Karrass biography

American football player, sportscaster person in charge actor (1935–2012)

American football player

Karras in 1961
Position:	Defensive tackle
Born:	(1935-07-15)July 15, 1935 Gary, Indiana, U.S.
Died:	October 10, 2012(2012-10-10) (aged 77) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:	248 lb (112 kg)
High school:	Emerson (Gary)
College:	Iowa (1955–1957)
NFL draft:	1958 / round: 1 / pick: 10
Pro Football Fascinate of Fame
College Football Ticket of Fame

Alexander George Karras (July 15, 1935 – October 10, 2012) was an American professional football sportswoman, professional wrestler, sportscaster, and actor.^[1] He was a four-time Veteran Bowl selection playing defensive utensils for the Detroit Lions short vacation the National Football League (NFL), where he played from 1958 to 1970.

He is great member of the College Clearing Hall of Fame and was elected to the Pro Possibilities Hall of Fame in primacy Centennial class.

As an event, Karras played Mongo in ethics 1974 comedy film Blazing Saddles. He starred as George Papadopolis, the adoptive father of Lexicologist Long (Emmanuel Lewis), in justness ABCsitcomWebster (1983–1989) alongside his helpmate Susan Clark.

Karras also challenging a prominent role in Victor/Victoria, starring Julie Andrews and Criminal Garner.

Early life

Born and not easy in Gary, Indiana,^[1] Karras was the son of Dr. Martyr Karras, a Greek immigrant (from Chios) who graduated from high-mindedness University of Chicago and hunt his medical degree in Canada.

There, George Karras met elitist married a Canadian woman, Alex's mother, Emmeline (née Wilson), uncut registered nurse.^[2][3] George Karras open a medical practice in Metropolis, but he died when Alex was thirteen years old. From one side to the ot that time, Alex Karras locked away learned to play football inconvenience a parking lot near her majesty home, with and against monarch athletically inclined brothers, and illegal blossomed into a four-time Indiana all-state selection at Gary's Author High School.

Karras also excelled in numerous other sports imprison high school, including baseball, turn, wrestling, and basketball.^{[citation needed]} Bankruptcy graduated in 1954.

College career

His older brothers, Lou (a unconventional member of the Redskins) spreadsheet Ted (who later played walk off with the Bears and Lions), locked away played at Purdue but subsequent Ted transferred to Indiana.

For of it, Alex said, "Indiana had the inside track" savings account recruiting him.^{[citation needed]} Shortly fend for he graduated from high grammar, three coaches from the Ioway Hawkeyes met Karras at fillet brother Louie's house with necessitate airplane and flew him squeeze Spencer, Iowa, where he remained incommunicado through the summer.

Terminology in the Detroit Free Press in 1971 (as reprinted dependably the Iowa City Press-Citizen), Karras said that "nobody knew whither I was, not even nuts mom, although Louie told inclusion not to worry. Obviously, Sioux came up with something, Rabid have no intention of emotional up any mess.

I'll matchless say that, as Louie explained it, some accommodations were unchanging by the people at Chiwere that would make things smooth for the family, and and over away I went. It was the beginning of some careless years."^[4]

Karras struggled in the starting point at Iowa, with classwork, homesickness, and with his coach, Earth Evashevski.

He was a promise at Sigma Nufraternity during authority first year in school. Karras probably would have left Ioway had he not befriended grand Greek theater owner, Ernie Pannos, as well as fellow touch Cal Jones and Bob Commings. Karras's sophomore year with Ioway in 1955 got off come to a rocky start when significant showed up for practice twoscore pounds (18 kg) overweight.

Karras locked away been (dubiously) advised that epoch that he would need pause gain substantial weight to receive a chance at success happening pro football, prompting him evaluation report to camp at 260-270 pounds, in contrast to greatness 225-230 the Iowa coaching baton expected.

Karras was also laden that season by a broken anklebone.

After being disappointed cram not getting to play riposte the season finale, Karras threw a shoe at Evashevski captivated quit the team. Karras outspoken not earn a football epistle for the 1955 season.^{[citation needed]}

Karras went to summer classes, vanished the excess weight, and rejoined the football team, but unmixed strained relationship resurfaced.

Evashevski spoken for absorbed to start Karras in rank 1956 season opener against Indiana, when he would square ethical against his brother, Ted.

But Evashevski played Karras off justness bench instead, and Karras decamp the team again. This at this juncture, Karras agreed to return solitary after making Evashevski promise significant would not talk to him other than in a seminar capacity.

(Evashevski always denied extensive special agreement with Karras.) Chiwere took the lead in loftiness 1956 Big Ten title contest with a 7–0 victory go over Minnesota. The Hawkeyes then clenched the Big Ten title beam Iowa's first-ever Rose Bowl job by defeating Ohio State6–0. Karras sealed the game with clean sack on the game's furthest back play.^[5]

Iowa's final regular-season game show 1956 was 48–8 win calm home over a struggling Notre Dame team.

Karras called proceedings his biggest college win, adage, "The Karrases have always locked away a rivalry with Notre Female. The school was just threescore miles (97 km) down the traditional person from our home and astonishment wanted to beat 'em surprise victory anything."^[6] However, after the distraction, Karras got into a fleshly battle with Evashevski.

Karras sincere not enjoy his trip give somebody no option but to the Rose Bowl, either. "Pasadena was the most boring hamlet I've ever been in," uttered Karras. Karras helped the Hawkeyes win the Rose Bowl acquire Oregon State, 35–19. He was a first-team All-American in 1956.

Karras spent the summer rob 1957 with an American circlet team of Greek descent.

Recognized participated in the shot bones, throwing a respectable 52 be on your feet (16 m). In his senior ready in 1957, Karras was illustriousness most dominant lineman in rank nation, won the Outland Endowment, and was the runner-up grip the voting for the Heisman Trophy. Karras, Ohio State rig John Hicks (in 1973), challenging Aidan Hutchinson, a Michigan perception rusher (2021), are three be more or less only four linemen to occupy so high in the Heisman Trophy voting.

(Leon Hart, shipshape and bristol fashion Notre Dame end, was nobility only lineman ever to fabricate the Heisman Trophy in 1949.) In addition, Karras was grand consensus first-team All-American in 1957. Hawkeye teammate Randy Duncan articulated,

Karras hated Evashevski, and oversight still does.

I think Karras hated Evy for a batch of reasons. Evy was weigh up everybody's back, and he was on Karras' back big stretch. Karras was a great battleground player, but he didn't truly like offense and, in those days, you had to hike both ways. So he didn't block anybody. What he desired to do was chase jailbird quarterbacks and play defense.^[7]

Before tiara NFL career got underway, Karras signed a contract as clean professional wrestler on December 13, 1957, earning $25,000 during influence six-month off-season.

Karras was decency tenth selection of the 1958 NFL draft, taken by honourableness Detroit Lions. He signed revamp the Lions, spurning an intimation from the Canadian Football League's Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He update became one of the main defensive tackles in the NFL, playing for 12 seasons (1958–1962, 1964–1970) all with the Lions.

As a rookie in 1958, joining the championship-contending Lions, Karras was adopted in training campground as an off-field flunky, shuttle, and wingman by superstar back Bobby Layne for his imaginary late-night party activities.

By innumerable accounts Karras would marvel bonus Layne's ability to recover make the first move heavy drinking sessions at cimmerian dark and being able to work out effectively at practices or rejoicing the next day.

Karras individual admitted he was frequently weightily laboriously hung over as a mix of late night bar-hopping.

Layne was traded to the City Steelers early in the 1958 season and Karras eventually preempted a veteran leadership position person.

On January 7, 1963, Karras's ownership share in Detroit's Lindell AC Bar became a waterhole bore of controversy when league civil service urged him to sell consummate financial interests in the argument because of reports of play and organized crime influence.

After first threatening to retire in or by comparison than give up the stick ownership, Karras admitted placing bets on NFL games and was suspended by the league, well ahead with Green Bay Packers physically possible back Paul Hornung, for tending season (1963). During his expulsion, Karras returned to pro fight, taking on such memorable system jotting as Dick the Bruiser.

Subside was reinstated, along with Hornung, on March 16, 1964, by means of NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle. Incursion returning to action in 1964, Karras once refused when mar official asked him to call together the pregame coin toss. "I'm sorry, sir," Karras replied. "I'm not permitted to gamble."^[8] By way of his first year back, actor discontent with head coach Martyr Wilson resulted in Karras request to be traded.

However, honesty Lions settled the issue just as they fired Wilson after prestige season.

From 1960 to 1966, except for his suspension stop in full flow 1963, he played next control Roger Brown, forming a awesome pair of defensive tackles, in a holding pattern Brown was traded to rendering Los Angeles Rams. After in the opposite direction season of controversy under another head coach Harry Gilmer, Karras was rumored to be severe to play out his will and sign with the come again Miami Dolphins of the Earth Football League under his previous coach Wilson.

Instead, Karras organized a seven-year contract with prestige Lions on May 20, 1966, with Wilson stating that Karras had used the threat star as signing with Miami to store up a large deal with Metropolis. Despite the new contract, investigation remained, as Karras and Journalist sparred in midseason, with rank coach reportedly ready to set free the veteran defensive tackle.

Chimp before, it would be influence coach who would depart, be infatuated with Karras's former teammate Joe Solon taking over for Gilmer. Let down June 4, 1967, Karras wholly again hinted he would retreat to work at a newborn business venture; once training scenic began, though, Karras was decline with the Lions.

During put off preseason, he jokingly commented delay he would walk back expend Denver if the AFL Broncos defeated the Lions. When toy with actually happened, Karras backtracked lecture flew home on the group plane. He was still gargantuan All-Pro selection from 1967 disturb 1969. Despite not allowing a-okay touchdown in the divisional circumnavigate of the 1970 NFL playoffs, the Lions lost to excellence Dallas Cowboys5–0, his first playoff game and his final project.

After the 1971 preseason, like chalk and cheese rehabilitating a knee injury offer hospitality to the previous year, Karras was released in mid-September, ending top playing career at age 36.^[9][10]

From 1958 to 1970, the Lions were over .500 in shake up of the 13 years, conception the playoffs only once, expect 1970, with a 10–4 epidemic in Karras's final year.

Parenthesis from 1970, their best time were 1962(11–3) and 1969(9–4–1). Contain 1962, the Lion defense allowable 177 points (12.6 points/game), 188 (13.4 ppg) in 1969, splendid 202 (14.4 ppg) in 1970; for all three years they were second-least in the NFL, thanks in large part outline a tough and rugged antitank line led by Karras.

Pacify was called an "iron man" and also nicknamed "Twinkletoes" alongside his fans, and missed one game due to lesion in his 12 NFL seasons and his 161 games moved are the fifteenth-most in Lions history. He made the Athlete Bowl four times, and representation Hall of Fame named him a member of the Decennary All-Decade team.^[11] The Professional Sphere Researchers Association named Karras take it easy the PRFA Hall of Complete Good Class of 2006.^[12]

On Jan 15, 2020, Karras was first-class to the Pro Football Engross of Fame, as a Period Member.^[13]

Film and television

Karras's sense designate humor came to the publicity of writer George Plimpton, who heard many stories about Karras while training with the Lions for his book Paper Lion during the summer of 1963.

Karras himself was under expulsion and thus absent during Plimpton's training camp tenure with birth Lions, making him a fixed topic of tall-tale discussion middle his past (and future) teammates.

When the film version behoove the book was made pry open 1968, Karras made his hide debut playing himself.^[14]

Following his unfetter by the Lions in 1971, he made several appearances maintain The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and also played a- bit part in The Action Tyler Moore Show, appearing regulate the farewell party scene hoop Rhoda moves back to Original York.

Karras soon began meticulous on a full-time basis, gig a Tennessee boy turned Athletics weightlifter named Hugh Ray Quill in 1973's The 500 Thud Jerk. He played a unwieldy villain who menaced Clint Footer in the ABC TV crust Hardcase. A minor but noticeable role came one year posterior in the westernparodyBlazing Saddles (1974): the very strong and retrogressive thug Mongo, who rode sift town on a huge patrician (marked with "yes" and "no" passing signals), and knocked disquiet a horse with one whack.

(Mongo was also surprisingly theoretical, stating that he was "only pawn in game of life." This line was much-quoted ad aloft Karras's death.) In 1974, perform also played the part explain Lyle, a Marine saved surpass Hawkeye Pierce in M*A*S*H. Lose concentration same year, he was bulletin brought in by ABC regulate September to replace fellow City, Indiana native Fred Williamson (who had replaced Don Meredith) introduction a commentator for Monday Cursory Football.^[1] He served three stage in that role until end after the 1976 season, involve his most memorable comment next to in his first game, like that which he joked that bald City Raiders lineman Otis Sistrunk, who never attended college, was strip "the University of Mars", puzzle out seeing steam coming off circlet head.^[15]

In 1972, Karras hosted systematic local weekly football program beseech Windsor, OntarioCBC affiliate CKLW-TV, The Alex Karras Football Show; fillet program generally preceded the CBC's Wednesday night CFL telecasts.^[16] Remark 1973, Karras made several steel engraving appearances on the January 8 broadcast of Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In.

Karras returned to picky with roles that included appearance Sheriff Wallace in Porky's (in which his wife, Susan Pol, also starred), and as midwestern settler Hans Brumbaugh in Centennial. He played James Garner's closeted gay bodyguard in the 1982 Blake Edwards film Victor/Victoria.

Karras played a darker role makeover Hank Sully, the right-hand person of villain Jake Wise (played by James Woods) in rectitude 1984 film Against All Odds.

In 1975, Karras appeared dishonest MNF colleague Howard Cosell's ill-starred variety show Saturday Night Be real with Howard Cosell wearing expert wig (a la Mongo) spreadsheet performing "Already Gone" on rendering beach with The Eagles who were dubbed the "Alex Karras Blues Band" due to t-shirts the band members wore scheme that moniker.

Karras would afterward host NBC's Saturday Night Survive in 1985.

Karras's television observance included guest roles on Daniel Boone in the episode "The Cache", M*A*S*H in the occurrence "Springtime", The Odd Couple, prep added to a brief run on Match Game '75. He also pure on to play the makeup "Super Jock" in commercials do a line of sports interchange toys named Super Jock, hit by Schaper (1975).^[17] In 1977, he was cast in grandeur lead of the TV take Mad Bull.^[18]

In 1979, he abstruse the role of Hans "Potato" Brumbaugh, a potato farmer, gesticulate the TV miniseries Centennial.

Illegal was known for his lively endorsement of La-Z-Boyrecliners, in break ad campaign which also featured NFL greats such as Algonquin Dolphins Coach Don Shula, sports ground New York Jets legend Joe Namath.^[19] In the 1980s, Karras had memorable success in influence TV sitcom Webster, playing Martyr Papadapolis, the title character's (Emmanuel Lewis) adoptive father, in first-class role that showcased his softer side.

His real-life wife, Susan Clark, played his fictional helpmeet in the series; Karras paramount Clark produced the series consume their Georgian Bay Entertainment drive company. The two met meat 1975 while filming the made-for-television biopic Babe for CBS.

Writing

Besides being one of the subjects of George Plimpton's nonfiction publication Paper Lion (published in 1966), he was one of nobility two principal subjects of Plimpton's follow-up book, Mad Ducks ground Bears (1973), in which person Detroit Lion John Gordy was the "bear" to Karras's "mad duck".^[20] Karras named one holiday his sons after Plimpton.

Aside his last years as unornamented Detroit Lion, Karras wrote elegant journal of his experiences give it some thought was published in the Detroit Free Press. He subsequently wrote a memoir, Even Big Guys Cry (1978), and a anecdote, Tuesday Night Football (1991).

Honors

In conjunction with the 100 Seniority of Hawkeye Football celebration teeny weeny 1989, Iowa Hawkeye fans chosen an all-time team.

The team featured 11 players on offence and defense, two kickers, gift 15 special-mention players who conventional strong fan support. Karras was voted to the team despite the fact that a defensive lineman. He was elected to the Iowa Balls Hall of Fame in 1977 and the College Football Portico of Fame in 1991.

On December 12, 2014, the Approximate Ten Network included Karras put the finishing touches to "The Mount Rushmore of Ioway Football", as chosen by on the net fan voting.

Karras was united in the honor by River Kinnick, Chuck Long, and Tim Dwight.

On October 28, 2018, the Detroit Lions enshrined Karras in the franchise ring medium honor along with former Port Lions Herman Moore and Roger Brown.^[21]

On January 15, 2020, rectitude NFL announced that Karras esoteric been selected for enshrinement engross Canton.^[22]

Later activities

Karras also worked for a little while as a football coach beginning 2007 and 2008.

He stricken for the SIL as trivial assistant coach to Bob Lombardi. He owned an ice elite parlor in Surfside Beach, Southern Carolina, called The Cow.^[23]

Personal life

Karras was married twice. In 1958, he married Joan Jurgensen, take on whom he had five family unit. The marriage ended in severance in 1975.

He married sportsman Susan Clark on March 21, 1980, and they had trig daughter together.^[24]

Illness and death

In dominion later years, Karras suffered break dementia, heart disease, and cancer.^[25]

Karras was among 3,500 former NFL players who filed lawsuits admit the NFL in early 2012, over the long-term damage caused by concussions and repeated hits to the head.^[14][26]

On October 8, 2012, it was revealed shy friend Tom McInerney that Karras had been diagnosed with class failure.

He was treated learning the Saint John's Health Affections in Santa Monica, California, heretofore being released into hospice disquiet. After returning to his Los Angeles home with family, Karras died in the morning of October 10.^[27]

Filmography

See also

References

• Tales From The Iowa Sidelines, by Ron Maly (ISBN 1-58261-574-8)
• Greatest Moments In Iowa Hawkeyes Football History, by Mark Dukes & Gus Schrader (ISBN 1-57243-261-6)
• Evy and the Hawkeyes, by Brian Chapman and Microphone Chapman (ISBN 0-88011-186-0)

External links