‘Little House on the Prairie’: How Merlin Olsen Went From NFL Legend to TV Star

Growing up, it was hard to miss Merlin Olsen on television. While professional football was a big part of his life each Sunday, first as a player and then as a sports broadcaster, he also became a familiar face on primetime television. Beginning in 1977, Olsen took on the role of Jonathan Garvey on Little House on the Prairie, joining the beloved series after Victor French departed to star in the ABC sitcom Carter Country.

When Olsen joined Little House, he knew that filling French’s shoes would be no small task, especially since his character, Mr. Edwards, was so beloved by fans. Olsen also expressed some anxiety about the number of lines he would have to memorize, but according to the official Little House on the Prairie website, producer Michael Landon reassured him, saying, “If I didn’t think you could do it, I wouldn’t let you do it.”