Alex Karras has died at 77

Alex Karras has died at 77: Alex Karras, right, with as Mongo in Blazing Saddles Slim Pickens (1974). Photo: Everett Collection / Rex Features

In 1974, Mel Brooks Blazing Saddles, Enforcer city walks on Mongo Brahma bull and horse knocks once. "Do not shoot, it will just make him mad," advised citizens Sheriff Bart. Later, Bart asks Mongo on things he has done. Watching with puppy dog ​​eyes, wicked awkward said: "Mongo only pawn in the game of life. "

 who has died aged 77, was a natural to play Mongo, with its larger-than-life body and face rubber, it could distort a clowning exaggerated, or reduce, to offer his mind crafty friendly. Some of the skills he learned as a professional wrestler, actor and even as a beginner, he stole scenes from the comic as talented as Cleavon little or Gene Wilder. Karras went on to have a successful career as an actor and star of Webster (1983-1989), in which he plays the coach who takes the orphan son of a former teammate. For the American public was already familiar Karras football great college, known as much for his antics off the field as his outstanding play on it.

Antics Karras has already figured prominently in 1966, George Plimpton Paper Lion book, in which the editor of Paris Review Thurs defender had a training camp with the Detroit Lions. Plimpton was caught by a player called "Canard crazy," acknowledging that his savagery disguised as cerebral nature of his plays - "only" 248 pounds, Karras was considered small for a defensive tackle, but to use the speed and technique - and this is a sensitive area. they became friends for life. Karras featured in the second book, Mad Ducks and Bears (1973), and named one of his son George. He also played in the 1968 film Lion paper with Alan Alda as Plimpton.

Karras was born in Gary, Indiana, where his father, a Greek immigrant, was a doctor and a nurse mother. His older brothers, Lou and Ted how to play in the NFL, but instead of Ted at Indiana University, Alex was at the University of Iowa. Despite the rivalry with his coach and be the bench for the game against Indiana and Ted, he gave in Iowa in 1956 Big Ten championship, and in 1957 won the trophy as countries Outland top lineman. But when he was selected by the Detroit Lions, he left Iowa to professional wrestling, winning more than six months before the start of NFL training, he would in his first two seasons football field.

Karras was voted All-Pro - the best player in his position, as determined by a survey of mass media - in 1960 and 1961, but in 1963, was suspended indefinitely by commissioner Pete Rozelle NFL, with Green Bay Packer linebacker Paul "Golden Boy" Hornung, gambling and "communication with undesirables." Karras used his fight money to buy a one-third share in the Lindell in the bar downtown, which attracts athletes and players, its name echoes the Detroit Athletic Club rather grand. But the NFL has been transformed from the American equivalent of rugby in the UK, playing on Sundays at hard men in cities north of the plant, the TV show that will enthrall people, and his image is clean.

Karras admitted placing paris, but not on its own ground. Unlike Hornung, he repented. He returned to fight against the hostility against nasty high cost to Detroit, another former football player, known as Dick Bruiser, during which they had a fight that broke out Lindell.

After Karras sold his interest in the bar, and Hornung were restored in 1964 season, during which he again made the All-Pro. In a case where, as captain, he was asked to name the game's opening coin flip, he refused, telling the judge that he was not supposed to play.Read More