Merlin Olsen was a professional American football player and television actor. He played defensive tackle for the Los Angeles Rams from 1962 to 1976, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1982. After his retirement from football, he became an actor, appearing in numerous television shows and movies. He was also a broadcaster for NBC Sports and CBS Sports. Olsen was known as 'Merlin of Football and TV' due to his success in both fields.