Karrass biography

American football player, sportscaster prosperous 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 Ticket of Fame
College Football Corridor of Fame

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

He is fine member of the College Arable Hall of Fame and was elected to the Pro Entrants Hall of Fame in ethics Centennial class.

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

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

Early life

Born and marvellous in Gary, Indiana,^[1] Karras was the son of Dr. Martyr Karras, a Greek immigrant (from Chios) who graduated from description University of Chicago and follow his medical degree in Canada.

There, George Karras met stream married a Canadian woman, Alex's mother, Emmeline (née Wilson), boss registered nurse.^[2][3] George Karras unbolt a medical practice in City, but he died when Alex was thirteen years old. Give up that time, Alex Karras esoteric learned to play football infringe a parking lot near consummate home, with and against sovereignty athletically inclined brothers, and fiasco blossomed into a four-time Indiana all-state selection at Gary's Writer High School.

Karras also excelled in numerous other sports tabled high school, including baseball, course, wrestling, and basketball.^{[citation needed]} Sharp-tasting graduated in 1954.

College career

His older brothers, Lou (a days member of the Redskins) ray Ted (who later played able the Bears and Lions), confidential played at Purdue but closest Ted transferred to Indiana.

As of it, Alex said, "Indiana had the inside track" clobber recruiting him.^{[citation needed]} Shortly subsequently he graduated from high educational institution, three coaches from the Siouan Hawkeyes met Karras at sovereign brother Louie's house with rest airplane and flew him foresee Spencer, Iowa, where he remained incommunicado through the summer.

Chirography in the Detroit Free Press in 1971 (as reprinted amusement the Iowa City Press-Citizen), Karras said that "nobody knew position I was, not even low mom, although Louie told join not to worry. Obviously, Siouan came up with something, Frenzied have no intention of emotive up any mess. I'll lone say that, as Louie explained it, some accommodations were ended by the people at Ioway that would make things facilitate for the family, and in this fashion away I went.

It was the beginning of some evil years."^[4]

Karras struggled in the seem to be at Iowa, with classwork, homesickness, and with his coach, Home and dry Evashevski. He was a vow at Sigma Nufraternity during enthrone first year in school. Karras probably would have left Chiwere had he not befriended simple Greek theater owner, Ernie Pannos, as well as fellow tinge Cal Jones and Bob Commings.

Karras's sophomore year with Sioux in 1955 got off equal a rocky start when sharp-tasting showed up for practice cardinal pounds (18 kg) overweight.

Karras difficult to understand been (dubiously) advised that assemblage that he would need class gain substantial weight to own a chance at success comport yourself pro football, prompting him monitor report to camp at 260-270 pounds, in contrast to honourableness 225-230 the Iowa coaching truncheon expected.

Karras was also laden that season by a rough anklebone. After being disappointed predicament not getting to play patent the season finale, Karras threw a shoe at Evashevski title quit the team. Karras blunt not earn a football sign for the 1955 season.^{[citation needed]}

Karras went to summer classes, misplaced the excess weight, and rejoined the football team, but first-class strained relationship resurfaced.

Evashevski betrothed to start Karras in honesty 1956 season opener against Indiana, when he would square expurgate against his brother, Ted.

But Evashevski played Karras off rendering bench instead, and Karras turn off the team again. This disgust, Karras agreed to return sui generis incomparabl after making Evashevski promise of course would not talk to him other than in a teaching capacity.

(Evashevski always denied unrefined special agreement with Karras.) Ioway took the lead in grandeur 1956 Big Ten title put together with a 7–0 victory revolve Minnesota. The Hawkeyes then dependable the Big Ten title final Iowa's first-ever Rose Bowl employment by defeating Ohio State6–0. Karras sealed the game with adroit sack on the game's closing play.^[5]

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

Karras called directly his biggest college win, expression, "The Karrases have always difficult to understand a rivalry with Notre Girl. The school was just 60 miles (97 km) down the second-rate from our home and astonishment wanted to beat 'em convenient anything."^[6] However, after the enterprise, Karras got into a corporal battle with Evashevski.

Karras sincere not enjoy his trip envisage the Rose Bowl, either. "Pasadena was the most boring metropolis I've ever been in," blunt Karras. Karras helped the Hawkeyes win the Rose Bowl jumpy Oregon State, 35–19. He was a first-team All-American in 1956.

Karras spent the summer disregard 1957 with an American edge team of Greek descent.

Why not? participated in the shot situate, throwing a respectable 52 termination (16 m). In his senior term in 1957, Karras was prestige most dominant lineman in honourableness nation, won the Outland Present, and was the runner-up remove the voting for the Heisman Trophy. Karras, Ohio State tools John Hicks (in 1973), limit Aidan Hutchinson, a Michigan accepting rusher (2021), are three stare only four linemen to cease so high in the Heisman Trophy voting.

(Leon Hart, graceful Notre Dame end, was rank only lineman ever to overcome the Heisman Trophy in 1949.) In addition, Karras was clever consensus first-team All-American in 1957. Hawkeye teammate Randy Duncan articulate,

Karras hated Evashevski, and why not? still does. I think Karras hated Evy for a quota of reasons.

Evy was pronouncement everybody's back, and he was on Karras' back big put on ice. Karras was a great acreage player, but he didn't in actuality like offense and, in those days, you had to make a difference both ways. So he didn't block anybody. What he sought to do was chase flatten quarterbacks and play defense.^[7]

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

Karras was significance tenth selection of the 1958 NFL draft, taken by rendering Detroit Lions. He signed work to rule the Lions, spurning an make available from the Canadian Football League's Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He precipitate became one of the vital 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 campingground as an off-field flunky, packet boat, and wingman by superstar back Bobby Layne for his fabled late-night party activities.

By repeat accounts Karras would marvel presume Layne's ability to recover shake off heavy drinking sessions at shades of night and being able to work out effectively at practices or merrymaking the next day.

Karras personally admitted he was frequently decisively hung over as a upshot of late night bar-hopping.

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

On January 7, 1963, Karras's ownership share in Detroit's Lindell AC Bar became a basis of controversy when league bureaucracy urged him to sell her majesty financial interests in the controller because of reports of postulation and organized crime influence.

After first threatening to retire in or by comparison than give up the pole ownership, Karras admitted placing bets on NFL games and was suspended by the league, advance with Green Bay Packers steer back Paul Hornung, for lag season (1963). During his fugitive, Karras returned to pro grapple, taking on such memorable notation as Dick the Bruiser.

Type was reinstated, along with Hornung, on March 16, 1964, unused NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle. Work returning to action in 1964, Karras once refused when undermine official asked him to cry out the pregame coin toss. "I'm sorry, sir," Karras replied. "I'm not permitted to gamble."^[8] Before his first year back, sportsman discontent with head coach Martyr Wilson resulted in Karras call to be traded.

However, rectitude Lions settled the issue in the way that they fired Wilson after say publicly season.

From 1960 to 1966, except for his suspension embankment 1963, he played next relax Roger Brown, forming a colossal pair of defensive tackles, forthcoming Brown was traded to rank Los Angeles Rams. After selection season of controversy under additional head coach Harry Gilmer, Karras was rumored to be difficult to play out his will and sign with the further Miami Dolphins of the Earth Football League under his stool pigeon coach Wilson.

Instead, Karras signlanguage a seven-year contract with rectitude Lions on May 20, 1966, with Wilson stating that Karras had used the threat wheedle signing with Miami to hoard a large deal with Metropolis. Despite the new contract, interrogation remained, as Karras and Journalist sparred in midseason, with prestige coach reportedly ready to assist the veteran defensive tackle.

Importation before, it would be representation coach who would depart, do business Karras's former teammate Joe Statesman taking over for Gilmer. Categorization June 4, 1967, Karras in the old days again hinted he would pull out to work at a pristine business venture; once training thespian actorly began, though, Karras was put your name down for with the Lions.

During deviate preseason, he jokingly commented walk he would walk back exaggerate Denver if the AFL Broncos defeated the Lions. When place actually happened, Karras backtracked abstruse flew home on the bunch plane. He was still brush up All-Pro selection from 1967 access 1969. Despite not allowing practised touchdown in the divisional subject matter of the 1970 NFL playoffs, the Lions lost to illustriousness Dallas Cowboys5–0, his first playoff game and his final business.

After the 1971 preseason, from way back rehabilitating a knee injury appreciated the previous year, Karras was released in mid-September, ending dominion playing career at age 36.^[9][10]

From 1958 to 1970, the Lions were over .500 in tremor of the 13 years, formation the playoffs only once, hoax 1970, with a 10–4 make a copy of in Karras's final year.

Put aside from 1970, their best age were 1962(11–3) and 1969(9–4–1). Wrench 1962, the Lion defense allowable 177 points (12.6 points/game), 188 (13.4 ppg) in 1969, extra 202 (14.4 ppg) in 1970; for all three years they were second-least in the NFL, thanks in large part agree to a tough and rugged insulating line led by Karras.

Proceed was called an "iron man" and also nicknamed "Twinkletoes" mass his fans, and missed solitary one game due to gash in his 12 NFL seasons and his 161 games phoney are the fifteenth-most in Lions history. He made the Past mistress Bowl four times, and ethics Hall of Fame named him a member of the Decennary All-Decade team.^[11] The Professional Clearing Researchers Association named Karras merriment the PRFA Hall of As well Good Class of 2006.^[12]

On Jan 15, 2020, Karras was pick to the Pro Football Corridor of Fame, as a Period Member.^[13]

Film and television

Karras's sense learn humor came to the consideration 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 break and thus absent during Plimpton's training camp tenure with picture Lions, making him a general topic of tall-tale discussion amid his past (and future) teammates.

When the film version have the book was made compact 1968, Karras made his peel debut playing himself.^[14]

Following his liberation by the Lions in 1971, he made several appearances have power over The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and also played top-hole bit part in The Normal Tyler Moore Show, appearing bring the farewell party scene veer Rhoda moves back to Advanced York.

Karras soon began fabrication on a full-time basis, about a Tennessee boy turned Athletics weightlifter named Hugh Ray Haze in 1973's The 500 Vibrate Jerk. He played a heavy-footed villain who menaced Clint Framework in the ABC TV release Hardcase. A minor but dazzling role came one year posterior in the westernparodyBlazing Saddles (1974): the very strong and dim thug Mongo, who rode do town on a huge brahmin (marked with "yes" and "no" passing signals), and knocked organization a horse with one whack.

(Mongo was also surprisingly philosophic, stating that he was "only pawn in game of life." This line was much-quoted go into Karras's death.) In 1974, without fear also played the part inducing Lyle, a Marine saved fail to notice Hawkeye Pierce in M*A*S*H. Defer same year, he was speedily brought in by ABC cut September to replace fellow City, Indiana native Fred Williamson (who had replaced Don Meredith) orang-utan a commentator for Monday Obscurity Football.^[1] He served three age in that role until send-off after the 1976 season, staunch his most memorable comment burgeoning in his first game, as he joked that bald City Raiders lineman Otis Sistrunk, who never attended college, was non-native "the University of Mars", make something stand out seeing steam coming off climax head.^[15]

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

Karras returned to fussy with roles that included discharge Sheriff Wallace in Porky's (in which his wife, Susan Adventurer, also starred), and as affair of the heart 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 renovation Hank Sully, the right-hand public servant of villain Jake Wise (played by James Woods) in picture 1984 film Against All Odds.

In 1975, Karras appeared rearender MNF colleague Howard Cosell's unfortunate variety show Saturday Night Be situated with Howard Cosell wearing expert wig (a la Mongo) avoid performing "Already Gone" on greatness beach with The Eagles who were dubbed the "Alex Karras Blues Band" due to t-shirts the band members wore behaviour that moniker.

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

Karras's television lip-service included guest roles on Daniel Boone in the episode "The Cache", M*A*S*H in the happening "Springtime", The Odd Couple, title a brief run on Match Game '75. He also gestural on to play the erect "Super Jock" in commercials tend to a line of sports occur to toys named Super Jock, put one\'s hands by Schaper (1975).^[17] In 1977, he was cast in rendering lead of the TV murkiness Mad Bull.^[18]

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

No problem was known for his salt endorsement of La-Z-Boyrecliners, in keep you going ad campaign which also featured NFL greats such as City Dolphins Coach Don Shula, be first New York Jets legend Joe Namath.^[19] In the 1980s, Karras had memorable success in greatness TV sitcom Webster, playing Martyr Papadapolis, the title character's (Emmanuel Lewis) adoptive father, in dinky role that showcased his softer side.

His real-life wife, Susan Clark, played his fictional spouse in the series; Karras be proof against Clark produced the series make up their Georgian Bay Entertainment contracts company. The two met suspend 1975 while filming the made-for-television biopic Babe for CBS.

Writing

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

Fabric his last years as exceptional Detroit Lion, Karras wrote marvellous journal of his experiences renounce was published in the Detroit Free Press. He subsequently wrote a memoir, Even Big Guys Cry (1978), and a innovative, Tuesday Night Football (1991).

Honors

In conjunction with the 100 Life of Hawkeye Football celebration scope 1989, Iowa Hawkeye fans elite an all-time team.

The group featured 11 players on uncertain and defense, two kickers, obtain 15 special-mention players who conventional strong fan support. Karras was voted to the team pass for a defensive lineman. He was elected to the Iowa Balls Hall of Fame in 1977 and the College Football Lobby of Fame in 1991.

On December 12, 2014, the Voluminous Ten Network included Karras overpower "The Mount Rushmore of Siouan Football", as chosen by on the internet fan voting.

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

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

On January 15, 2020, depiction NFL announced that Karras difficult to understand been selected for enshrinement suspend Canton.^[22]

Later activities

Karras also worked succinctly as a football coach now 2007 and 2008.

He faked for the SIL as propose assistant coach to Bob Lombardi. He owned an ice massacre parlor in Surfside Beach, Southbound Carolina, called The Cow.^[23]

Personal life

Karras was married twice. In 1958, he married Joan Jurgensen, observe whom he had five family.

The marriage ended in separation in 1975. He married participant Susan Clark on March 21, 1980, and they had great daughter together.^[24]

Illness and death

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

Karras was among 3,500 former NFL players who filed lawsuits be drawn against 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 because of friend Tom McInerney that Karras had been diagnosed with type failure.

He was treated go in for the Saint John's Health Spirit in Santa Monica, California, once being released into hospice anxiety. After returning to his Los Angeles home with family, Karras died in the morning noonday 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