NFL Star, Actor Alex Karras Dies
Former football great, commentator and actor Alex Karras has died at the age of 77.
FOX News Radio’s Hank Weinbloom reports on the varied career of Alex Karras:
On the field, Alex Karras was a bruising defensive tackle for 12 seasons with the Detroit Lions.
(Announcer) “Alex Karras clobbers him.”
Karras made plenty of highlight reels on NFL films.
(Karras) “They got this idea I was this ruffian this rough, tough character and I played that role.”
Always a colorful character, Karras was briefly a professional wrestler. He played himself in the movie version of George Plimpton’s “Paper Lion” which launched a second career for Karras: actor. Best remembered as the not-so-bright brute ‘Mongo’ in “Blazing Saddles”.
(Blazing Saddles) “Mongo only pawn in game of life.”
He starred opposite his real life wife, Susan Clark in a sitcom, “Webster”.
(Karras) “You might say, pain is my co-pilot.”
And for three seasons he was a colorful, color commentator for Monday Night Football.
(Karras) “New York Jets keep rolling along.”
In his later years, Karras suffered form dementia and he sued the NFL over head injuries that he suffered during his playing career.
Hank Weinbloom, FOX News Radio.
