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Alex Karras

Highest Rated: 97% Victor/Victoria (1982)

Lowest Rated: 0% When Time Ran Out (1980)

Birthday: Jul 15, 1935

Birthplace: Gary, Indiana, USA

Former NFL great Alex Karras made his transition to acting appear almost too easy, only to further defy expectations by taking on roles that skewed away from the tough guy image he had cultivated as a professional athlete. As one of the greatest defensive tackles ever to play the game of football, Karras enjoyed a college career in which he won the Outland Trophy and a Rose Bowl Championship in 1957, followed by an impressive 12-year run with the Detroit Lions. His segue into acting began while he was still with the Lions, when he appeared as himself in the football docudrama "Paper Lion" (1968). After leaving football, Karras began appearing on various TV series and in movies, usually as a hulking bad guy or athlete. With his uproarious turn as the dim-witted man-mountain Mongo in "Blazing Saddles" (1974), he displayed not only a knack for comedy, but a willingness to laugh at himself. Over the course of the next decade he took on diverse roles in a variety of TV and film projects that included a role as a gold prospector in the miniseries "Centennial" (NBC, 1978-79) and a turn as a closeted gay bodyguard in "Victor/Victoria" (1982), opposite Julie Andrews and James Garner. Perhaps his most fondly remembered television role would be as the adoptive father of Emmanuel Lewis on the family sitcom "Webster" (ABC, 1983-87; syndicated, 1987-89). Whether it was in the character of athlete, hired thug, lawman, or loving father, Karras endeared himself to audiences with performances that displayed surprising heart and humility for a man known early on as one of the hardest hitters in pro football.

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Highest rated movies

97% 86% Victor/Victoria
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89% 91% Blazing Saddles
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64% 45% Against All Odds
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33% 57% Porky's
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20% 63% FM
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0% 20% When Time Ran Out
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Maid in America
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Babe
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The Great Lester Boggs
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Word of Honor
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Filmography

Movies

Credit
No Score Yet No Score Yet Fudge-A-Mania Unknown (Character) - 1995
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Street Corner Kids Floyd Powell (Character) - 1994
64% 45% Against All Odds Hank Sully (Character) - 1984
97% 86% Victor/Victoria "Squash" Bernstein (Character) - 1982
No Score Yet No Score Yet Maid in America Cal Bullington (Character) - 1982
No Score Yet No Score Yet Nobody's Perfekt Swaboda (Character) - 1981
No Score Yet 94% Masada Roman Soldier (Character) - 1981
33% 57% Porky's Sheriff Wallace (Character) - 1981
0% 20% When Time Ran Out Tiny Baker (Character) - 1980
No Score Yet No Score Yet Word of Honor Producer - 1980
No Score Yet No Score Yet Jimmy B. & Andre Jimmy Butsicaris (Character) - 1980
No Score Yet No Score Yet Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story Jughead Miller (Character) - 1980
20% 63% FM Doc Holiday (Character) - 1978
No Score Yet No Score Yet Mad Bull Iago "Mad Bull" Karkus (Character) - 1977
No Score Yet No Score Yet Mulligan's Stew Mr. Hollenbeck (Character) - 1977
No Score Yet No Score Yet Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang The Hooded Fang (Character) - 1976
No Score Yet No Score Yet Babe George Zaharias (Character) - 1975
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Great Lester Boggs Sheriff Billy Bob (Character) - 1975
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Hardheads Sheriff Billy Bob (Character) - 1975
89% 91% Blazing Saddles Mongo (Character) - 1974
No Score Yet No Score Yet Win, Place or Steal Frank (Character) - 1974
No Score Yet No Score Yet The 500 Pound Jerk Hughie Rae Feather (Character) - 1973
No Score Yet No Score Yet Hardcase Booker Llewellyn (Character) - 1972
No Score Yet 45% Paper Lion Self - 1968

TV

Credit
14% No Score Yet The Tom Show Unknown (Guest Star) 1998
No Score Yet No Score Yet Tracey Takes On ... Unknown (Guest Star) 1996
91% 86% The Ben Stiller Show Unknown (Guest Star) 1992
No Score Yet No Score Yet Webster George Papadapolis (Character) 1983-1989
No Score Yet 57% Saturday Night Live Host 1985
No Score Yet No Score Yet Centennial Hans Brumbaugh (Character) 1978-1979
No Score Yet No Score Yet Good Heavens Unknown (Guest Star) 1976
No Score Yet 87% M*A*S*H Lance Cpl. Lyle Wesson (Guest Star) 1974
No Score Yet No Score Yet McMillan and Wife Al Potter (Guest Star) 1974
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Odd Couple Jack Metcalf (Guest Star) 1973
No Score Yet No Score Yet Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In Guest 1972