Merlin Olsen

Merlin Olsen
Birth name	Merlin Jay Olsen
Born	September 15, 1940 in Logan, Utah, USA
Died	March 11, 2010 in Duarte, California, USA from mesothelioma
Sport(s)	football
Team Affiliations	Los Angeles Rams
Notable Events Played
Championships
Awards

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Biography

Merlin Olsen was an American football player and actor, best known in the acting world for his role as John Michael Murphy on Father Murphy and as Jonathan Garvey on Little House on the Prairie.

Roles

Starring Roles

Series	Role	Year(s)	Season(s)
Father Murphy	John Michael Murphy	1981–1983	1	2
Fathers and Sons	Buddy Landau	1986	1
Aaron's Way	Aaron Miller	1988	1

Guest Starring Roles

Series	Role	Episode	Airdate
Petticoat Junction	Merlin Fergus	7x17 - With This Ring...	January 17, 1970
Kung Fu	Perlee Skowrin	1x07 - Nine Lives	February 15, 1973
Little House on the Prairie	Jonathan Garvey	4x03 - My Ellen	September 26, 1977
Little House on the Prairie	Jonathan Garvey	4x05 - The Wolves	October 17, 1977
Little House on the Prairie	Jonathan Garvey	4x06 - The Creeper of Walnut Grove	October 24, 1977
Little House on the Prairie	Jonathan Garvey	4x08 - The Aftermath	November 7, 1977
Little House on the Prairie	Jonathan Garvey	4x09 - The High Cost of Being Right	November 14, 1977
Little House on the Prairie	Jonathan Garvey	4x13 - Freedom Flight	December 12, 1977
Little House on the Prairie	Jonathan Garvey	4x14 - The Rivals	January 9, 1978
Little House on the Prairie	Jonathan Garvey	4x18 - The Inheritance	February 6, 1978
Little House on the Prairie	Jonathan Garvey	4x20 - A Most Precious Gift	February 27, 1978
Little House on the Prairie	Jonathan Garvey	4x21 - I'll Be Waving as You Drive Away (1)	March 6, 1978
Little House on the Prairie	Jonathan Garvey	4x22 - I'll Be Waving as You Drive Away (2)	March 13, 1978
Little House on the Prairie	Jonathan Garvey	6x21 - May We Make Them Proud	February 4, 1980
Little House on the Prairie	Jonathan Garvey	6x23 - He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not (1)	May 5, 1980
Little House on the Prairie	Jonathan Garvey	7x03 - A New Beginning	October 6, 1980
Little House on the Prairie	Jonathan Garvey	7x05 - The Silent Cry	October 20, 1980
Little House on the Prairie	Jonathan Garvey	7x15 - Make a Joyful Noise	January 26, 1981
Walking Tall	Webb McClain	1x04 - Hitman	February 7, 1981
Little House on the Prairie	Jonathan Garvey	The Lost Ones (1) - Jonathan Garvey	7x21