After losing his brothers during his childhood, being around children was always a painful experience for Matuszak. The night after an exhibition game with the Oilers at the Astrodome, he had a game the next night at the same exact venue, with a different team, in a different league. John Matuszak's grueling transformation. His mask had 15 overlapping pieces to it, including electronic eyes and ears. [1], After a freshman year playing football at Fort Dodge Junior College in Iowa, Matuszak was recruited to the University of Missouri by Dan Devine. His life may have been a rocky road, but the Tooz cruised through it, and there was rarely a dull moment along the way. Matuszak died at the age of 38 on 17 June 1989. Matuszak actually met John Belushi five days before Belushi died, and saw how bent out of shape he was. Cause of Death. Some people ask us about John Matuszak's educational qualification. His teammates tried to rouse him, but he was unresponsive. In it he writes: I abstain from cocaine, and any other foreign substance, entirely now. The county coroners office found that his death had resulted from an accidental overdose of a narcotic painkiller, aggravated by an enlarged heart and pneumonia. The assignment was to explain a death that came much too soon. 6 ft 7 in (2.007 m) Profession: American football player, Actor. After his injury, he had an excuse and a prescription, and that's what ultimately led to his death in 1989. He was supervisor of the criminal informant program when he left to become a partner in the firm of Tyler & Stetter. Malcolm Moran is a Tribune staff writer. But after I was injured, I didn't want people paying money to see only half a John Matuszak. I mean, look at me. See John Matuszak full list of movies and tv shows from their career. With Dan Devine leaving Missouri for the Green Bay Packers that same year, Matuszak no longer had a spot on the team, and his scholarship was revoked by new coach Al Onofrio. He played 123 games in the NFL and was a starter on 78 of those occasions. That was the part of the Tooz, a big part, that never left high school. Different sites and sources claim Matuszak's height differently. In fact, the director of The Goonies Richard Donner said one of the hardest parts of making the movie was getting the child actors to not play around too much with their gentle giant co-star. He regularly took the drugs to keep away severe back pains. 11; and past patron of the Martha Washington Chapter No. [11], Last edited on 26 December 2022, at 03:36, "The Life and Times of the Tooz: Menacing Body Held Spirit of Insecure, Guilt-Ridden Child", "Former NFL great John Matuszak dead at 38", "The Top Five: Move over, Moss and T.O. 7; past master of the Alexandria Washington Lodge No. Competed in the 1978 World's Strongest Man Competition weighing 308 lbs. Why, I wasn't even the most valuable senior athlete in my high school in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. John Matuszak has gone on to play for several teams in the NFL, including the Houston Oilers, Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, and Washington Redskins. Just as in life, Matuszak was defined by potential only barely realized, his struggle with addiction and, something you couldnt see at first glance: a big heart. -- these are the real bad boys of NFL lore", "Matuszak's Death Caused By Accidental Overdose", "Here is the Butt of Sloth from "the Goonies", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_Matuszak&oldid=1129571214, Season 10 Episode 18 "Promotion Commotion", Season 7 Episode 5 "No More Mr. Nice Guy", This page was last edited on 26 December 2022, at 03:36. Number: 72. Now imagine a Rottweiler doing this to a beagle and you might get some sense of the size difference between the two men Robiskie was a full 70 pounds lighter than Matuszak, so the smaller man responded violently: by grabbing a metal crutch and breaking it over the larger man's head. You cruise, you lose. He also couldn't have asked for a better coach either, as he finally found one he could respect and play even harder for: The one and only John Madden. The rest of his estate, $230,000 in personal property, $217,000 in real property and $10,000 in income from that property, was left to his mother and his sisters, Karen and Dawn Matuszak. Simpson on HBO's 1st & Ten, until his 'roided-up character died of a heart attack on the practice field. It might as well have read, "Go ahead and rough up some more people because we think it's funny." I can retire from football with a smile on my face. 22; past commander of the Old Dominion Commandry No. In 1976 Jack graduated from Indiana University. He was an all-state defensive end his senior year of high school. Matuszak was born in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. After graduating from high school, he briefly attended the University of Missouri . In Matuszak's first season,the Raiders won their first Super Bowl title, and Matuszak played a big part in that victory. He attended the University of Tampa and played for their football team. [7] In his autobiography, he stated that he used drugs and abused alcohol while playing professional football. On file we have 78 email addresses and 72 phone numbers associated with John in area codes such as 773, 734, 614, 419, 803, and 24 other area codes. His famous movie is The Goonies. Dante Anthony Pastorini (born May 26, 1949) is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons, primarily with the Houston Oilers. He played for the University of Missouri during college, and was drafted into professional football for two teams at once, the Houston Oilers in the NFL and the Houston Texans . Estranged, they have a 4-year-old daughter, Caitlin. Hi guys, welcome to my site with rare photos of stars. C. GRANT STETTER FBI Agent, Administrative Law Judge C. Grant Stetter, 74, a former Washington lawyer and FBI agent who served as an administrative law judge with the Social Security Administration in Flint, Mich., from 1973 to 1982, died June 10 at a hospital in Shallotte, N.C., after stroke. Mike Ornstein, the Raiders office worker who'd been assigned "Keeper of the Tooz," remembered his softer side: "He was a very, very good person and he had a great heart for kids. After that he ended up at theUniversity of Tampa, where he became an All-American and was eventually the No. His one-time roommate/babysitter, quarterback Ken Stabler,quoted John's recipe for funin his own juicy biography,Snake:"Crown [Royal] and [Quaaludes], the late supper of champions.". John Matuszak. Malcolm Moran. Matuszak was part of one of football's most surreal moments. It was with the Missouri Tigers that he had his first real injury. Matuszak was the only one of the first six selections of the 1973 draft to never earn first team All-Pro honors. The will was signed July 13, 1984, and in it Matuszak left his championship ring from Super Bowl XI to nephew Justin Evancy, and his ring from Super Bowl XV to Justins brother, Luke Evancy. The chance to work with Donner and Spielberg was once-in-a-lifetime. After that, Matuszak was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs, who traded him to the Washington Redskins, who cut him just two weeks later, at the end of the 1976 preseason. Once he retired, Matuszak tried to start a new chapter of his life, this time as an actor. Matuszak was bit by the acting bug as a kid, when he saw James Dean getting paid to be cool in Rebel Without a Cause. His last movie,Down the Drain, was released in 1990, after his demise. Sure, I've done enough partying for 10 guys. His next role was in 1981's Caveman, opposite Ringo Starr, which no critic"confused [with]Gone With The Wind." He always played well, though, so he managed to get away with all the hijinks. Seriously: The man used to order half a dozen eggs and half a pound of bacon for breakfast, in addition to his steady diet of Cheez Whiz smeared on bagels. Unfortunately, both his brothers died at an early age due to a disease called cystic fibrosis. 6ft 7 (201.3 cm) US footballer, turned Actor. John Matuszak was just 38 when he died of heart failure a decade ago, and his flamboyance made an explanation mandatory. I've grown up a lot, and I have such great memories of playing football. After the coroner's report was released, his parents admitted that their son used prescription and illegal drugs to try to cope with chronic back pain. Known by the nickname The Tooz, the 68, 280 pound athlete was initially a hot prospect and was the first overall draft pick of the year in 1973. Your IP: With the Raiders, Matuszak played a key role in securing a couple of Super Bowl wins in 1977 and 1981. Luckily, his coach rushed him to the hospital and saved his life. He prayed to stop growing, but he only grew taller. [3], Matuszak was the first pick of the 1973 NFL Draft, selected by the Houston Oilers. John Matuszak is UPDATE SOON. The staff did not quibble with the Tooz's tales of his long trip from the South Pole. The Unknown, Other Works Daughter: Will update: Education and School, College: Educational Qualification: Will update: School: Will update: College/ University: Tampa Spartans football: "Vodka and Valium," coach George Allen explained, "the breakfast of champions." It was like a milestone for him. Matuszak tried to take it easy on his back while filming. I think I should be objective, call 'em as I see 'em. He had numerous guest appearances in TV shows such as Perfect Strangers, M*A*S*H, The Dukes of Hazzard, Hunter, Silver Spoons, The A-Team, 1st & Ten and Miami Vice. From Times Wire Services. The players always KNOW who the scariest "loose cannon - short fuse" crazies are among'em. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Want to solve climate change? John Matuszak got into quite a bit of trouble in his life. One other complication that was a factor in his death was that he had an enlarged heart, too big even for his massive frame. Find where to watch John Matuszak's latest movies and tv shows He also appeared in the movies "Caveman", "The Ice Pirates", and "One Crazy Summer" but is known for his role in "The Goonies". While playing for the Oilers, he joined the Houston Texans of the World Football League (WFL), playing a total of seven plays before a restraining order was served to him during a game, barring him from playing for two teams at the same time.His first major role as an actor was in the 1979 movie "North Dallas Forty" as a football player. She attended James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va. During World War II, she worked here as a driver with the American Red Cross. The internal policing that took place within that room, combined with a sense of purpose that came from those championship stakes, led the man they called "the Tooz" to begin to reinvent himself. John has been found in 19 states including Illinois, Ohio, New York, Florida, South Carolina. John Matuszak, better known by her family name John Daniel Matuszak, was a popular American actor and American football player (1950-1989). I dont ever want to go back, he added. He was seen as one of the most successful actor and American football player of all times. Shaddock in the 1979 filmNorth Dallas Forty. He is most remembered for His best known role was as the deformed Sloth in . July 20, 2011. Mr. Matuszak's off-field antics often gained him as much notoriety as his play. He wasn't allowed to leave the set, for fear of outsiders seeing him in costume, so he did a lot of sitting around. Top Rated Seller. The Goonies: 25th Anniversary Edition [Blu-ray]. Ironically, it was Paul Wiggin, the Chief's coach, who saved his life and then traded him to the Washington Redskins just seven days after he was released from the hospital. Matuszak never had any children. John Matuszak's net worth, height, age, weight, affair, relationship, family, movie update, and more are highlighted below. John Matuszak was born on October 25, 1950, in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, United States He grew up there with his Family. Matuszak was notorious for sneaking women into his room at training camp and even somehow onto the team plane. Fresh out of college, Matuszaks drug use was so outrageous that his teammates called him John Glenn, like the famous astronaut because he was often flying high. So despite his massive frame and incredible talent on the field, his football career was extremely rocky. Birthdate: October 25, 1950. Like most children and people who don't ever really grow up, John Matuszak never took responsibility for any of the crazy, dangerous, and irresponsible things he did. Matuszak lived large during this era in his career, but it wasn't all beautiful women and parties at Hugh Hefner's place. This led to endless heartbreak, a crisis of faith, and trouble being around children going forward for Matuszak their presence made him deeply sad. [5][6], Matuszak's football career was often overshadowed by his lifestyle. Unfortunately, though, for the real Sloth there was no happy ending. Access is free so discover John Matuszak's story today. John Daniel "Tooz" Matuszak (October 25, 1950June 17, 1989) was an American football defensive lineman in the National Football League who later became an actor. It was a minor separation of his shoulder, but Matuszak played through it, and paid the price in pain for years to come. He attended the University of Tampa and played for their football team. As a kid, John Matuszak was still growing into his body. The reason for his death was an overdose of a prescription painkiller called Darvocet, which led to his heart failure. and "The Fall Guy." "No," Matuszak shouted. At his funeral, his pastor noted that he'd often donated time to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. ", "John was really nice to me and it was fun to work with him," said Jeff Cohen, who played Chunk in the iconic film. He was the first draft pick of 1973 and played most of his career with the Oakland Raiders until he retired after winning his second Super Bowl in 1981. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Two of his little brothers died of it: Christopher after two months of life, and David at the age of two years. I don't want to collect any paychecks as a cheerleader on the sideline. The Raiders ended up taking down the Vikings in Super Bowl XI. Matuszak was suspended for the rest of the season and thrown out of his fraternity. LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Former Oakland Raider John Matuszak, the hard-hitting, hard-living football player who played in two Super Bowls before becoming an actor, died at age 38 of unknown causes, officials said Sunday. Women get possessive and cranky if they try to cruise with the Tooz. He played in 87 . One of these offenses killed a pending endorsement deal that would have seen him appear in beer commercials. He helped them win two Super Bowls (XI and XV), before retiring after spending the entire 1982 season on injured reserve. Click to reveal Unfortunately, The Tooz's big heart just couldn't handle all the excesses it had been forced to endure over the far too-short life of the man it belonged to. (The judge ultimately ruled in Matuszak's favor.) Matuszak actually came close to recovering and making a comeback, but he reinjured himself in 1983 trying to dodge a puppy on a beach. Mr. Griffith was a native of Washington and a graduate of George Mason High School in Falls Church. Matuszak also left the contents of his house in Franklin, Wis., to his sister, the boys mother, Christine Evancy. The only way to play football is with reckless abandon, or they'll knock your beard off. Before the 1976 season, the Chiefs traded him to the Washington Redskins, where he was cut two weeks later. Tragic Details About The Actor Who Played Sloth. Defensive lineman in the 3-4 isn't a glory position. A year later, he signed with the Houston Texans of the World Football League, where he played briefly before he was served an injunction obtained by the Oilers. You sit out a game and your replacement could steal your job, so you play with the pain which sometimes leads to even more injuries. People inspired by their favorite person's . The action you just performed triggered the security solution. The winning continued, and they got back to the promised land in 1979 for Super Bowl XV in New Orleans. His biography, Cruisin' with the Tooz, written with Steve Delsohn, was published in 1987. A preliminary police investigation found no signs of foul play, said a police spokesman. The Houston Oilers made him the No. Wiggin got into the ambulance with Matuszak and pounded on his chest until he came around, accomplishing what the paramedics could not. After his wife forgave him for whatever transgression had been worthy of turning him into a rubber-stained, 280-pound pancake, they had a round of makeup love in the Chiefs' locker room. Matuszak's life came to an untimely end on June 17, 1989, when he died from an accidental overdose of a prescription drug at the age of 38, The New York Times reported. According tosportscasting.com, Matuszak also had a life-threatening incident before his death. Nothing seemed able to stop the other kids from teasing him incessantly. The man who was once teased as a gawky beanpole in grade school was now a 6'8", 280-pound menace who helped get the Raiders to a 13-1 record in '76. Eight out of 10 plays, they don't get anything. He had to spend five hours a day in the make-up chair getting into character. John Matuszak Jersey There are 24 products. The culture of his sport, the necessity of masking injuries in order to push ahead, had never been left behind. His alma mater abandoned football a year later due to budgetary concerns. John Matuszak is a name that will live forever, thanks to the actor's unforgettable performance as Sloth in 1985's beloved The Goonies. Oct. 25, 1989 12 AM PT. But it's also true that it wasn't just the pain that led to their son's struggles with illegal and legal substances years of hard partying and drug abuse had steered him too far down a path that was extremely difficult to come back from. The family moved from downtown Milwaukee to Oak Creek, Wisconsin, where Matuszak's classmates ridiculed him as a gawky beanpole. He became a Certified Public Accountant in 1985. Matuszak, a former all-pro defensive end noted for his aggression on the field, his flamboyance off it and his nickname, the Tooz, named his mother, Audrey Matuszak of Oak Creek, Wis., as his representative in the will formally filed in Los Angeles Superior Court. He played a disfigured character Sloth Fratelli in the film. John (Jan) Matuszak was born on month day 1893, at birth place, to Jan (John) Matuszak and Antonina Matuszak (born Kasperska). Boredom set in quickly: He was alone and depressed, desperately missing the joy and structure of football. If you were an '80s kid and you didn't know about John "The Tooz" Matuszak who was just as famous for his hard-partying, loud, larger-than-life persona as he was for his football game you definitely knew about his alter-ego, the enormous, gentle, unconventionally-featured Sloth, who was the face of the 1985 classic Goonies. Popularly known as the actor and American football player of United States of America. After being cut by the Redskins, Matuszak's football career was in limbo. Three of their defensive linemen had suffered season-ending injuries, and they needed a big player to keep them competitive. . It's very tough to run my side of the line. In the midst of all of this, it's worth remembering that John Matuszak had a big heart. He played as the defensive end for various NFL teams. John Matuszak, the former Los Angeles Raider who died of an accidental overdose of painkiller last summer, left most of his estate to his mother and three sisters in Wisconsin but his Super Bowl rings will go to his nephews. In 1987,Matuszak got in yet another car accident, but instead of exchanging insurance information which would have been perfectly cordial given that Matuszak was huge and anyone who was on the receiving end of a fender-bender with the guy would have almost certainly been really understanding Matuszak decided to punch the driver and leave the scene. His heart momentarily stopped, and he came shockingly close to death. Nationality: United States of America. While playing for the Oilers, he joined the Houston Texans of the World Football League (WFL), playing a total of seven plays before a restraining order was served to him during a game, barring him from playing for two teams at the same time. PFR. His marriage to Patricia Ann Stetter ended in divorce. We assure our audience that we will remove any contents that are not accurate or according to formal reports and queries if they are justified. He even liked to dress up as Santa Claus and entertain children around Christmas time. Seven years later, Matuszak would join Belushi on the list of actors who died in their prime. Brian Matuszak column: Dick Wallack was Duluth's Lou Grant So I'm not breaking any news here, but the older I get, the more names I recognize on the obituary page of people who have crossed my . With the Masons, Mr. Griffith was a Royal Patron of the Order of the Amaranth, Alexandria Court No. He generally played the tough guy in guest spots in film and television. Keep supporting great journalism by turning off your ad blocker. Survivors include his wife, Louise B. Griffith of Alexandria; a son, E. Wayne, of Leesburg; a daughter, Earlene L. Walton of Arlington, Tex. According to the LA Times, he had an excuse for all of them, ranging from swerving to avoid a child to not knowing there was marijuana in the car.

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