Merlin Olsen: NFL Star's Mesothelioma

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 Hall of Fame welcomed him on the first ballot.

But Olsen’s talents extended far 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 knew him as the gentle spokesman for FTD florists.

The Hidden Danger

What few knew was that Olsen had spent years working around a silent killer. From the age of 10, during summers and after school, he worked as a laborer on construction sites. In high school and college, he continued working in construction to help pay for his education. Later, on television and film sets, he was again exposed to workers using asbestos-containing drywall compounds.

Diagnosis and Legal Battle

In July 2009, Olsen was diagnosed with mesothelioma—the aggressive cancer caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure. He was 68 years old.

Rather than retreat from public life, Olsen chose to fight. He and his wife Susan filed suit against 38 defendants, including NBC Studios and various asbestos product manufacturers. In court documents, Olsen detailed decades of exposure: childhood construction work, college summer jobs, and years on Hollywood sets where workers handled asbestos materials.

“Merlin Olsen, beloved actor and football legend, proves that mesothelioma can strike anyone,” wrote the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization. His case highlighted how even those who never worked directly with asbestos could develop the disease through secondary exposure.

Final Months

Olsen faced his diagnosis with the same determination he brought to the football field. He underwent treatment at City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte, California, one of the nation’s leading cancer centers.

On March 11, 2010—eight months after his diagnosis—Merlin Olsen died. 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 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 not just for his athletic achievements or acting career, but for 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.