Los Angeles Rams Legend – Merlin Olsen dies at 69.

photo courtesy of the Los Angeles Times
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Merlin Olsen the legendary Los Angeles Rams NFL hall of famer, actor, broadcaster and the FTD florist spokesman has passed away at age 69. Merlin who spent his entire professional career in Los Angeles was the 1974 NFL MVP and a member of the “Fearsome Foursome” defensive line in the 1960s. He was also one of the first athletes that made the successful transition from the sports stage to the acting stage playing Jonathan Garvey on NBC’s Little House of the Prairie and later staring in his own show, Father Murphy. A native of Logan Utah and a longtime resident of San Marino California, Merlin was a big gentle giant who never lost his temper. When I think of Los Angeles sports icons there are three names that come to mind; Sandy Koufax, Jerry West and Merlin Olsen.