Biography for
Alex Karras More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

15 July 1935, Gary, Indiana, USA

Birth Name

Alexander George Karras

Height

6' 3" (1.91 m)

Spouse

Susan Clark	(21 May 1980 - present) 1 child
Joan Jurgenson	(1958 - 1975) (divorced) 5 children

Trivia

Daughter, Katie (b. 1980), with Susan Clark.

Played football for the University of Iowa Hawkeyes

Played on the Hawkeyes' 1956 Rose Bowl championship team

Outland Trophy, 1957 (Honoring the outstanding interior lineman, selected by the Football Writers Association of America)

2nd place in voting for Heisman Trophy, 1957 (Honoring the outstanding college football player in the United States, presented by the Downtown Athletic Club of New York)

In conjunction with the 100 years of Hawkeye football celebration in 1989, Iowa Hawkeye fans selected an all-time team. The squad features 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.

Named to All-Big Ten team, 1956 and 1957

Named to the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame Played in the East-West Shrine game, 1957

Played in the Hula Bowl, 1958.

Consensus all-American (making 10 teams) in 1957 Member of inaugural class of the Iowa Lettermen's Club Hall of Fame

Former professional football player

He was a tackle for the Detroit Lions 1958-71.

Wrestled late professional wrestler, Dick the Bruiser (Dick Afflis), in 1963.

Was suspended from the NFL for a year for gambling on football games.

Perhaps his most memorable moment as an actor was the scene in Blazing Saddles (1974) where his character, Mongo, punched a horse.

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