Merlin Olsen, a bearded, gentle-giant Pro Football Hall of Famer who went on to a successful TV career as an actor, announcer, host and pitchman, died Thursday of cancer near Los Angeles. He was 69.

Merlin Olsen, the legendary Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle who died early this morning at the age of 69, is being remembered in the football world as a great player on the field and a good man off ...