Alex Karras
 Karras in 1961 | |||||
| No. 71 | |||||
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| Position: | Defensive tackle | ||||
| Personal information | |||||
| Born: | July 15, 1935 Gary, Indiana,U.S. | ||||
| Died: | October 10, 2012(aged 77) Los Angeles, California,U.S. | ||||
| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||
| Weight: | 248 lb (112 kg) | ||||
| Career information | |||||
| High school: | Emerson(Gary) | ||||
| College: | Iowa(1955–1957) | ||||
| NFL draft: | 1958/ round: 1 / pick: 10 | ||||
| Career history | |||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||
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| Player stats atPFR | |||||
Alexander George Karras(July 15, 1935 – October 10, 2012) was an American professionalfootballplayer,professional wrestler,sportscaster, and actor.[1]He was a four-timePro Bowlselection playingdefensive tacklefor theDetroit Lionsof theNational Football League(NFL), where he played from1958to1970.He is a member of theCollege Football Hall of Fameand was elected to thePro Football Hall of Famein the Centennial class.
As an actor, Karras played Mongo in the1974comedy filmBlazing Saddles.He starred as George Papadopolis, the adoptive father of Webster Long (Emmanuel Lewis), in theABCsitcomWebster(1983–1989) alongside his wifeSusan Clark.Karras also had a prominent role inVictor/Victoria,starringJulie AndrewsandJames Garner.
Early life
[edit]Born and raised inGary, Indiana,[1]Karras was the son of Dr. George Karras, a Greek immigrant (fromChios) who graduated from theUniversity of Chicagoand pursued his medical degree in Canada. There, George Karras met and married a Canadian woman, Alex's mother, Emmeline (née Wilson), a registered nurse.[2][3]George Karras opened a medical practice in Gary, but he died when Alex was thirteen years old. By that time, Alex Karras had learned to play football in a parking lot near his home, with and against his athletically inclined brothers, and he blossomed into a four-time Indiana all-state selection at Gary'sEmerson High School.Karras also excelled in numerous other sports in high school, including baseball, track, wrestling, and basketball.[citation needed]He graduated in 1954.
College career
[edit]
His older brothers,Lou(a future member of theRedskins) andTed(who later played with theBearsandLions), had played atPurduebut later Ted transferred toIndiana.Because of it, Alex said, "Indiana had the inside track" on recruiting him.[citation needed]Shortly after he graduated from high school, three coaches from theIowa Hawkeyesmet Karras at his brother Louie's house with an airplane and flew him toSpencer, Iowa,where he remained incommunicado through the summer. Writing in theDetroit Free Pressin 1971 (as reprinted in theIowa City Press-Citizen), Karras said that "nobody knew where I was, not even my mom, although Louie told her not to worry. Obviously, Iowa came up with something, I have no intention of stirring up any mess. I'll only say that, as Louie explained it, some accommodations were made by the people at Iowa that would make things easier for the family, and so away I went. It was the beginning of some awful years."[4]
Karras struggled in the beginning at Iowa, with classwork, homesickness, and with his coach,Forest Evashevski.He was a pledge atSigma Nufraternityduring his first year in school. Karras probably would have left Iowa had he not befriended a Greek theater owner, Ernie Pannos, as well as fellow playersCal JonesandBob Commings.Karras's sophomore year with Iowa in1955got off to a rocky start when he showed up for practice forty pounds (18 kg) overweight.
Karras had been (dubiously) advised that year that he would need to gain substantial weight to have a chance at success in pro football, prompting him to report to camp at 260-270 pounds, in contrast to the 225-230 the Iowa coaching staff expected.
Karras was also hampered that season by a cracked anklebone. After being disappointed at not getting to play in the season finale, Karras threw a shoe at Evashevski and quit the team. Karras did not earn a football letter for the 1955 season.[citation needed]
Karras went to summer classes, lost the excess weight, and rejoined the football team, but a strained relationship resurfaced. Evashevski promised to start Karras in the 1956 season opener against Indiana, when he would square off against his brother, Ted.
But Evashevski played Karras off the bench instead, and Karras quit the team again. This time, Karras agreed to return only after making Evashevski promise he would not talk to him other than in a coaching capacity. (Evashevski always denied any special agreement with Karras.) Iowa took the lead in the 1956Big Tentitle race with a7–0victory overMinnesota.The Hawkeyes then clinched theBig Tentitle and Iowa's first-everRose Bowlberth by defeatingOhio State6–0.Karras sealed the game with a sack on the game's final play.[5]
Iowa's final regular-season game in1956was48–8 winat home over a strugglingNotre Dameteam. Karras called it his biggest college win, saying, "The Karrases have always had a rivalry with Notre Dame. The school was just sixty miles (97 km) down the road from our home and we wanted to beat 'em at anything."[6]However, after the game, Karras got into a physical battle with Evashevski. Karras did not enjoy his trip to the Rose Bowl, either. "Pasadena was the most boring town I've ever been in," said Karras. Karras helped the Hawkeyes win theRose BowloverOregon State,35–19.He was a first-teamAll-Americanin1956.
Karras spent the summer of 1957 with an American track team of Greek descent. He participated in theshot put,throwing a respectable 52 feet (16 m). In his senior season in1957,Karras was the most dominant lineman in the nation, won theOutland Trophy,and was the runner-up in the voting for theHeisman Trophy.Karras,Ohio StatetackleJohn Hicks(in 1973), andAidan Hutchinson,aMichiganedge rusher (2021), are three of only four linemen to finish so high in the Heisman Trophy voting. (Leon Hart, aNotre Dameend, was the only lineman ever to win theHeisman Trophyin1949.) In addition, Karras was aconsensus first-team All-Americanin1957.Hawkeye teammateRandy Duncansaid,
Karras hated Evashevski, and he still does. I think Karras hated Evy for a lot of reasons. Evy was on everybody's back, and he was on Karras' back big time. Karras was a great football player, but he didn't really like offense and, in those days, you had to go both ways. So he didn't block anybody. What he wanted to do was chase down quarterbacks and play defense.[7]
Professional football
[edit]Before his NFL career got underway, Karras signed a contract as aprofessional wrestleron December 13, 1957, earning $25,000 during the six-month off-season. Karras was the tenth selection of the1958 NFL draft,taken by theDetroit Lions.He signed with the Lions, spurning an offer from theCanadian Football League'sWinnipeg Blue Bombers.He quickly became one of the dominantdefensive tacklesin 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 camp as an off-field flunky, chauffeur, and wingman by superstar quarterbackBobby Laynefor his legendary late-night party activities.
By many accounts Karras would marvel at Layne's ability to recover from heavy drinking sessions at night and being able to function effectively at practices or games the next day. Karras himself admitted he was frequently heavily hung over as a result of late night bar-hopping.
Layne was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers early in the 1958 season and Karras eventually assumed a veteran leadership position himself.
On January 7, 1963, Karras's ownership share in Detroit's Lindell AC Bar became a source of controversy when league officials urged him to sell his financial interests in the place because of reports of gambling andorganized crimeinfluence.
After first threatening to retire rather than give up the bar ownership, Karras admitted placing bets on NFL games and was suspended by the league, along withGreen Bay Packersrunning backPaul Hornung,for one season (1963). During his exile, Karras returned topro wrestling,taking on such memorable characters asDick the Bruiser.He was reinstated, along with Hornung, on March 16, 1964, by NFL commissionerPete Rozelle.Upon returning to action in 1964, Karras once refused when an official asked him to call the pregame coin toss. "I'm sorry, sir," Karras replied. "I'm not permitted to gamble."[8]During his first year back, player discontent with head coachGeorge Wilsonresulted in Karras asking to be traded. However, the Lions settled the issue when they fired Wilson after theseason.
From 1960 to 1966, except for his suspension in 1963, he played next toRoger Brown,forming a formidable pair of defensive tackles, until Brown was traded to theLos Angeles Rams.After another season of controversy under new head coachHarry Gilmer,Karras was rumored to be ready to play out his option and sign with the expansionMiami Dolphinsof theAmerican Football Leagueunder his former coach Wilson. Instead, Karras signed a seven-year contract with the Lions on May 20, 1966, with Wilson stating that Karras had used the threat of signing with Miami to garner a large deal with Detroit. Despite the new contract, controversy remained, as Karras and Gilmer sparred in midseason, with the coach reportedly ready to release the veteran defensive tackle. As before, it would be the coach who would depart, with Karras's former teammateJoe Schmidttaking over for Gilmer. On June 4, 1967, Karras once again hinted he would retire to work at a new business venture; once training camp began, though, Karras was back with the Lions. During that preseason, he jokingly commented that he would walk back fromDenverif the AFLBroncosdefeated the Lions. When it actually happened, Karras backtracked and flew home on the team plane. He was still anAll-Proselection from 1967 to 1969. Despite not allowing a touchdown in the divisional round of the1970 NFL playoffs,the Lions lost to theDallas Cowboys5–0,his first playoff game and his final game. After the1971preseason, while rehabilitating a knee injury suffered the previous year, Karras was released in mid-September, ending his playing career at age 36.[9][10]
From 1958 to 1970, the Lions were over.500 in six of the 13 years, making the playoffs only once, in1970,with a10–4record in Karras's final year. Aside from 1970, their best years were1962(11–3)and1969(9–4–1).In 1962, the Lion defense allowed 177 points (12.6 points/game), 188 (13.4 ppg) in 1969, and 202 (14.4 ppg) in 1970; for all three years they were second-least in the NFL, thanks in large part to a tough and rugged defensive line led by Karras. He was called an "iron man" and also nicknamed "Twinkletoes" by his fans, and missed only one game due to injury in his 12 NFL seasons and his 161 games played are the fifteenth-most in Lions history. He made the Pro Bowl four times, and the Hall of Fame named him a member of the 1960s All-Decade team.[11]TheProfessional Football Researchers Associationnamed Karras to the PRFA Hall of Very Good Class of 2006.[12]
On January 15, 2020, Karras was elected to thePro Football Hall of Fame,as a Centennial Member.[13]
Film and television
[edit]Karras's sense of humor came to the attention of writerGeorge Plimpton,who heard many stories about Karras while training with the Lions for his bookPaper Lionduring the summer of 1963.
Karras himself was under suspension and thus absent during Plimpton's training camp tenure with the Lions, making him a constant topic of tall-tale discussion among his past (and future) teammates.
When the film version of the book was made in 1968, Karras made his film debut playing himself.[14]
Following his release by the Lions in1971,he made several appearances onThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carsonand also played a bit part inThe Mary Tyler Moore Show,appearing in the farewell party scene where Rhoda moves back to New York. Karras soon began acting on a full-time basis, playing a Tennessee boy turned Olympic weightlifter named Hugh Ray Feather in 1973'sThe 500 Pound Jerk.He played a hulking villain who menacedClint Walkerin the ABC TV filmHardcase.A minor but memorable role came one year later in thewesternparodyBlazing Saddles(1974): the very strong and slow-witted thug Mongo, who rode into town on a hugebrahman(marked with "yes" and "no" passing signals), and knocked out ahorsewith one punch. (Mongo was also surprisingly philosophical, stating that he was "only pawn in game of life." This line was much-quoted upon Karras's death.) In 1974, he also played the part of Lyle, a Marine saved by Hawkeye Pierce inM*A*S*H.That same year, he was quickly brought in by ABC in September to replace fellow Gary, Indiana nativeFred Williamson(who had replacedDon Meredith) as a commentator forMonday Night Football.[1]He served three years in that role until leaving after the1976season, with his most memorable comment coming in his first game, when he joked that baldOakland RaiderslinemanOtis Sistrunk,who never attended college, was from "the University of Mars", after seeing steam coming off his head.[15]
In 1972, Karras hosted a local weekly football program forWindsor, OntarioCBCaffiliateCKLW-TV,The Alex Karras Football Show;his program generally preceded the CBC's Wednesday nightCFLtelecasts.[16]In 1973, Karras made several cameo appearances on the January 8 broadcast ofRowan and Martin's Laugh-In.
Karras returned to acting with roles that included playing Sheriff Wallace inPorky's(in which his wife,Susan Clark,also starred), and as western settler Hans Brumbaugh inCentennial.He playedJames Garner's closeted gay bodyguard in the 1982Blake EdwardsfilmVictor/Victoria.Karras played a darker role as Hank Sully, the right-hand man of villain Jake Wise (played byJames Woods) in the 1984 filmAgainst All Odds.
In 1975, Karras appeared onMNFcolleague Howard Cosell's ill-fated variety showSaturday Night Live with Howard Cosellwearing a wig (a la Mongo) and performing "Already Gone" on the beach withThe Eagleswho were dubbed the "Alex Karras Blues Band" due to t-shirts the band members wore bearing that moniker. Karras would later host NBC'sSaturday Night Livein 1985.
Karras's television appearances included guest roles onDaniel Boonein the episode"The Cache",M*A*S*Hin the episode"Springtime",The Odd Couple,and a brief run onMatch Game '75.He also signed on to play the character "Super Jock" in commercials for a line of sports action toys namedSuper Jock,produced bySchaper(1975).[17]In 1977, he was cast in the lead of the TV movieMad Bull.[18]
In 1979, he had the role of Hans "Potato" Brumbaugh, a potato farmer, on the TV miniseriesCentennial.He was known for his humorous endorsement ofLa-Z-Boyrecliners,in an ad campaign which also featured NFL greats such asMiami DolphinsCoachDon Shula,and New York Jets legendJoe Namath.[19]In the 1980s, Karras had memorable success in the TV sitcomWebster,playing George Papadapolis, the title character's (Emmanuel Lewis) adoptive father, in a role that showcased his softer side. His real-life wife,Susan Clark,played his fictional wife in the series; Karras and Clark produced the series through their Georgian Bay Entertainment production company. The two met in 1975 while filming the made-for-television biopicBabefor CBS.
Writing
[edit]Besides being one of the subjects ofGeorge Plimpton's nonfiction bookPaper Lion(published in 1966), he was one of the two principal subjects of Plimpton's follow-up book,Mad Ducks and Bears(1973), in which fellow Detroit LionJohn Gordywas the "bear" to Karras's "mad duck".[20]Karras named one of his sons after Plimpton. During his last years as a Detroit Lion, Karras wrote a journal of his experiences that was published in theDetroit Free Press.He subsequently wrote a memoir,Even Big Guys Cry(1978), and a novel,Tuesday Night Football(1991).
Honors
[edit]In conjunction with the 100 Years of Hawkeye Football celebration in 1989, Iowa Hawkeye fans selected an all-time team. The squad featured 11 players on offense and defense, two kickers, and 15 special-mention players who received strong fan support. Karras was voted to the team as a defensive lineman. He was elected to theIowa Sports Hall of Famein 1977 and theCollege Football Hall of Famein 1991.
On December 12, 2014, theBig Ten Networkincluded Karras on "The Mount Rushmore ofIowa Football",as chosen by online fan voting. Karras was joined in the honor byNile Kinnick,Chuck Long,andTim Dwight.
On October 28, 2018, the Detroit Lions enshrined Karras in the franchise ring of honor along with former Detroit LionsHerman MooreandRoger Brown.[21]
On January 15, 2020, the NFL announced that Karras had been selected for enshrinement in Canton.[22]
Later activities
[edit]Karras also worked briefly as a football coach in 2007 and 2008. He worked for the SIL as an assistant coach to Bob Lombardi. He owned an ice cream parlor inSurfside Beach, South Carolina,called The Cow.[23]
Personal life
[edit]
Karras was married twice. In 1958, he married Joan Jurgensen, with whom he had five children. The marriage ended in divorce in 1975. He married actressSusan Clarkon March 21, 1980, and they had a daughter together.[24][25]
Illness and death
[edit]In his later years, Karras suffered fromdementia,heart disease,andcancer.[26]
Karras was among 3,500 former NFL players who filed lawsuits against the NFL in early 2012, over the long-term damage caused by concussions and repeated hits to the head.[14][27]
On October 8, 2012, it was revealed by friend Tom McInerney that Karras had been diagnosed withkidney failure.He was treated at theSaint John's Health CenterinSanta Monica, California,before being released intohospicecare. After returning to his Los Angeles home with family, Karras died in the morning hours of October 10.[28]
Filmography
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Paper Lion | Himself | |
| 1972 | Hardcase | Booker Llewellyn | |
| 1973 | The 500 Pound Jerk | Hughie Rae Feather | |
| 1973 | The Odd Couple | Jake Metcalf | |
| 1974 | Blazing Saddles | Mongo | |
| 1974 | The Great Lester Boggs | Sheriff Billy Bob | |
| 1974 | M*A*S*H | Lance Corporal Lyle Wesson | |
| 1974 | Win, Place or Steal | Frank | |
| 1975 | Babe | George Zaharias | |
| 1977 | Mad Bull | Iago "Mad Bull" Karkus | TV movie |
| 1978 | FM | Doc Holliday | |
| 1978 | Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang | The Hooded Fang | |
| 1978 | Centennial | Hans Brumbaugh | TV Mini-Series, 12 episodes |
| 1980 | When Time Ran Out | "Tiny" Baker | |
| 1980 | Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story | E.J. "Jughead" Miller | |
| 1981 | Nobody's Perfekt | Swaboda | |
| 1981 | Porky's | Sheriff Wallace | |
| 1982 | Victor/Victoria | "Squash" Bernstein | |
| 1983–1987 | Webster | George Papadopolis | |
| 1984 | Against All Odds | Hank Sully | |
| 1994 | Street Corner Kids | Floyd Powell | |
| 1995 | Fudge-a-Mania | Big A | TV movie; considered the pilot for the TV seriesFudge |
| 1996 | Tracey Takes On... | Himself | Episode: "Fame" |
| 1998 | Buffalo '66 | TV Sportscaster |
See also
[edit]
Footnotes
[edit]- ^abcMaher, Charles (November 13, 1974)."Smart Alex joins Humble Howard, Faultless Frank".Lewiston Morning Tribune.(Idaho). (Los Angeles Times). p. 1B.
- ^Weber, Bruce."Alex Karras, former NFL lineman, father on Webster TV show, dies at 77".The Star.Toronto.[permanent dead link]
- ^"Alex Karras Biography (1935-)".www.filmreference.com.
- ^Karras, Alex (November 17, 1971). "Alex Karras Tells How and Why He Arrived at Iowa".Iowa City Press-Citizen.
- ^"Iowa Snaps Ohio State Win Streak 6-0".Mason City Globe-Gazette.November 19, 1956.
- ^"Karras' Register Hall of Fame biodata".Des Moines Register.October 10, 2012. Archived fromthe originalon January 21, 2013.RetrievedOctober 10,2012.
- ^Maly, Ron (2003).Tales from the Iowa Sidelines.Sports Publishing LLC. p.125.ISBN1582615748.
- ^Merron, Jeff."Top 10 suspensions of all-time".ESPN.RetrievedOctober 10,2012.
- ^"Lions release Karras".Toledo Blade.(Ohio). Associated Press. September 14, 1971. p. 26.
- ^"Karras put on waivers".Ludington Daily News.(Michigan). UPI. September 14, 1971. p. 1.
- ^Mihoces, Gary."Longtime Lion, actor Karras dies at 77".USA Today.
- ^"Hall of Very Good Class of 2006".Archived fromthe originalon January 18, 2017.RetrievedNovember 23,2016.
- ^"Tagliabue, Steve Sabol among 13 picked for HOF".ESPN.com.January 15, 2020.
- ^abWeber, Bruce (October 10, 2012)."Alex Karras, N.F.L. Lineman and Actor, Dies at 77".The New York Times– via NYTimes.com.
- ^"Oakland Raiders - Otis Sistrunk".Oakland Raiders.Archived fromthe originalon November 17, 2008.
- ^Per the July 29, August 4, 1972TV Guidead atVintage Toledo TV: CKLW & CBET-TV 9 Print adsArchivedJuly 27, 2012, at theWayback Machine
- ^"Super Jock Toys".Plaidstallions.blogspot.com. May 15, 2009.RetrievedOctober 10,2012.
- ^"Mad Bull (TV Movie 1977)".IMDb.
- ^"Our History".La-z-boy.com. Archived fromthe originalon November 18, 2012.RetrievedOctober 10,2012.
- ^Almond, Steve. "Mad Ducks and Bears,"The Paris Review,April 26, 2016.Retrieved December 2, 2019
- ^"Detroit Lions to add Alex Karras, Herman Moore, Roger Brown to ring of honor".Detroit Free Press.
- ^"Centennial Slate for Class of 2020 Revealed".Pro Football Hall of Fame Official Site.
- ^"Blazing Saddles Tribute Mongo".blazingsaddlestribute.com.RetrievedOctober 10,2012.
- ^"Alex Karras' Daughter Katie Karras".Showbizdaily.Archived fromthe originalon November 5, 2015.RetrievedOctober 10,2012.
- ^Birkett, Dave (October 8, 2012)."Lions great Alex Karras near death".USA Today.
- ^Birkett, Dave (October 8, 2012)."Ex-Lions great Alex Karras suffering from kidney failure".Detroit Free Press.RetrievedOctober 10,2012.
- ^"Reports: Karras has kidney failure".ESPN. Associated Press. October 9, 2012.RetrievedOctober 10,2012.
- ^"Ex-NFL star, actor Alex Karras dies".CNN.October 10, 2012. Archived fromthe originalon October 11, 2012.RetrievedOctober 10,2012.
References
[edit]- Tales From The Iowa Sidelines,by Ron Maly (ISBN1-58261-574-8)
- Greatest Moments In Iowa Hawkeyes Football History,by Mark Dukes & Gus Schrader (ISBN1-57243-261-6)
- Evy and the Hawkeyes,by Brian Chapman and Mike Chapman (ISBN0-88011-186-0)
External links
[edit]
- 1935 births
- 2012 deaths
- Players of American football from Gary, Indiana
- All-American college football players
- National Football League announcers
- American male television actors
- American male film actors
- American football defensive tackles
- American male professional wrestlers
- American people of Greek descent
- Sportspeople of Greek descent
- American sportspeople of Canadian descent
- Deaths from kidney failure in California
- Iowa Hawkeyes football players
- Detroit Lions players
- Western Conference Pro Bowl players
- College Football Hall of Fame inductees
- Sportspeople involved in betting scandals
- World Football League announcers
- Sportspeople from Gary, Indiana
- Writers from Gary, Indiana
- Professional wrestlers from Indiana
- Male actors from Indiana
- People from Gary, Indiana
- Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees
- Karras football family