[4], In 1976, the Chiefs traded Matuszak to the Washington Redskins, but he was released soon afterward. It was a minor separation of his shoulder, but Matuszak played through it, the Oilers were then the worst team in the NFL, it didn't exactly turn out to be a KC masterpiece, seeing Muhammad Ali on TV after Ali's career had taken a physical toll. Also, during his stint with the Raiders, Matuszak enjoyed a breakfast of bagels and Cheez Whiz, and also drugs. Former Girlfriend Says Lifestyle of Matuszak Was 'Excessive' Former Football Player, Cast of the movie 'The Princess and the Dwarf', John Matuszak's last movie 'Down the Drain' (1990) was released after his demise. Matuszak Leaves Estate to Family - Los Angeles Times Senior year accolades starting piling up, and NFL scouts started to take notice of this rising star. Matuszak was always big for his age, which became an advantage as a defensive lineman in football. The Raiders ended up taking down the Vikings in Super Bowl XI. A $300-million (minimum) gondola to Dodger Stadium? He even seemed to have kicked his drug habit, according to his 1987 autobiography Cruisin With the Tooz. The Goonies: 25th Anniversary Edition [Blu-ray]. (1982),The Dukes of Hazzard(1984),The Fall Guy(1985),Benson(1985),1st & Ten: The Championship(1987),The Dirty Dozen: The Fatal Mission(1988),Superboy(1989), among many others. According to author Kevin Cook, Matuszak fled to a nearby cemetery and hid behind a gravestone. He said he had no plans to play in that game but requested to play after seeing about 25 men looking for him on the sidelines. John Daniel Matuszak was once a scrawny, awkward kid from the Midwest. After a freshman year playing football at Fort Dodge Junior College in Iowa, Matuszak was recruited to the University of Missouri by Dan Devine. She was a past president of the Arlington Northwest Lioness Club. It was with the Missouri Tigers that he had his first real injury. Matuszak's other notable movies are One Crazy Summer (1986), Ghost Writer (1989), The Princess and the Dwarf (1989), and many others.His last movie, Down the Drain, was released in 1990, after his demise. 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. By the time he became a professional athlete, Matuszak stood 6ft 8in (2.03m) and weighed over 280lb (130kg). 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. Usually, starting with a new team brings about a fresh start. His death made a huge impact upon Matuszak so huge, it couldn't be overshadowed by the fact that Matuszak met Richard Donner the very same night he met Belushi. Mr. Griffith was a native of Washington and a graduate of George Mason High School in Falls Church. Ian Reso, both of Virginia Beach; a stepdaughter, Patricia Lee Reso of Chicago, and one grandchild. He also belonged to the Scottish Rite, Kena Temple Shrine and the Royal Arch. ; two sisters, Gertrude Robey of Alexandria, and Thelma Rogers of Winchester, Va.; and six grandchildren. John Matuszak Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images He started his college career at the University of Missouri, then transferred to the University of Tampa. What happened to John Matuszak? - Sage-Advices trivia, Father: Marvin Matuszak Mother: Audrey Matuszak Marital Status: Divorced Past Relationships: [10] He was only 38 years old. His battles with the church arent over, 17 SoCal hiking trails that are blooming with wildflowers (but probably not for long! 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. Mrs. Clark was a native of Washington and a graduate of Washington-Lee High School in Arlington. John Matuszak Wiki, Biography, Age, Wife, Family, Net Worth If you go through those things in your mind, you can do them. You know, the ole "I only meant to give him a black eye, not break his whole nose" excuse. Tooz was a top pick, and the team was hoping he'd turn the moribund franchise around. Year one didn't go so hot: They won a single game, and lost 13. Matuszak never had any children. In a lot of ways, Sloth was not just the on-screen alter ego of the former football star, he was the actual manifestation of the person Matuszak was on the inside: a lovable giant who was also a generous friend. As a result, as he put it, "painkillers are a way of life in the NFL." John Matuszak and Stephanie Cozart Burton were in a relationship for 9 years before John Matuszak died aged 38. John Matuszak Education. Former Pro Football Lineman John Matuszak Dead at 38 | AP News Boredom set in quickly: He was alone and depressed, desperately missing the joy and structure of football. He was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs. Matuszak's character Sloth wears an Oakland Raiders shirt in some scenes. 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. Instead of cracking down on the instigators, the Raiders decided to memorialize the incident by hanging the broken crutch on the wall with the label "'Biskie's Tooz Pick." He represented them for the 1973 season and moved to Houston, Texas, in 1974. He enjoyed the company of kids, but afterwards, they made him feel depressed. Unfortunately, though, for the real Sloth there was no happy ending. LIFE A WILD, WINDING ROAD FOR MATUSZAK - Chicago Tribune He even liked to dress up as Santa Claus and entertain children around Christmas time. She had lived in Columbia since 1983. He played a disfigured character Sloth Fratelli in the film. Our dedicated Editorial team verifies each of the articles published on the Biographyhost. Without any training in acting, youd probably expect him to be a bit of a novelty in one or two bad productions before people realized he had no talent. 11; and past patron of the Martha Washington Chapter No. Sloth's Tragic Real-Life Story - Grunge John Daniel Tooz Matuszak was an American professional football defensive lineman in the National Football League and also an actor. He swiftly became a man in demand, appearing in a hodgepodge of '80s awesomeness likeM*A*S*H, Ice Pirates, The Dukes of Hazzard, Silver Spoons,The A-Team, Miami Vice, and Perfect Strangers. Mr. Matuszak also wrote his autobiography, "Cruisin' With The Tooz." Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money? But Stephanie Cozart, who said she had remained a close friend of the former Oakland Raiders defensive end since their breakup a year ago, expressed the opinion that Matuszaks former lifestyle might have taken its toll. He had one sister and two brothers. Matuszak was notorious for sneaking women into his room at training camp and even somehow onto the team plane. The Los Angeles County coroner also found non-lethal traces of cocaine in the 38-year-old Matuszak's system. The trade was a steal for Houston, where Culp became a Hall of Fame performer when coach Bum Phillips moved Culp to nose tackle in the 3-4 defense in 1975. He was also a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.[2]. photos, Football Player John Matuszak Dies at Age 38 and as recognizable as Indiana Jones. I dont ever want to go back, he added. So, how much is John Matuszak worth at the age of 39 years old? John Matuszak was 6-8 (203 cm) tall. He was booted from the Houston Oilers after he tried to sign a contract to also play for the World Football Leagues Houston Texans at the same time. The attention he so desperately wanted from his peers finally started to come. Nothing seemed able to stop the other kids from teasing him incessantly. Boucher said it may be 10 days before those results are available. He was in AA Alcoholics Anonymous and he was trying his damnedest to succeed. Before the 1976 season, the Chiefs traded him to the Washington Redskins, where he was cut two weeks later. Oct. 25, 1989 12 AM PT. December 26, 1976. 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. As he details in his 1987 autobiography, Cruisin' with the Tooz, Matuszak, who was born in Milwaukee, loved his hometown. He then joined Fort Dodge Junior College and played football in his first year. A defensive lineman from the University of Tampa, Matuszak was the Houston Oilers' number one pick in the 1973 draft. But the story behind the actor who played Sloth is almost as unbelievable as the plot of The Goonies. With the Raiders, Matuszak played a key role in securing a couple of Super Bowl wins in 1977 and 1981. ", The gamble paid off. John Matuszak was born on October 25, 1950, in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, United States He grew up there with his Family. During his days with the Raiders, the team mostly turned a blind eye to John Matuszak's antics. 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. Matuszak acted professionally in the 1980s, making appearances in feature films and on television, often portraying football players or gentle giants. John Matuszak - Biography, Height & Life Story | Super Stars Bio In 1974, while he was still playing for the Kansas City Chiefs, he upset his wife, so she tried to run him over with their Cadillac convertible. He sought help for both his drug and alcohol issues, and though he often relapsed, he got back on the horse multiple times. PITTSBURGH 1982 - OL Rick Donnalley told Cincinnati Post he used steroids. Matuszak apparently hadnt learned his lesson about drugs and alcohol because he was dropped from that team as well when coach George Allen expressed concerns over is diet of Vodka and Valium, the breakfast of champions., Finally, Matuszak ended up playing for the Oakland Raiders under the famous coach John Madden. To his family, John Matuszak was known as a gentle kid with a heart that matched his size, but his past experiences with bullying contributed to his public persona mean, prone to angry outbursts, and larger-than-life. and "The Fall Guy." Explore John Matuszak Wiki Age, Height, Biography as Wikipedia, Wife, Family relation. Matuszak did not see much playing time at Mizzou because the starting tight end was an excellent blocker. After Washington showed him the business end of the cleat, John Matuszak was a free agent, and the Oakland Raiders were kind of desperate. How many men get to work under the genius of both John Madden and Steven Spielberg? Still, he was happy to be free of the painkillers, and being black and blue on Mondays. LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Ex-football star John Matuszak's parents reacted swiftly to the coroner's announcement that their son died of an accidental overdose of a mild narcotic painkiller, criticizing doctors who prescribe such medication. To report about any issues in our articles, please feel free toContact Us. Matuszak was then picked up by the Kansas City Chiefs, only to be dropped after head coach Paul Wiggin found him unconscious and not breathing one day. There was also cocaine in his system but the amount was so small it was not considered to have contributed to his death.. He is most remembered for His best known role was as the deformed Sloth in . ", Cozart had a wedding dress and the stamps were on the invitations, but she called off their wedding when Matuszak failed, once again, to meet his 90-days-sober goal. Matuszak died on June 17, 1989, as a result of acute propoxyphene intoxication, an accidental overdose of the prescription drug Darvocet, according to the findings of the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office. Unfortunately, both his brothers died at an early age due to a disease called cystic fibrosis. His second wife, Patricia Beaumont Stetter, died in 1987. The displeased Oilers traded him to the Kansas City Chiefs for Curley Culp, another player who had threatened to jump to the WFL, and a first-round draft choice in 1975 on October 22, 1974. Or purchase a subscription for unlimited access to real news you can count on. John Matuszak - Death, Movies, Wife & Height - Biography His life may have been a rocky road, but the Tooz cruised through it, and there was rarely a dull moment along the way. So even then, The Tooz had a reputation for drink and debauchery, though it would only get worse as the years passed. John Matuszak Biography, Age, Height, Wife, Net Worth, Family John Matuszak Affair, Height, Net Worth, Age, Career, and More if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,600],'biographyhost_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_2',164,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-biographyhost_com-medrectangle-4-0'); For formal education, his parents enrolled him at Oak Creek High School. With the Masons, Mr. Griffith was a Royal Patron of the Order of the Amaranth, Alexandria Court No. There were also traces of cocaine found in his bloodstream. He coached football at a Christian summer camp and spent the evenings reading Bible verses with them. And so Matuszak kind of just went on like that for most of the rest of his career brawling, getting in trouble, being forgiven things only celebrities can get away with. John Matuszak | The Goonies Wiki | Fandom He died as a result of "acute propoxyphene intoxication," a painkiller known by the trade name of Darvon, at the untimely age of 38. And it never had anything to do with the fact that he was high.". The. In 1976, the Kansas City Chiefs traded him with the Washington Redskins but he was released by the Redskins soon after. One thing most of the actors who worked with Matuszak had to say about him was that he was a genuine pleasure to work with. He was in the middle of an overdose of whiskey and pills. It doesn't matter if you're too short, too tall, too fat, or too skinny they're going to find something about you to pick on. The joke at the time was that you didnt have to be a convicted felon to play for the Raiders, but it helped. Maybe because Matuszak fit in with this team full of screw-ups and misfits, he finally buckled down and began to perform up to his potential. 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 . Cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder that affects the lungs, took two of his siblings and sickened his younger sister, Dawn, who died in 1991, just a couple years after her superstar brother. Matuszak was selected to the All-American Team 1972. In his autobiography, he stated that he used drugs and abused alcohol while playing professional football. College: Tampa Spartans football John Matuszak Career. However, whenever anyone met him, worked with him, or enjoyed life with him, they came away knowing he was a giving person and a gentle giant. John Daniel Tooz Matuszak was an American professional football defensive lineman in the National Football League and New Orleans isn't the easiest place to be free of distractions, and while most players resisted the city's temptations, the Tooz just couldn't help himself and partied himself into unconsciousness. Matuszak was selected to the All American Team 1972. He was 38. In Matuszak's last college football game, Tampa defeated Kent State 21-18 in the Tangerine Bowl. Their disrespect motivated him to develop into a muscular young man, and Matuszak became the Wisconsin Class A state champion in the shot put with a throw of 58ft 11in (17.96m). Help keep John Matuszak profile up to date. An article written for Sports Illustrated's website in January 2005 named him one of the top five all-time "bad boys" of the NFL.[8]. We won't really ever know because he never got a chance to grow older and wiser. "At the proper time, we will have things to say about substance abuse and the scoundrels in the medical profession who recklessly dispense prescription drugs and the parasites of society who distribute illicit drugs from back alleys to fashionable condominiums," they said in a statement. Paramedics attempted to perform CPR, but Matuszak's chest was so huge it was "like hitting a rock wall.". He was a brawler, a partier, and a guy who didn't want to take responsibility for his actions, but he loved children and he was known for his generosity. AFC championship game. John Matuszak - IMDb During one of his football training camps, he added Valium to his beer, which nearly killed him. Login Mr. Matuszak's lawyer argued that he was being made a scapegoat because of his fame and financial success. He is from United States. Three of their defensive linemen had suffered season-ending injuries, and they needed a big player to keep them competitive. Is John Matuszak in the Hall of Fame? He pleaded guilty, but then told a reporter: "Some guy purposely caused an accident." After his injury, he had an excuse and a prescription, and that's what ultimately led to his death in 1989. Matuszak was the only one of the first six selections of the 1973 draft never to earn first-team All-Pro honors. Matuszak's days of losing were over: One season in, and he was already Super Bowl bound. Matuszak participated in the 1978 World's Strongest Man competition, where he placed ninth. 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. 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. also an actor. He was also a member of Mount Vernon United Methodist Church in Alexandria. It was followed by his appearances in the movieCaveman(1981) andThe Ice Pirates(1984). In 1972, Matuszak made a place in the All American Team. His one sister also had the disease. Boucher said that a natural heart attack is obvious right away at the time of the autopsy. (The judge ultimately ruled in Matuszak's favor.) Know his, Estimated Net Worth, Age, Biography Wikipedia Wiki . 1 seed for Division 1 baseball playoffs, High school tennis: Southern Section playoff pairings. 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. Matuszak enjoyed "enough parties for twenty people's lives", and especially lived it up during the season onWednesdays, AKA "Tooz Day." Matuszak also played for various NFL teams; his longest stint of six years having been spent with the Oakland/Los . You could argue that portraying an emotionally complex killer biker gang member on Miami Vice and a cop who goes on a vengeful murderous spree in One Man Force somehow resulted in Matuszak backsliding into some of his old, reckless ways, even when he was finally being recognized as a talented, sensitive man, Nevertheless, it seemed as if Matuszak was finally getting his life under control. He attended the University of Tampa and played for their football team. Stephanie Cozart Burton was born on 10 November 1953 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA. Connect any celebrity with John Matuszak to see how closely they are linked romantically! View popular celebrities life details, birth signs and real ages. 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. His full name is John Daniel Matuszak and his nickname is Matuszak. Discover John Matuszak's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. 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. Matuszak also did a three day stint in jail for carrying a concealed weapon. His debut came in 1979's North Dallas Forty:Matuszak's role as offensive lineman O.W.
