What You Didn't Know About Rosey Grier, Football Player, Actor, National Hero, And All-Star Needlepointer

Honestly, there's probably a superhero cape hanging in Roosevelt "Rosie" Grier's closet. As a former professional football player, minister, actor, author, singer and motivational speaker, Grier has influenced the lives of thousands who have crossed his path. You might remember him as the sly man with that terrifying name who was part of the original "Fearsome Foursome" of the L.A. Rams, but there's more to this modern Renaissance man.

He was a great football player

Grier began his athletic career at Penn State University where, in addition to acting as a defensive lineman for the school's football team, he was an All-American track and field athlete specializing in the shot put, discus, and javelin. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the 1955 NFL Draft, was taken to the NFL Championship in 1956, and was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1956 and 1960. When he was traded to the Los Angeles Rams in 1963, he became part. Team "Fearsome Foursome" with Marilyn Olsen, Deacon Jones and Lamar Lundy K. The "Fearsome Foursome" is still considered the greatest defensive line in the history of the game.

He brought down a murderer

When Grier retired from professional sports in 1967, he took a job as a bodyguard for Senator Robert Kennedy and his wife, Ethel. On June 6, 1968, Grier was assigned to defend Mrs. Kennedy after her husband gave a speech at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, where the senator was shot three times by Sirhan Sirhan. Grier was not enough to stop the shooting, but he prevented further tragedy by disarming Sirhan and securing the weapon.

She Doubles In Politics

Despite his Kennedy affiliation, Grier is a Republican who supported re-election of Ronald Reagan at the party's 1984 national convention. In early 2017, Grier announced his intention to run for governor of California, although he withdrew his candidacy seven months later.

He Loves Needlepoint

The rough and tough football player has been open about his enjoyment of traditionally less masculine hobbies, including needlepoint and macrame. He also published Rosie Grier's Needlepoint for Men in 1973.

He is an author and motivational speaker

In addition to his needlepoint manual, Grier has written several books and spent most of his time in the U.S. as a motivational speaker. spends visiting. He is also an ordained Protestant minister and a founding member of American Neighborhood Enterprises, a group that provides vocational training and helps the underprivileged become homeowners.

He Is A Singer And Actor

After his football career ended - when he was no longer a bodyguard, that is - Grier switched to entertainment. He briefly hosted a weekly talk show and made special appearances in over 70 TV shows, including I Dream of Jenny, The Man from UNCLE, Chips, The Love Boat and Contains Kojak. He was also a regular cast member on Daniel Boone, Make Room for Granddaddy and The White Shadow. Grier also began a multi-decade music career in 1960, although his only single to hit the music charts was "People Make the World", a tribute to Bobby Kennedy.

They Have Some Famous Family

Grier's famous cousin, Pam—who shot to stardom as Fox Brown's title character among roles in other "Blaxploitation" films of the 1970s—inspired her to go into show business. He also has a nephew, Mike "Big Daddy" Grier, who was a star hockey player before becoming the National Hockey League's first black general manager.