Merlin Olsen

Hall of Fame defensive tackle Merlin Olsen, 14-time Pro Bowler and actor, died of mesothelioma in 2010 after asbestos exposure from childhood construction work.

A Gentle Giant

Merlin Jay Olsen stood six feet five inches tall and weighed 270 pounds. On the football field, he was ferocious, a key member of the Los Angeles Rams’ legendary “Fearsome Foursome” defensive line alongside Deacon Jones, Rosey Grier, and Lamar Lundy. Off the field, he was known for his gentle demeanor, quick smile, and thoughtful intelligence.

Born September 15, 1940, in Logan, Utah, Olsen excelled at Utah State University, where he won the 1961 Outland Trophy as the nation’s best interior lineman. The Rams selected him in the first round of the 1962 NFL Draft, and he never played for another team.

An Unprecedented Career

For 15 seasons, Olsen anchored one of the NFL’s most dominant defenses. His consistency was remarkable: he was selected to the Pro Bowl 14 consecutive times, every season of his career except his final year. In 1982, the Pro Football Hall of Fame inducted him on the first ballot.

Olsen’s talents extended well beyond football. His warm presence and articulate speaking style led to a successful broadcasting career with NBC Sports. Hollywood came calling too. He starred as Jonathan Garvey in Little House on the Prairie and later headlined his own series, Father Murphy. Generations also knew him as the gentle spokesman for FTD florists.

The Hidden Danger

From the age of 10, Olsen worked as a laborer on construction sites during summers and after school. In high school and college, he continued working in construction to help pay for his education. Before federal regulations in the 1970s, construction workers routinely handled asbestos-containing insulation, drywall compounds, floor tiles, and roofing materials without respiratory protection.

Later, working on television and film sets at NBC Studios and other production facilities, Olsen was again in environments where asbestos-containing materials were present. Studios and soundstages built before the 1980s often contained asbestos in insulation, fireproofing, and construction materials. Workers handling these materials during renovations or maintenance could release fibers into the air.

Diagnosis and Legal Battle

In 2009, Olsen was diagnosed with mesothelioma at age 68. He underwent three courses of chemotherapy at City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte, California, one of the nation’s leading cancer centers.

Rather than retreat from public life, Olsen chose to fight in court as well. In December 2009, he and his wife Susan filed suit against 25 defendants, including NBC Studios, NBC Universal, 20th Century Fox, Georgia-Pacific, Sherwin-Williams, and Lennox Corporation. The lawsuit detailed decades of exposure across multiple settings: childhood construction work, college summer jobs, and years on Hollywood sets where workers handled asbestos-containing building materials.

The breadth of the defendant list, spanning entertainment companies and building material manufacturers, reflects the reality that asbestos exposure often occurred across multiple workplaces and decades.

Final Months

Olsen faced his diagnosis with the same determination he brought to the football field. Despite three rounds of chemotherapy, the disease progressed rapidly.

On March 11, 2010, approximately 12 months after his diagnosis, Merlin Olsen died at City of Hope National Medical Center. He was 69 years old.

A Family’s Fight for Justice

After Olsen’s death, his family continued the legal battle. His wife Susan publicly stated that asbestos companies “killed my husband.” In 2011, the family reached a settlement with several defendants, though the terms were not disclosed.

The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization cited Olsen’s case as demonstrating that “mesothelioma can strike anyone,” regardless of fame or wealth. His case drew attention to the ongoing dangers of asbestos in older buildings and the entertainment industry’s history of exposing workers to hazardous materials.

Remembering Merlin Olsen

Today, Merlin Olsen is remembered for his athletic achievements, acting career, and his character. Teammates recalled his thoughtfulness. Co-stars remembered his kindness. Fans appreciated his genuine warmth.

His death from mesothelioma serves as a reminder that asbestos exposure affects people from all walks of life, and that the latency period between exposure and diagnosis can span decades. Someone exposed as a 10-year-old on a construction site may not develop mesothelioma until nearly 60 years later.