Biography
As one of the greatest defensive tackles ever to play the game of football, Karras enjoyed a college career in which he won the Outland Trophy and a Rose Bowl Championship in 1957, followed by an impressive 12-year run with the Detroit Lions. His segue into acting began while he was still with the Lions, when he appeared as himself in the football docudrama "Paper Lion" (1968). After leaving football, Karras began appearing on various TV …
Latest Tv Credits
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Career Milestones
1956 | Played on Iowa's Rose Bowl team; named Associated Press All-American |
1957 | Consensus all-American; won Outland Trophy as outstanding collegiate interior lineman |
1957 | Signed a professional wrestling contract; signed with football team the Detroit Lions eight days later |
1958 | Played defensive tackle for the Detroit Lions |
1963 | Suspended along with Green Bay Packer Paul Hornung for one season by NFL Commisioner Pete Rozelle for betting on football; both Hornung and he bet on their respective teams to win |
1964 | Resumed career with Lions, finishing his 12-year pro career with one team |
1968 | Made feature film debut (as himself) in "Paper Lion," based on the book by George Plimpton |
1970 | Named to Iowa's all-time football team (selected by fans) |
1972 | TV-movie debut, "Hardcase" (ABC) |
1973 | Played gentle hillbilly weight lifter Hughie Ray Feather in CBS movie "The 500-Pound Jerk" |
1974 | Made feature film debut playing character other than himself in Mel Brooks' "Blazing Saddles" as Mongo |
1974 | Was a regular announcer on ABC's "Monday Night Football" |
1975 | Portrayed George Zaharis to future wife Susan Clark's Babe Didrickson in CBS biopic "Babe" |
1976 | First credit as executive producer, "Mighty Moose and the Quarterback Kid," an "ABC Afterschool Special"; also starred as football player 'Mighty Moose' Novak |
1977 | Played hulking wrestler Iago 'Mad Bull' Karkus in CBS movie "Mad Bull" |
1978 | Acted in epic NBC miniseries "Centennial" |
1978 | Founded film production company Georgian Bay Productions with Clark |
1980 | Appeared as Jughead Miller in NBC miniseries "Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story" |
1980 | First offering from Georgian Bay Productions, CBS movie "Jimmy B & Andre"; starred as title character; Clark (who shared executive producing duties) played small role |
1981 | Portrayed Sherrif Wallace in "Porky's" |
1981 | With Clark, executive produced the CBS movie "Word of Honor"; made unbilled appearance as Manager of Supermarket Meat Department; Clark did not act |
1982 | Executive produced (with Clark) CBS movie "Maid in America"; Clark and he also starred |
1982 | Shone as James Garner's gay bodyguard Squash in Blake Edwards' "Victor/Victoria" |
1983 | Starred opposite Clark as pro football player-turned-sportscaster George Papadopolis, who becomes guardian to his godson "Webster" (ABC); Georgian Bay Productions one of three production companies credited along with Emmanuel Lewis Entertainment and Paramount Television |
1984 | Played a football player in Taylor Hackford's "Against All Odds" |
1989 | Inducted into National Iowa Varsity Club Athletics Hall of Fame |
1995 | Acted in "Fudge-A-Mania," a production of "The ABC Family Movie" |
1998 | Cast in Vincent Gallo's "Buffalo '66" |