<P> Merlin Jay Olsen ( / ˈoʊlsən / ; September 15 , 1940 -- March 11 , 2010 ) was an American football player , announcer , and actor . He played his entire 15 - year professional football career in National Football League ( NFL ) as a defensive tackle with the Los Angeles Rams . He was selected to the Pro Bowl a record 14 straight times , missing selection only in the last year of his career . This record of 14 seasons selected to play in the Pro Bowl , consecutive or otherwise , is current and shared with former offensive lineman Bruce Matthews , former tight end Tony Gonzalez , and former quarterback Peyton Manning . A recipient of the 1961 Outland Trophy as the best lineman in college football , Olsen is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame . As an actor , he portrayed farmer Jonathan Garvey on Little House on the Prairie . After leaving that series , he starred in his own NBC drama , Father Murphy . </P>
<P> Merlin Jay Olsen ( / ˈoʊlsən / ; September 15 , 1940 -- March 11 , 2010 ) was an American football player , announcer , and actor . He played his entire 15 - year professional football career in National Football League ( NFL ) as a defensive tackle with the Los Angeles Rams . He was selected to the Pro Bowl a record 14 straight times , missing selection only in the last year of his career . This record of 14 seasons selected to play in the Pro Bowl , consecutive or otherwise , is current and shared with former offensive lineman Bruce Matthews , former tight end Tony Gonzalez , and former quarterback Peyton Manning . A recipient of the 1961 Outland Trophy as the best lineman in college football , Olsen is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame . As an actor , he portrayed farmer Jonathan Garvey on Little House on the Prairie . After leaving that series , he starred in his own NBC drama , Father Murphy . </P>
who plays jonathan on little house on the prairie
who plays jonathan on little house on the prairie
Merlin Jay Olsen
Merlin Jay Olsen