Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

Don't know if you heard the news he died yesterday.

He was one actor who was well known enough that it was forgotten by many that he played pro football. Even my roommate, who doesn't follow football at all, knew immediately who he was when she saw his picture on the news last night when they mentioned his death, and was surprised when I told her he played pro football back in the 60's. Most of the headlines I saw online for his obit mentioned him as "Revenge of the Nerds actor", but he had a long career in film. I was watching a film with Bernie Casey (where he played a government agent) in it a couple weeks ago, the mid-70's David Bowie film "The Man who Fell to Earth", which is one of the strangest films I have ever seen, and I think I need to watch it another half dozen times before I understand it. As I mentioned in the Obit thread, Bernie Casey was a Renaissance Man - Artist, Poet, actor, modern day gladiator, and a well-spoken man who always made for a great interview.

More a film resume than just "Nerds" is a supreme understatement! Although I always liked the part when he (along with his frat brothers) intimidated John Goodman (coach), Ted McGinley (QB), and the rest of the team into giving the 'Nerds' justice (he himself intimidated me and I, of course, rooted for the 'Nerds'). A Bowie-fan (my sister an even bigger one), I never seen that 'Man Who Fell to Earth' flick (I'm sure she has). I forgot about he being in 'Bill and Ted'. Like, I'm sure, most of you in here, I've been quite familiar for quite some time with the nice NFL Films piece about him as that..."Renaissance Man".

RIP

Scored that winning TD to set-up that classic...Coastal Championship Game!

Did a great job playing JC Caroline in "Brian's Song."

Rupert Patrick wrote:He was one actor who was well known enough that it was forgotten by many that he played pro football. Even my roommate, who doesn't follow football at all, knew immediately who he was when she saw his picture on the news last night when they mentioned his death, and was surprised when I told her he played pro football back in the 60's.

Well I wouldn't worry about someone who doesn't follow the sport.

MIKEBENNIDICT wrote:

Rupert Patrick wrote:He was one actor who was well known enough that it was forgotten by many that he played pro football. Even my roommate, who doesn't follow football at all, knew immediately who he was when she saw his picture on the news last night when they mentioned his death, and was surprised when I told her he played pro football back in the 60's.

Well I wouldn't worry about someone who doesn't follow the sport.

The good news is that she is learning the game from me. She got caught up in the Clemson fever the last couple years, as they are the local college football team here, and when Deshaun Watson went to the Texans she decided to become a Texans fan. I have known her over 25 years and never thought she would wear a football shirt but I bought her a Texans Watson T short with his name and number on it and she watches when they play now. She has a lot of questions about football, and I answer them for her. She knows I am a huge football fan but I haven't told her about the manuscript yet, I am waiting until I have the final edits completed in the next month to six weeks before I tell her.

Rupert Patrick wrote:He was one actor who was well known enough that it was forgotten by many that he played pro football.

Alex Karras was another player whose football career almost got ignored in his obits, instead focusing on Blazing Saddles or Webster.