Alex Karras
Biography
Alexander George Alex Karras, who was nicknamed The Mad Duck, was born on July 15, 1935, in Gary, Indiana, and died on October 10, 2012, at the age of 77. He was a former football player, professional wrestler, and actor. He is best known for playing with the Detroit Lions from 1958 to 1962 and from 1964 to 1970. In his acting career, he starred on the ABC sitcom Webster alongside his real-life wife Susan Clark, playing the adoptive father of the titular character. His career in acting encompassed forty-eight known credits.
Career overview
Alexander George Alex Karras was born on July 15, 1935, in Gary, Indiana. He was a football player, professional wrestler, and actor. During his athletic career, he played with the Detroit Lions from 1958 to 1962 and again from 1964 to 1970. He earned the nickname The Mad Duck.
Transitioning to entertainment, Karras established an acting career that included forty-eight known credits listed under acting on his film and television profile. Among his television work, he starred on the ABC sitcom Webster. In the series, he played the adoptive father of the titular character alongside his real-life wife, Susan Clark.
Karras passed away on October 10, 2012, at the age of seventy-seven. His life and career spanned achievements in professional sports, wrestling, and television acting, leaving a documented legacy recognized through his biographical and professional records.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
53 titles- Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic (2013) as Mongo (archive footage)
- Back in the Saddle (2001) as Self (archive footage)
- Buffalo '66 (1998) as TV Sportscaster
- Arli$$ (1996) as Alex Karras
- Street Corner Kids (1994) as Floyd Powell
- The Ben Stiller Show (1992)
- The Best of Thunder and Destruction: NFL's Hardest Hits (1992) as Self
- Against All Odds (1984) as Hank Sully
- Goldilocks and the Three Bears (1984) as Papa Bear
- Webster (1983) as George Papadapolis
- Faerie Tale Theatre (1982) as Papa Bear
- Victor/Victoria (1982) as "Squash" Bernstein
- Maid in America (1982) as Cal Bullington
- Maid in America (1982) Executive Producer
- Porky's (1981) as Sheriff Wallace
- Nobody's Perfekt (1981) as Swaboda
- Word of Honor (1981) as Penniman Butcher
- Word of Honor (1981) Executive Producer
- Word of Honor (1981) Producer
- Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story (1980) as Jughead Miller
- When Time Ran Out... (1980) as Tiny Baker
- Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story (1980) as Jughead Miller
- Jimmy B. & Andre (1980) as Jimmy Butsicaris
- Jimmy B. & Andre (1980) Producer
- Centennial (1978) as Hans Brumbaugh
- Mickey's 50 (1978) as Self
- FM (1978) as Doc Holiday
- Rock 'n' Roll Sports Classic (1978) as Self - Host
- Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang (1978) as The Hooded Fang
- Mad Bull (1977) as Iago 'Mad Bull' Karkus
- Babe (1977) as George Zaharias
- The Sonny and Cher Show (1976) as Self
- Good Heavens (1976)
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Self - Host
- Win, Place or Steal (1975) as Frank
- Blazing Saddles (1974) as Mongo
- The Great Lester Boggs (1974)
- The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts (1973) as Self
- The 500 Pound Jerk (1973) as Hughie Rae Feather
- M*A*S*H (1972) as Lance Cpl. Lyle Wesson
- ABC Afterschool Special (1972) as Alex 'Moose' Novak
- Hardcase (1972) as Booker Llewellyn
- The Odd Couple (1970) as Jake Metcalf
- Monday Night Football (1970) as Defensive Tackle
- Monday Night Football (1970) as Color Comentator
- Love, American Style (1969)
- Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1968) as Self
- Paper Lion (1968) as Alex Karras
- Daniel Boone (1964) as Moose Williams
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
- The Mike Douglas Show (1961) as Self
- The NFL on CBS (1956) as Self
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Presenter
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Alex Karras best known for?
Alex Karras is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Buffalo '66 (1998), Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989), The Ben Stiller Show (1992), Against All Odds (1984).
When and where was Alex Karras born?
Alex Karras was born on July 15, 1935 in Gary, Indiana. They passed away on October 10, 2012.
How many credits does Alex Karras have?
Alex Karras has accumulated over 53 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1944 to 2013.
What is Alex Karras's background in cinema and television?
Alexander George Alex Karras, who was nicknamed The Mad Duck, was born on July 15, 1935, in Gary, Indiana, and died on October 10, 2012, at the age of 77. He was a former football player, professional wrestler, and actor. He is best known for playing with the Detroit Lions from 1958 to 1962 and from 1964 to 1970. In hi...
Alex Karras by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Faerie Tale Theatre (1982) as Papa Bear — aged about 46
- M*A*S*H (1972) as Lance Cpl. Lyle Wesson — aged about 36
- The Odd Couple (1970) as Jake Metcalf — aged about 34
- Centennial (1978) as Hans Brumbaugh — aged about 42
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self — aged about 26
- Victor/Victoria (1982) as "Squash" Bernstein — aged about 46
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