Merlin Olsen

Merlin Olsen died at a hospital in Duarte, Calif., outside Los Angeles. He had mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer often related to exposure to asbestos. He was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2009 and underwent three courses of chemotherapy. In January 2010 he filed a lawsuit against NBC Studios, NBC Universal, and 20th Century Fox for exposing him to asbestos. Merlin's brother Orrin Olsen announced that he died on March 11, 2010, aged 69, following Merlin's brief battle with cancer.

Merlin Olsen, true name Merlin Jay Olsen was born on September 15, 1940 at Logan, Utah, USA. He married Susan Wakley on March 30, 1962, and they had three children: Kelly, Jill, and Nathan, and four grandchildren. Olsen was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

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Mr. Olsen was the anchor of the Rams' defensive line known as the "Fearsome Foursome," an intimidating front wall that captured the imagination of fans in the 1960s and helped make defensive play in football as exciting and innovative as the offense. After his playing career, he was a TV football analyst for 16 years, had leading roles in the wholesome frontier dramas "Little House on the Prairie" and "Father Murphy" and was the longtime spokesman for FTD florists.