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{{Short description|American football player, sportscaster and actor (1935–2012)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox gridiron football biography
| name        = Alex Karras
| image       = Alex Karras 1961 (cropped).jpg
| caption     = Karras in 1961
| number      = 71
| position    = [[Defensive tackle]]
| birth_date  = {{birth date|1935|07|15}}
| birth_place = [[Gary, Indiana]], U.S.
| death_date  = {{death date and age|2012|10|10|1935|07|15}}
| death_place = [[Los Angeles, California]], U.S.
| height_ft   = 6
| height_in   = 2
| weight_lb   = 248
| high_school = [[Emerson High School (Indiana)|Emerson]] (Gary)
| college     = [[Iowa Hawkeyes football|Iowa]] (1955–1957)
| draftyear   = 1958
| draftround  = 1
| draftpick   = 10
| pastteams   = 
* [[Detroit Lions]] ({{NFL Year|1958|1962}}; {{NFL Year|1964|1970}})
| highlights  = 
* 3× First-team [[All-Pro]] ([[1960 All-Pro Team|1960]], [[1961 All-Pro Team|1961]], [[1965 All-Pro Team|1965]])
* 6× Second-team All-Pro ([[1962 All-Pro Team|1962]], [[1964 All-Pro Team|1964]], [[1966 All-Pro Team|1966]]–[[1969 All-Pro Team|1969]])
* 4× [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1961 Pro Bowl|1960]]–[[1963 Pro Bowl|1962]], [[1966 Pro Bowl|1965]])
* [[National Football League 1960s All-Decade Team|NFL 1960s All-Decade team]]
* [[Pride of the Lions]]
* [[Detroit Lions 75th Anniversary Team]]
* [[Detroit Lions#Lions All-Time Team|Detroit Lions All-Time Team]]
* [[Outland Trophy]] (1957)
* [[UPI Lineman of the Year]] (1957)
* Consensus [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[1957 College Football All-America Team|1957]])
* First-team All-American ([[1956 College Football All-America Team|1956]])
* 2× First-team [[List of All-Big Ten Conference football teams|All-Big Ten]] ([[1956 All-Big Ten Conference football team|1956]], [[1957 All-Big Ten Conference football team|1957]])
| statlabel1  = [[Fumble]] recoveries
| statvalue1  = 18
| statlabel2  = [[Interception]]s
| statvalue2  = 4
| statlabel3  = [[Quarterback sack|Sack]]s
| statvalue3  = 100.0
| pfr         = KarrAl00
| CollegeHOF  = 1781
| HOF         = alex-karras
}}
'''Alexander George Karras''' (July 15, 1935{{spnd}}October 10, 2012) was an American professional [[American football|football]] player, [[professional wrestler]], sportscaster, and actor.<ref name="wmlxlat">{{Cite news |last=Maher |first=Charles |date=November 13, 1974 |title=Smart Alex joins Humble Howard, Faultless Frank |page=1B |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |agency=(Los Angeles Times) |location=Idaho |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OpdfAAAAIBAJ&pg=5311%2C3388385}}</ref> He was a four-time [[Pro Bowl]] selection playing [[defensive tackle]] for the [[Detroit Lions]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL), where he played from [[1958 Detroit Lions season|1958]] to [[1970 Detroit Lions season|1970]]. He is a member of the [[College Football Hall of Fame]] and was elected to the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] in the Centennial class.

As an actor, Karras played Mongo in the [[1974 in film|1974]] comedy film ''[[Blazing Saddles]]''. He starred as George Papadopolis, the adoptive father of Webster Long ([[Emmanuel Lewis]]),  in the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] [[sitcom]] ''[[Webster (TV series)|Webster]]'' (1983–1989) alongside his wife [[Susan Clark]].  Karras also had a prominent role in ''[[Victor/Victoria]]'', starring [[Julie Andrews]] and [[James Garner]].

==Early life==
Born and raised in [[Gary, Indiana]],<ref name=wmlxlat/> 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.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Weber |first=Bruce |title=Alex Karras, former NFL lineman, father on Webster TV show, dies at 77 |work=The Star |location=Toronto |url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/football/nfl/article/1268906--alex-karras-former-nfl-lineman-father-on-webster-tv-show-dies-at-77}}{{Dead link|date=October 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Alex Karras Biography (1935-) |url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/5/Alex-Karras.html |website=www.filmreference.com}}</ref> 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, with and against his athletically inclined brothers, and he blossomed into a four-time Indiana all-state selection at Gary's [[Emerson High School (Indiana)|Emerson High School]]. Karras also excelled in numerous other sports in high school, including baseball, track, wrestling, and basketball.{{Citation needed|date=June 2022}} He graduated in 1954.

==College career==
[[File:Alex Karras (1958).png|thumb|175px|left|Karras from 1958 ''Hawkeye'']]
His older brothers, [[Lou Karras|Lou]] (a future member of the [[Washington Commanders|Redskins]]) and [[Ted Karras Sr.|Ted]] (who later played with the [[Chicago Bears|Bears]] and [[Detroit Lions|Lions]]), had played at [[Purdue Boilermakers football|Purdue]] but later Ted transferred to [[Indiana Hoosiers football|Indiana]]. Because of it, Alex said, "Indiana had the inside track" on recruiting him.{{Citation needed|date=October 2012}} Shortly after he graduated from high school, three coaches from the [[Iowa Hawkeyes football|Iowa Hawkeyes]] met Karras at his brother Louie's house with an airplane and flew him to [[Spencer, Iowa]], where he remained incommunicado through the summer.  Writing in the ''[[Detroit Free Press]]'' in 1971 (as reprinted in the ''Iowa City Press-Citizen''), Karras said that "nobody knew where I was, not even my mom, although Louie told her not to worry. Obviously, Iowa came up with something, I have no intention of stirring up any mess.  I'll only say that, as Louie explained it, some accommodations were made by the people at Iowa that would make things easier for the family, and so away I went.  It was the beginning of some awful years."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Karras |first=Alex |date=November 17, 1971 |title=Alex Karras Tells How and Why He Arrived at Iowa |work=Iowa City Press-Citizen}}</ref>

Karras struggled in the beginning at Iowa, with classwork, homesickness, and with his coach, [[Forest Evashevski]]. He was a pledge at [[Sigma Nu]] [[College fraternities and sororities|fraternity]] during his first year in school. Karras probably would have left Iowa had he not befriended a Greek theater owner, Ernie Pannos, as well as fellow players [[Cal Jones]] and [[Bob Commings]]. Karras's sophomore year with Iowa in [[1955 Iowa Hawkeyes football team|1955]] got off to a rocky start when he showed up for practice {{convert|40|lb|0|spell=in}} overweight.

Karras had been (dubiously) advised that year that he would need to gain substantial weight to have a chance at success in pro football, prompting him to report to camp at 260–270 pounds, in contrast to the 225–230 the Iowa coaching staff expected.

Karras was also hampered that season by a cracked anklebone. After being disappointed at not getting to play in the season finale, Karras threw a shoe at Evashevski and quit the team. Karras did not earn a football letter for the 1955 season.{{Citation needed|date=October 2012}}

Karras went to summer classes, lost the excess weight, and rejoined the football team, but a strained relationship resurfaced. Evashevski promised to start Karras in the 1956 season opener against Indiana, when he would square off against his brother, Ted.

But Evashevski played Karras off the bench instead, and Karras quit the team again. This time, Karras agreed to return only after making Evashevski promise he would not talk to him other than in a coaching capacity. (Evashevski always denied any special agreement with Karras.) Iowa took the lead in the 1956 [[Big Ten]] title race with a {{nowrap|7–0}} victory over [[1956 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team|Minnesota]]. The Hawkeyes then clinched the Big Ten title and Iowa's first-ever [[Rose Bowl (game)|Rose Bowl]] berth by defeating [[1956 Ohio State Buckeyes football team|Ohio State]] {{nowrap|6–0.}}  Karras sealed the game with a sack on the game's final play.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 19, 1956 |title=Iowa Snaps Ohio State Win Streak 6–0 |work=Mason City Globe-Gazette}}</ref>

Iowa's final regular-season game in [[1956 Iowa Hawkeyes football team|1956]] was a {{nowrap|48–8 win}} at home over a struggling [[1956 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team|Notre Dame]] team. Karras called it his biggest college win, saying, "The Karrases have always had a rivalry with Notre Dame. The school was just {{convert|60|mi|spell=in}} down the road from our home and we wanted to beat 'em at anything."<ref name="desmoinesregister.com">{{Cite web |date=October 10, 2012 |title=Karras' Register Hall of Fame biodata |url=http://desmoinesregister.com/sports/extras/hall/karras.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130121182057/http://desmoinesregister.com/sports/extras/hall/karras.html |archive-date=January 21, 2013 |access-date=October 10, 2012 |website=Des Moines Register}}</ref> However, after the game, Karras got into a physical battle with Evashevski. Karras did not enjoy his trip to the Rose Bowl, either. "Pasadena was the most boring town I've ever been in," said Karras. Karras helped the Hawkeyes win the [[1957 Rose Bowl|Rose Bowl]] over [[1956 Oregon State Beavers football team|Oregon State]], {{nowrap|35–19.}} He was a first-team [[1956 All-America college football team|All-American]] in [[1956 College Football All-America Team|1956]].

Karras spent the summer of 1957 with an American track team of Greek descent. He participated in the [[shot put]], throwing a respectable {{convert|52|ft}}. In his senior season in [[1957 Iowa Hawkeyes football team|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]]. Karras, [[1973 Ohio State Buckeyes football team|Ohio State]] tackle [[John Hicks (American football)|John Hicks]] (in 1973), and [[Aidan Hutchinson]], a [[Michigan Wolverines football|Michigan]] edge rusher (2021), are three of only four linemen to finish so high in the Heisman Trophy voting. ([[Leon Hart]], a [[1949 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team|Notre Dame]] end, was the only lineman ever to win the [[Heisman Trophy winners|Heisman Trophy]], in [[1949 college football season|1949]].) In addition, Karras was a [[All-America college football team|consensus first-team All-American]] in [[1957 College Football All-America Team|1957]]. Hawkeye teammate [[Randy Duncan]] said,

{{Blockquote|Karras hated Evashevski, and he still does. I think Karras hated Evy for a lot of reasons. Evy was on everybody's back, and he was on Karras' back big time. Karras was a great football player, but he didn't really like offense and, in those days, you had to go both ways. So he didn't block anybody. What he wanted to do was chase down quarterbacks and play defense.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Maly |first=Ron |url=https://archive.org/details/talesfromiowasid0000maly |title=Tales from the Iowa Sidelines |date=2003 |isbn=1582615748 |page=[https://archive.org/details/talesfromiowasid0000maly/page/125 125] |publisher=Sports Publishing LLC |url-access=registration}}</ref>}}

==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 [[1958 Detroit Lions season|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 tackle]]s in the NFL, playing for 12 seasons (1958–1962, 1964–1970) all with the Lions.

As a rookie in 1958, joining the championship-contending Lions, Karras was adopted in training camp as an off-field flunky, chauffeur, and wingman by superstar quarterback [[Bobby Layne]] for his legendary late-night party activities.

By many accounts Karras would marvel at Layne's ability to recover from heavy drinking sessions at night and being able to function effectively at practices or games the next day. Karras himself admitted he was frequently heavily hung over as a result of late night bar-hopping.

Layne was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers early in the 1958 season and Karras eventually assumed a veteran leadership position himself.

On January 7, 1963, Karras's ownership share in Detroit's Lindell AC Bar became a source of controversy when league officials urged him to sell his financial interests in the place because of reports of gambling and [[organized crime]] influence.

After first threatening to retire rather than give up the bar ownership, Karras admitted placing bets on NFL games and was suspended by the league, along with [[Green Bay Packers]] running back [[Paul Hornung]], for one season (1963). During his exile, Karras returned to [[pro wrestling]], taking on such memorable characters as [[Dick the Bruiser]]. He was reinstated, along with Hornung, on March 16, 1964, by NFL commissioner [[Pete Rozelle]]. Upon returning to action in 1964, Karras once refused when an official asked him to call the pregame coin toss. "I'm sorry, sir," Karras replied. "I'm not permitted to gamble."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Merron |first=Jeff |title=Top 10 suspensions of all-time |url=https://www.espn.com/page2/s/list/suspensions.html |access-date=October 10, 2012 |publisher=ESPN}}</ref> During his first year back, player discontent with head coach [[George Wilson (football coach)|George Wilson]] resulted in Karras asking to be traded. However, the Lions settled the issue when they fired Wilson after the [[1964 NFL season|season]].

From 1960 to 1966, except for his suspension in 1963, he played next to [[Roger Brown (defensive tackle)|Roger Brown]], forming a formidable pair of defensive tackles, until Brown 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 [[1966 Miami Dolphins season|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 a 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 (American football)|Joe Schmidt]] taking over for Gilmer. 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 [[1967 Denver Broncos season|Broncos]] defeated the Lions. When it actually happened, Karras backtracked and flew home on the team plane. He was still an [[All-Pro]] selection from 1967 to 1969. Despite not allowing a touchdown in the divisional round of the [[1970–71 NFL playoffs|1970 NFL playoffs]], the Lions lost to the [[1970 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]] {{nowrap|5–0,}} his first playoff game and his final game. After the [[1971 Detroit Lions season|1971]] preseason, while rehabilitating a knee injury suffered the previous year, Karras was released in mid-September, ending his playing career at age 36.<ref name=lirelk>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=d9BOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=AgIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1161%2C5306466 |work=Toledo Blade |location=Ohio |agency=Associated Press |title=Lions release Karras |date=September 14, 1971|page=26}}</ref><ref name=kputonwv>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LeZOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=tEsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2625%2C5380015 |work=Ludington Daily News |location=Michigan |agency=UPI |title=Karras put on waivers |date=September 14, 1971 |page=1}}</ref>

From 1958 to 1970, the Lions were over .500 in six of the 13 years, making the playoffs only once, in [[1970 Detroit Lions season|1970]], with a {{nowrap|10–4}} record in Karras's final year. Aside from 1970, their best years were [[1962 Detroit Lions season|1962]] {{nowrap|(11–3)}} and [[1969 Detroit Lions season|1969]] {{nowrap|(9–4–1).}} In 1962, the Lion defense allowed 177 points (12.6 points/game), 188 (13.4 ppg) in 1969, and 202 (14.4 ppg) in 1970; for all three years they were second-least in the NFL, thanks in large part to a tough and rugged defensive line led by Karras. He was called an "iron man" and also nicknamed "Twinkletoes" by his fans, and missed only one game due to injury in his 12 NFL seasons and his 161 games played are the fifteenth-most in Lions history. He made the Pro Bowl four times, and the Hall of Fame named him a member of the 1960s All-Decade team.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mihoces |first=Gary |date=October 10, 2012 |title=Longtime Lion, actor Karras dies at 77 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2012/10/10/alex-karras-obituary-detroit-lions/1623419/ |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=USA Today}}</ref> The [[Professional Football Researchers Association]] named Karras to the PRFA Hall of Very Good Class of 2006.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hall of Very Good Class of 2006 |url=http://www.profootballresearchers.com/hall-of-very-good-2006.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118214852/http://www.profootballresearchers.com/hall-of-very-good-2006.htm |archive-date=January 18, 2017 |access-date=November 23, 2016}}</ref>

On January 15, 2020, Karras was elected to the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]], as a member of the Centennial Slate, honoring the NFL's 100th anniversary.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 15, 2020 |title=Tagliabue, Steve Sabol among 13 picked for HOF |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/28488678/paul-tagliabue-steve-sabol-selected-pro-football-hall-fame-centennial-class |website=ESPN.com}}</ref>

==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.

When the film version of the book was made in 1968, Karras made his film debut playing himself.<ref name="nytimes.com">{{cite news |title=Alex Karras, N.F.L. Lineman and Actor, Dies at 77 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/11/sports/football/alex-karras-nfl-lineman-and-actor-dies-at-77.html |date=2012-10-10 |work=[[The New York Times]] |last1=Weber |first1=Bruce}}</ref>

Following his release by the Lions in [[1971 Detroit Lions season|1971]], he made several appearances on ''[[The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson]]'' and also played a bit part in ''[[The Mary Tyler Moore Show]]'', appearing in the farewell party scene where Rhoda moves back to New York. Karras soon began acting on a full-time basis, playing a Tennessee boy turned Olympic weightlifter named Hugh Ray Feather in 1973's ''The 500 Pound Jerk''. He played a hulking villain who menaced [[Clint Walker]] in the ABC TV film ''[[Hardcase (film)|Hardcase]]''. A minor but memorable role came one year later in the [[Western (genre)|western]] [[parody]] ''[[Blazing Saddles]]'' (1974): the very strong and slow-witted thug Mongo, who rode into town on a huge [[American Brahman|Brahman]] (marked with "yes" and "no" passing signals), and knocked out a [[horse]] with one punch. (Mongo was also surprisingly philosophical, stating that he was "only pawn in game of life." This line was much-quoted upon Karras's death.) In 1974, he also played the part of Lyle, a Marine saved by Hawkeye Pierce in ''[[M*A*S*H (TV series)|M*A*S*H]]''. That same year, he was quickly brought in by ABC in September to replace fellow Gary, Indiana native [[Fred Williamson]] (who had replaced [[Don Meredith]]) as a commentator for ''[[Monday Night Football]]''.<ref name=wmlxlat/> He served three years in that role until leaving after the {{nfly|1976}} season, with his most memorable comment coming in his first game, when he joked that bald [[1974 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]] lineman [[Otis Sistrunk]], who never attended college, was from "the University of Mars", after seeing steam coming off his head.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Oakland Raiders - Otis Sistrunk |url=http://www.raiders.com/common/article.aspx?id=1766 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081117061555/http://www.raiders.com/common/article.aspx?id=1766 |archive-date=November 17, 2008 |publisher=[[Oakland Raiders]]}}</ref>

In 1972, Karras hosted a local weekly football program for [[Windsor, Ontario]] [[CBC Television|CBC]] affiliate [[CKLW-TV]], ''The Alex Karras Football Show''; his program generally preceded the CBC's Wednesday night [[CFL]] telecasts.<ref>Per the July 29, August 4, 1972 ''TV Guide'' ad at [http://vintagetoledotv.squarespace.com/print-ads-cklw/ Vintage Toledo TV: CKLW & CBET-TV 9 Print ads] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120727051700/http://vintagetoledotv.squarespace.com/print-ads-cklw/ |date=July 27, 2012 }}</ref> In 1973, Karras made several cameo appearances on the January 8 broadcast of ''[[Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In]]''.

Karras returned to acting with roles that included playing Sheriff Wallace in ''[[Porky's]]'' (in which his wife, [[Susan Clark]], also starred), and as western settler Hans Brumbaugh in ''[[Centennial (miniseries)|Centennial]]''. He played [[James Garner]]'s closeted gay bodyguard in the 1982 [[Blake Edwards]] film ''[[Victor/Victoria]]''. Karras played a darker role as Hank Sully, the right-hand man of villain Jake Wise (played by [[James Woods]]) in the 1984 film ''[[Against All Odds (1984 film)|Against All Odds]]''.

In 1975, Karras appeared on ''MNF'' colleague [[Howard Cosell]]'s ill-fated variety show ''[[Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell]]'' wearing a wig (a la Mongo) and performing "Already Gone" on the beach with [[The Eagles]] who were dubbed the "Alex Karras Blues Band" due to t-shirts the band members wore bearing that moniker. Karras later hosted NBC's ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' in 1985.

Karras's television appearances included guest roles on ''[[Daniel Boone (1964 TV series)|Daniel Boone]]'' in the episode [[List of Daniel Boone episodes#Season 6 (1969–1970)|"The Cache"]], [[M*A*S*H (TV series)|''M*A*S*H'']] in the episode [[M*A*S*H season 3|"Springtime"]], ''[[The Odd Couple (1970 TV series)|The Odd Couple]]'', and a brief run on [[Match Game|''Match Game '75'']]. He also signed on to play the character "Super Jock" in commercials for a line of sports action toys named [[Super Jock]], produced by [[Schaper Toys|Schaper]] (1975).<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 15, 2009 |title=Super Jock Toys |url=https://plaidstallions.blogspot.com/2009/05/dawn-of-super-jocks.html |access-date=October 10, 2012 |publisher=Plaidstallions.blogspot.com}}</ref> In 1977, he was cast in the lead of the TV movie ''Mad Bull''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mad Bull (TV Movie 1977) |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076345/ |website=IMDb}}</ref>

In 1979, he had the role of Hans "Potato" Brumbaugh, a potato farmer, on the TV miniseries ''Centennial''. He was known for his humorous endorsement of [[La-Z-Boy]] [[recliner]]s, in an ad campaign which also featured NFL greats such as [[Miami Dolphins]] Coach [[Don Shula]], and New York Jets legend [[Joe Namath]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our History |url=http://www.la-z-boy.com/About/History |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121118085439/http://www.la-z-boy.com/About/History/ |archive-date=November 18, 2012 |access-date=October 10, 2012 |publisher=La-z-boy.com}}</ref> In the 1980s, Karras had memorable success in the TV sitcom ''[[Webster (TV series)|Webster]]'', playing George Papadapolis, the title character's  ([[Emmanuel Lewis]]) adoptive father, in a role that showcased his softer side. His real-life wife, [[Susan Clark]], played his fictional wife in the series; Karras and Clark produced the series through their Georgian Bay Entertainment production company. The two met in 1975 while filming the made-for-television biopic ''Babe'' for CBS.

==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".<ref>[https://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2016/04/26/mad-ducks-and-bears/ Almond, Steve. "''Mad Ducks and Bears''," ''The Paris Review'', April 26, 2016.] Retrieved December 2, 2019</ref> 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 memoir, ''Even Big Guys Cry'' (1978), and a novel, ''Tuesday Night Football'' (1991).

==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.

On December 12, 2014, the [[Big Ten Network]] included Karras on "The Mount Rushmore of [[Iowa Hawkeyes football|Iowa Football]]", as chosen by online fan voting. Karras was joined in the honor by [[Nile Kinnick]], [[Chuck Long]], and [[Tim Dwight]].

On October 28, 2018, the Detroit Lions enshrined Karras in the franchise ring of honor along with former Detroit Lions [[Herman Moore]] and [[Roger Brown (defensive tackle)|Roger Brown]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Detroit Lions to add Alex Karras, Herman Moore, Roger Brown to ring of honor |url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2018/08/30/detroit-lions-ring-honor-herman-moore-alex-karras/1150396002/ |website=[[Detroit Free Press]] |date=2016-04-26 |last1=Almond |first1=Steve}}</ref>

On January 15, 2020, the NFL announced that Karras had been elected to the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] as part of the Centennial Slate, honoring the league's 100th anniversary.<ref>{{cite web |title=Centennial Slate for Class of 2020 Revealed |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/centennial-slate-for-class-of-2020-revealed/ |website=[[Pro Football Hall of Fame]]}}</ref>

==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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Blazing Saddles Tribute Mongo |url=http://blazingsaddlestribute.com/15/mongo |access-date=October 10, 2012 |publisher=blazingsaddlestribute.com}}</ref>

==Personal life==
[[File:Susan_Clark_and_Alex_Karras_in_Babe_1975.JPG|thumb|left|[[Susan Clark]] and Karras in ''Babe'' (1975)]]
Karras was married twice. In 1958, he married Joan Jurgensen, with whom he had five children. The marriage ended in divorce in 1975. He married actress [[Susan Clark]] on March 21, 1980, and they had a daughter together.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Birkett |first=Dave |date=October 8, 2012 |title=Lions great Alex Karras near death |work=USA Today |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2012/10/08/lions-great-alex-karras-ill/1621811/}}</ref>

==Illness and death==
In his later years, Karras suffered from [[dementia]], [[heart disease]], and [[cancer]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Ex-Lions great Alex Karras suffering from kidney failure |url=http://www.freep.com/article/20121008/SPORTS01/121008090/detroit-lions-alex-karras-kidney-failure |date=2012-10-08 |work=[[Detroit Free Press]] |last1=Birkett |first1=Dave |access-date=October 10, 2012}}</ref>

Karras was among 3,500 former NFL players who filed lawsuits against the NFL in early 2012, over the long-term damage caused by concussions and repeated hits to the head.<ref name="nytimes.com" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=October 9, 2012 |title=Reports: Karras has kidney failure |publisher=ESPN |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/8481005/reports-detroit-lions-great-alex-karras-kidney-failure |access-date=October 10, 2012}}</ref>

On October 8, 2012, it was revealed by friend Tom McInerney that Karras had been diagnosed with [[kidney failure]].  He was treated at the [[Saint John's Health Center]] in [[Santa Monica, California]], before being released into [[hospice]] care. After returning to his Los Angeles home with family, Karras died on the morning of October 10.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 10, 2012 |title=Ex-NFL star, actor Alex Karras dies |work=CNN |url=http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/10/10/ex-nfl-star-actor-alex-karras-dies/?hpt=us_t2 |access-date=October 10, 2012 |archive-date=October 11, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011020212/http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/10/10/ex-nfl-star-actor-alex-karras-dies/?hpt=us_t2 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Filmography==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1968 || ''[[Paper Lion (film)|Paper Lion]]'' || Himself ||
|-
| 1972 || ''[[Hardcase (1972 film)|Hardcase]]'' || Booker Llewellyn ||
|-
| rowspan=2 | 1973 || ''The 500 Pound Jerk'' || Hughie Rae Feather ||
|-
| ''The Odd Couple'' || Jake Metcalf ||
|-
| rowspan=4 | 1974 || ''[[Blazing Saddles]]'' || Mongo ||
|-
| ''The Great Lester Boggs'' || Sheriff Billy Bob ||
|-
| ''[[M*A*S*H (TV series)|M*A*S*H]]'' || Lance Corporal Lyle Wesson ||
|-
| ''Win, Place or Steal'' || Frank ||
|-
| 1975 || ''Babe'' || [[George Zaharias]] ||
|-
| 1977 || ''Mad Bull'' || Iago "Mad Bull" Karkus || TV movie
|-
| rowspan=3 | 1978 || ''[[FM (film)|FM]]'' || Doc Holliday ||
|-
| ''[[Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang (1978 film)|Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang]]'' || The Hooded Fang ||
|-
| ''[[Centennial (miniseries)|Centennial]]'' || Hans Brumbaugh || TV miniseries, 12 episodes
|-
| rowspan=2 | 1980 || ''[[When Time Ran Out]]'' || "Tiny" Baker ||
|-
| ''[[Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story]]'' || [[Edward J. Miller (warden)|E.J. "Jughead" Miller]] ||
|-
| rowspan=2 | 1981 || ''[[Nobody's Perfekt]]'' || Swaboda ||
|-
| ''[[Porky's]]'' || Sheriff Wallace ||
|-
| 1982 || ''[[Victor/Victoria]]'' || "Squash" Bernstein ||
|-
| 1983–1987 || ''[[Webster (TV series)|Webster]]'' || George Papadopolis ||
|-
| 1984 || ''[[Against All Odds (1984 film)|Against All Odds]]'' || Hank Sully ||
|-
| 1994 || ''Street Corner Kids'' || Floyd Powell ||
|-
| 1995 || ''[[Fudge-a-Mania#Television adaptation|Fudge-a-Mania]]'' || Big A || TV movie; considered the pilot for the TV series ''[[Fudge (TV series)|Fudge]]''
|-
| 1996 || ''[[Tracey Takes On...]]'' || Himself || Episode: "Fame"
|-
| 1998 || ''[[Buffalo '66]]'' || TV Sportscaster ||
|}

==See also==
{{Portal|Biography|Michigan|Television}}
*[[List of gridiron football players who became professional wrestlers]]

==Footnotes==
{{reflist|2}}

==References==
*''Tales From The Iowa Sidelines'', by Ron Maly ({{ISBN|1-58261-574-8}})
*''Greatest Moments In Iowa Hawkeyes Football History'', by Mark Dukes & Gus Schrader ({{ISBN|1-57243-261-6}})
*''Evy and the Hawkeyes'', by Brian Chapman and Mike Chapman ({{ISBN|0-88011-186-0}})

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* {{College Football HoF|id=1781|name=Alex Karras}}
* {{IMDb name|id=0440090|name=Alex Karras}}

{{S-start}}
{{S-media}}
{{Succession box | before=[[Don Meredith]]| title=[[Monday Night Football|''Monday Night Football'' color commentator]] | years=[[1974 NFL season|1974]]–[[1976 NFL season|1976]]<br>(with [[Howard Cosell]]) | after=[[Don Meredith]]}}
{{S-end}}
{{1958 NFL draft}}
{{Detroit Lions 1958 NFL draft picks}}
{{Detroit Lions first-round draft picks}}
{{Pride of the Lions}}
{{Detroit Lions 75th Anniversary Team}}
{{Detroit Lions All-Time Team}}
{{Outland Trophy}}
{{UPI Lineman of the Year}}
{{1957 College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{NFL1960s}}
{{2020 Football HOF}}
{{Pro Football Hall of Fame members}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Karras, Alex}}
[[Category:1935 births]]
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[[Category:Players of American football from Gary, Indiana]]
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[[Category:Actors from Gary, Indiana]]
[[Category:Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Karras family (American football)|Alex]]