Grave site information of Alex G Karras (1891 - 1945) at Moline Memorial Cemetery in Moline, Rock Island, Illinois, United States from BillionGraves. ≡. Alex G Karras 1891 - 1945 ...
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Is Alex Karras still living?
October 10, 2012Alex Karras / Date of death
Where was Alex Karras born?
Gary, INAlex Karras / Place of birthGary is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States, and borders Porter County to the east. Historically, Gary was dominated by major industrial activity. The city is located along the southern shore of Lake Michigan about 25 miles east of downtown Chicago, Illinois. Wikipedia
Who is Alex Karras married to?
Susan Clarkm. 1980–2012Joan Jurgensenm. 1958–1976Alex Karras/Spouse
How old is Alex Karras?
77 years (1935–2012)Alex Karras / Age at death
What college did Alex Karras go to?
The University of IowaAlex Karras / CollegeAlex Karras, a 6'2”, 248-pound defensive tackle from Gary, Indiana, was drafted in the first round (10th player overall) of the 1958 draft by the Detroit Lions. A standout from the University of Iowa, he was voted college football's outstanding lineman in 1957 and was a collegiate heavyweight wrestling champ.
How tall is Alex Karras?
6′ 2″Alex Karras / Height
Is Susan Clark still married to Alex Karras?
Clark and Karras remained married for 32 years until his death on October 10, 2012.
Who is Susan Clark married to?
Alex Karrasm. 1980–2012Robert L. Josephm. 1970–1973Susan Clark/SpouseSince the early 80s, Clark has often worked in tandem with her husband, former football star Alex Karras. The couple formed Georgian Bay Productions and went on to star alongside child actor Emmanuel Lewis in "Webster" (ABC, 1983-87, syndicated 1987-88).
Who was Alex Karras father?
George KarrasAlex Karras / Father
Who was Alex Karras father?
George KarrasAlex Karras / Father
Is Karras related to Alex Karras?
Ted Karras, great-nephew of former NFL player and actor Alex Karras, is the Patriots third 6th round pick.
How old was Alex Karras when he died?
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, and he blossomed into a four-time Indiana all-state selection at Gary's Emerson High School .
Where was Alex Karras born?
Born and raised in Gary, Indiana , Karras was the son of Dr. George Karras, a Greek immigrant (from Chios) who graduated from the University of Chicago and got his medical degree in Canada. There, George Karras met and married a Canadian woman, Alex's mother, Emmeline (née Wilson), a registered nurse. 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, and he blossomed into a four-time Indiana all-state selection at Gary's Emerson High School .
What team did Karras play for?
From 1960 to 1966, except for his suspension in 1963, he played next to Roger Brown, forming a formidable pair of defensive tackles, until the latter was traded to the Los Angeles Rams. After another season of controversy under new head coach Harry Gilmer, Karras was rumored to be ready to play out his option and sign with the expansion Miami Dolphins of the American Football League under 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 the 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 teammate Joe Schmidt taking over. 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 from Denver if the AFL Broncos defeated the Lions. When that actually happened, Karras backtracked and flew home on the team plane. He was still an All-Pro selection in 1967 to 1969. Despite not allowing a touchdown in the divisional round of the 1970 NFL playoffs, the Lions lost to the Dallas Cowboys 5–0, his first playoff game and his final game. After the 1971 preseason, while rehabilitating a knee injury suffered the previous year, Karras was released, ending his playing career at age 35.
What happened to Karras in 1955?
Karras' sophomore year with Iowa in 1955 got off to a rocky start when he showed up for practice twenty pounds (9 kg) overweight. Karras was also hampered that season by a cracked ankle bone. After being disappointed at not getting to play in the season finale, Karras threw a shoe at Evashevski and quit the team.
How much did Karras earn in his career?
Before his NFL career got underway, Karras signed a contract as a professional wrestler on December 13, 1957, earning $25,000 during the six-month off-season. Karras was the tenth selection of the 1958 NFL draft, taken by the Detroit Lions. He signed with the Lions, spurning an offer from the Canadian Football League 's Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He quickly became one of the dominant defensive tackles in the NFL, playing for 12 seasons (1958–1962, 1964–1970) all with the Lions.
How tall was Karras in the shot put?
He participated in the shot put, throwing a respectable 52 feet (16 m). In his senior season in 1957, Karras was the most dominant lineman in the nation, won the Outland Trophy, and was the runner-up in the voting for the Heisman Trophy.
Where did Karras play college football?
College career. Karras from 1958 Hawkeye. His older brothers, Lou (a future member of the Redskins) and Ted (who later played with the Bears and Lions ), had played at Purdue but later Ted transferred to Indiana. Because of this, Alex said, "Indiana had the inside track" on recruiting him.
Who was Alex Karras?
Karras was recognized by the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a defensive tackle on the All-Decade Team of the 1960s. Karras later wrote an autobiography, "Even Big Guys Cry," and two other books, "Alex Karras" and "Tuesday Night Football.". Lewand said Karras also loved to garden and cook. "We know Alex first and foremost as one ...
What did Karras die from?
Karras had recently suffered kidney failure and been diagnosed with dementia. The Lions also said he had suffered from heart disease and, for the past two years, stomach cancer. He died at home in Los Angeles surrounded by family members, said Craig Mitnick, Karras' attorney.
What happened to Karras on Monday Night Football?
The rugged player, who anchored the Detroit Lions ' defense and then made a successful transition to an acting career with a stint along the way as a commentator on "Monday Night Football," died Wednesday. He was 77. Karras had recently suffered kidney failure and been diagnosed with dementia.
What books did Alex Karras write?
Karras later wrote an autobiography, "Even Big Guys Cry, " and two other books, "Alex Karras" and "Tuesday Night Football." Lewand said Karras also loved to garden and cook.
What did Karras do to gain fame?
For all his prowess on the field, Karras may have gained more fame when he turned to acting in the movies and on television.
When did Karras retire?
Karras played his entire NFL career with the Lions before retiring in 1970 at age 35. He was a first-team All-Pro in 1960, 1961 and 1965, and he made the Pro Bowl four times. He missed the 1963 season when he was suspended by NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle in a gambling probe. Karras was recognized by the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a defensive tackle on the All-Decade Team of the 1960s.
Why did Karras' quality of life deteriorate?
Recently, his wife said Karras' quality of life has deteriorated because of head injuries sustained during his playing career.
How old was Alex Karras when he died?
Alex Karras Dies at 77 | PEOPLE.com
What happened to Alex Karras?
Updated October 10, 2012 10:55 AM. Image. Credit: ABC/Getty. Webster star Alex Karras, who began his career as a football hero for the Detroit Lions, has died, the Associated Press reports. He was 77. Karras, who was suffering from kidney failure, died at home in Los Angeles surrounded by family members, including his wife, Susan Clark, ...
How many children did Karras have?
Karras’s first marriage ended in divorce after 18 years and five children. Clark had never heard of Karras when they met on the set of Babe, a 1975 TV biopic movie about the athlete Babe Didrikson, in which Karras played her husband.
What did Karras suffer from?
Karras suffered dementia and cancer in recent years, and was part of the mass concussion lawsuit that more than 3,000 former players have filed against the NFL.
How many years did Karras play for the Lions?
Born the fourth of six children to a doctor in Gary, Ind., Karras was an all-American at the University of Iowa and played 13 seasons as a bruising defender for the Lions – missing only the 1963 season, when he was suspended for betting on his own team.
What was the first movie that Karras played?
Karras got his first taste of acting by appearing as himself in the 1966 film version of George Plimpton’s Paper Lion . Among his Hollywood roles, he appeared in Mel Brooks’s Blazing Saddles in 1974 and notably played a closeted gay bodyguard in Victor Victoria in 1982.
Is Karras a moral person?
He is very moral, and his confidence is astounding to someone like me, who sometimes has lots and then none.”. Karras suffered dementia and cancer in recent years, and was part of the mass concussion lawsuit that more than 3,000 former players have filed against the NFL. 00:00. 01:37.
How much does Alex Karras weigh?
He has been playing handball to keep in shape, and his weight is a trim 245, lighter by 15 pounds than he was the afternoon he gave Bart Starr such a tough time. "We're a better team than the Packers are," Karras told a friend.
Who is the replacement for Karras?
After all, Karras is missing and no one has been certain how well his replacement, Floyd Peters, would do. Peters was obtained from the Cleveland Browns. The Lion coaching staff selected Peters carefully, studying some 28 game films of the Browns, ranging over the last two years, before they decided on him.
Who was buried alive in the Detroit Lions game?
When the Green Bay Packers played the Detroit Lions last Thanksgiving Day, Packer Quarterback Bart Starr was almost buried alive under the repeated assaults of the angry Detroit line. Everyone had his crack at Starr, but the man who cracked him ...
Can Karras rush the passer?
He can't rush the passer the way Karras could, but neither can any other tackle in football.". Most of the Lions' defensive unit, like Peters, came to Detroit in trades. Night Train Lane, a great corner back, and Carl Brettschneider, an underrated corner linebacker, are ex-St. Louis Cardinals.
Who drove Peters in the Packers?
There was nothing tricky about the play: it was a basic drive into the line and its success depended on hard blocking. Jerry Kramer , the big Packer right guard, drove Peters, Karras' replacement, well out of the way, opening a huge hole. (The Packers probed at Peters all afternoon, making his life miserable.)
Did Starr pass well?
Starr was not passing particularly well, but he juggled the Green Bay offense perfectly. More often than not he feinted with Jim Taylor, then handed the ball to Moore, who responded by running better than he has in the four years he has been with the club.
Did Alex Karras miss the Lions game?
Back in Detroit, Alex Karras watched the game on television. It was a frustrating experience. He missed the Lions as much as they missed him. The next day, Monday, he would go down to the gym and play handball more furiously than ever.
Where did Karras move to?
Karras retired and moved to California where he pursued a second career in acting – a career that actually started during his playing days in 1968 in the movie “Paper Lion.” Author George Plimpton went to training camp with the Lions and wrote a book about his experiences as a last-string quarterback – a book that later became a movie featuring Karras and a number of his teammates.
How long did Alex Karras wait for his call from Canton?
The family of Alex Karras waited 45 years for this call from Canton. The family of Alex Karras believed he was a Hall-of-Fame football player. Confirmation finally came this week. Author:
How many seasons did Karras play for the Lions?
Karras played 12 seasons with the Lions and collected a franchise-record 97 ½ sacks. But Detroit never won a championship, and Karras managed to play in only one playoff game – the final game of his career, a 5-0 NFC semifinal loss to the Dallas Cowboys in 1970.
Was Karras in the Hall of Fame?
Karras had been an eligible candidate for 44 of them but never a finalist for any of them. “I knew he was in the Hall of Fame anyway…just without all the hoopla,” Carolyn said. “I knew his career, and I knew his numbers. But if he couldn’t get in, he couldn’t get in. So I just pretended he was in.”.
Is Alex Karras a member of the Centennial Class?
Then came the Centennial Class and the announcement on the NFL Network Wednesday morning that Alex Karras would indeed be a member of that class. Finally. But it will be a posthumous honor. Karras passed away in 2012.
Overview
Alexander George Karras (July 15, 1935 – October 10, 2012) was an American football player, professional wrestler, sportscaster, and actor. He was a four-time Pro Bowl player with the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL), where he played from 1958 to 1970. As an actor, Karras played Mongo in the 1974 comedy film Blazing Saddles. He starred as George Papadopolis, the adoptive …
Early life
Born and raised in Gary, Indiana, Karras was the son of Dr. George Karras, a Greek immigrant (from Chios) who graduated from the University of Chicago and pursued his medical degree in Canada. There, George Karras met and married a Canadian woman, Alex's mother, Emmeline (née Wilson), a registered nurse. 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 …
College career
His older brothers, Lou (a future member of the Redskins) and Ted (who later played with the Bears and Lions), had played at Purdue but later Ted transferred to Indiana. Because of it, Alex said, "Indiana had the inside track" on recruiting him. Shortly after he graduated from high school, three coaches from the Iowa Hawkeyes met Karras at his brother Louie's house with an airplane and flew hi…
Professional football
Before his NFL career got underway, Karras signed a contract as a professional wrestler on December 13, 1957, earning $25,000 during the six-month off-season. Karras was the tenth selection of the 1958 NFL draft, taken by the Detroit Lions. He signed with the Lions, spurning an offer from the Canadian Football League's Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He quickly became one of the dominant defensive tackles in the NFL, playing for 12 seasons (1958–1962, 1964–1970) all with …
Film and television
Karras's sense of humor came to the attention 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 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.
Writing
Besides being one of the subjects of George Plimpton's nonfiction book Paper 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 Lion John Gordy was the "bear" to Karras's "mad duck". 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 the Detroit Free Press. He subsequently wrote a …
Honors
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 the Iowa Sports Hall of Fame in 1977 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 1991.
Later activities
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 in Surfside Beach, South Carolina, called The Cow.