Defensive Linemen in Hollywood: Claude Humphrey

Claude Humphrey is a Hall of Fame defensive end who played the majority of his career with the Atlana Falcons. He only had one Hollywood role, that of "Big John" in the Dukes of Hazzard Television series. He played the typical heavy, a big, gun-toting strongman.

In the show he even had a few lines, here they are:

Continental Divide's NFL Connection

How does a movie about a Chicago Columnist and a Rocky Mountain Bald eagle researcher have an NFL connection? Easy. Continental Divide had Max Birnbaum. He was a lover of the eagle researcher and a former defensive end for the Washington Redskins. The role was played by Tony Ganios who was "Meat" in Porky's:

Here is the clip of the NFL connection featuring Ganios, John Belushi, and Blair Brown:

Hank Bauer in Flash & Firecat (1976)

Billed as Henry Bauer, Hank Bauer played a mechanic at a dune buggy shop in Southern California. he shared the big screen with Richard Kiel (Moonraker, Longest Yard).

Bauer is one of the NFL's best special teams players of All-Time. In the film Bauer tossed a football around but had no lines.

Bauer with Richard Kiel

Mel Owens and the Movies

Mel Owens was a left outside linebacker for the Los Angeles Rams from 1981-89. In addition to acting  he started a line of clothing called "Evolution Wear". He also operated a nationwide restaurant reservation hotline in the 1980s called 1-800-LETS-EAT.  In 1987, he ran with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain and also competed in the L.A. Marathon.

He had a bit role in The Distingueshed Gentleman, a film that starred Eddie Murphy. Owens played "Bo Chandler" a tight end for the Houston Oilers who was elected to Congress.

Here is the clip that Owens appears in:

Gene Washington in the Movies

49ers wide receiver Gene Washington had a couple of plum roles. He was really the lead biker in The Black Six, and had a key role in an episode of Banacek, a TV series with George Peppard.

Here are a few stills from The Black Six playing "Bubba Daniels": 

And from Banacek as "Clay Mills":

And his longest scenes in Banacek:

This one opens with John Brodie as "Richie Mulligan" and finished with Gene's scene.

And after the big "reveal; "Right on Banacek"

In 1975 Washington was the lead actor in Lady Cocoa. In this one Washington even gets  to fire a gun and had a love scene with nudity and all.

Here are a few clips. Sound quality is very poor:

For a more complete filmography click over to IMDB.

Harold Jackson in the Movies

Harold Jackson was a wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams and the New England Patriots. We had a bit part in Gus and in North Dallas Forty.

In Gus he played an inept wide reciever who dropped easy passes.

Jackson as "Lindstrom"

Here is his clip from North Dallas Forty:

Jim Brown in "The Split"

The Split was a pretty good movie about a gang who planned and succeeded in stealing the box office receipts during a Rams game in the Los Angeles Coliseum.

It featured game-action from two Rams games played in 1967. The footage was real but the PA announcer was dubbed in using phony names for Rams players. Roman Gabriel was "Jack Angel". Jack Snow's last name was changed to "Frost". One running back's name was "Angelo Coletti".

Click on these to see a few clips of the NFL action cut in with the action of the film.

The Split also starred Diahann Carroll, Ernest Borgnine, Julie Harris, Gene Hackman, Jack Klugman and Donald Sutherlandamong others. 

Les Josephson in TV and Movies

In 1970 Josephson played a football Player in the TV show Bracken's World 

 In 1975 he was Rick Laport in  The Six Million Dollar Man

Police Woman (1977)

In 1978's Superdome he was Nick Caretta

Also in 1978 he was Owens in Heaven Can Wait 

Eric Dickerson in Hollywood

On the HBO series 1st & Ten: The Championship Dickerson played a Clubber Lang-type athlete, full of taunting.

The Kid & I was a film in 2005 and Dickerson essentially played himself.

According to IMDB Dickerson played a US Marshall CSI: NY (TV Series) 

Billy Wade's Hollywood Connection

Billy Wade starred as himself in the Donna Reed Show in 1958 with a host of other Rams.

The Wit and Wisdom of Ron Caitlin

Cynical All-Pro Quarterback Ron Caitlin was full of quit-witted barbs in the film Number One. Here are a few examples.

On losing a game:

On the NFL payscale:

On the media:

On retirement:

When being taunted by a rookie:

 

 

Rolf Benirschke in Hollywood

Rolf Benirschke, after his NFL career, got the gig as the host of  "Wheel of Fortune" replacing Pat Sajak from January 10 to June 30, 1989.