booth alongside Dick Enberg on NBC’s coverage of the AFC, while also putting in a cameo as a bodyguard in the later-to-be MSTied Joe Don Baker vehicle Mitchell. He traded his fearsomeness for giant gentility as lumberjack Jonathan Garvey on Little House on the Prairie, a frontiersman masquerading as a priest to shelter orphans on Father Murphy and then as an Amish farmer who loaded up his kin and moved to Beverly in a mid-life rumspringa to take care of the woman his son knocked up before getting killed in a surfing accident in Aaron’s Way, a series that made the Amish grateful they didn’t have televisions.