It's very tough to run my side of the line. All afternoon, again and again, the San Diego crowd had been charged with booming disco music, the thump-thump-thump of an indecipherable team song that sounded as if it had been created by some garage band. John Grunenwald was born on January 25, 1928 in Kingston, NY, to John Grunenwald and Frances Grunenwald. Matuszakbecame the NFL's first pickof the Houston Oilers in 1973. His back pain had not stopped when the games did. 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." 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. He is most remembered for His best known role was as the deformed Sloth in . Senior year accolades starting piling up, and NFL scouts started to take notice of this rising star. John (Jan) Matuszak was born on month day 1893, at birth place, to Jan (John) Matuszak and Antonina Matuszak (born Kasperska). At a frat party a ROTC dweeb supposedly made a pass at John's date. He then transferred to the University of Missouri for Coach Dan Devine, with whom he had a tough relationship. Educational Background. 50 of the Order of the Eastern Star, the McLean chapters of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees and the American Association of Retired Persons, the Department of Defense garden and antique clubs and the Annapolis Lioness Club. His last movie,Down the Drain, was released in 1990, after his demise. The chance to work with Donner and Spielberg was once-in-a-lifetime. He then joined the Raiders as a free agent just before the second game of the 1976 season. Instead, it's almost poetic to think that his large heart was actually literal. In late 1984, Matuszak met with director Richard Donner, who was deep into casting The Goonies. Years: 1976-82. He also appeared in the movies "Caveman", "The Ice Pirates", and "One Crazy Summer" but is known for his role in "The Goonies". John Matuszak liked to throw out that disclaimer for anyone brave enough to try and party with him. 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. 46 records for John Matuszak. He was in the middle of an overdose of whiskey and pills. John Matuszak, John Matuszak Raiders, The Tooz, Matuszak Raiders, Goonies, Sloth Goonies, Sloth, Oakland Raiders, Los Angeles Raiders, Las Vegas Raiders, Too. Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on October 25, 1950, Matuszak grew up playing football as a defensive end. However, he was kicked out when he completely beat up a guy on the twenty-first birthday of one of his fraternity brothers. "But it's funny, when I was a teenager and I would start to watch the old NFL films and they would have films of John playing for the Raiders he would just terrify people on the field, which was totally shocking to me. I think I should be objective, call 'em as I see 'em. 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. Raiders store is your trusted source for game limited and elite John Matuszak Throwback Jerseys. Of course, he played Sloth in the Goonies, but Matuszak was also involved in a number of other acclaimed films. [9] Matuszak's character Sloth wears an Oakland Raiders shirt in some scenes. (Page 2) Alabama guard John Hannah, selected fourth by the New England Patriots, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1991, his first year of eligibility, following a 13-year career, while quarterback Bert Jones (Baltimore Colts), offensive tackle Jerry Sisemore, tight end Charle Young (Philadelphia Eagles), and defensive tackle Dave Butz (St. Louis Cardinals) were all prominent throughout the rest of the 1970s and into the 1980s. From Times Wire Services. 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. Unfortunately, he probably took too much of it precisely because it was "mild." On a particularly rowdy night, he was arrested for driving drunk and firing a gun at street signs. John Daniel Tooz Matuszak was an American professional football defensive lineman in the National Football League and also an actor. According to the New York Times, the coroner's report also listed bronchial pneumonia and an enlarged heart as factors that contributed to his death the latter is sometimes associated with steroid abuse, though his friends and family insisted that was one vice he'd never had. Publicity Listings Check out our john matuszak selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. Mrs. Clark was a native of Washington and a graduate of Washington-Lee High School in Arlington. Even though he was under contract with his current team, he decided to sign a second contract with the Houston Texans in the World Football League, which seems a bit logistically problematic, but he was The Tooz, so maybe he just figured he could pummel his way through any and all consequences. Born on October 25, 1950 in United States of America, John Matuszak started his career as actor and American football player (1950-1989) . Carter Reso and Navy Cmdr. You cruise, you lose. (The judge ultimately ruled in Matuszak's favor.) College: Tampa Spartans football John Matuszak Career. "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. I dont ever want to go back, he added. Nationality: United States of America. Matuszak was born in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. Eight out of 10 plays, they don't get anything. After an injury, John Matuszak sat out the 1982 season and then decided to retire from football and pursue an acting career. Was originally drafted by the Houston Oilers in 1973. His late-night trip down New Orleans' Bourbon Street in the middle of a Super Bowl week before the game against the Philadelphia Eagles turned into a focal point and gave the Raiders some comic relief. In the LA Times' 1989 tribute to the deceased football star, she remembered the number of times he committed himself to rehab and then walked out before completing the program. 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. With the Raiders, Matuszak played a key role in securing a couple of Super Bowl wins in 1977 and 1981. 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. His debut came in 1979's North Dallas Forty:Matuszak's role as offensive lineman O.W. His biography, Cruisin' with the Tooz, written with Steve Delsohn, was published in 1987. 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. 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. His oldest daughter Alexandra had a cameo role in The Return of the King as Sam's daughter in the films epilogue after peace returned to Middle Earth. Home; Trees; . As a result, the city kid's world was rocked when his family moved to rural Oak Creek, Wisconsin. College football was the next logical step for Matuszak, but his 1.7 GPA wasn't good enough for his dream school, Iowa. 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. 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. TVs CHEERS' Ted Danson and Shelley Long cover story. "The Tooz" joined the Raiders after a year with the Houston Oilers and two with the Kansas City Chiefs. She was a member of the Mary Washington chapter No. Before he made his way to the silver screen as Sloth, John Matuszak was a professional football player. It's a nice release when you make a perfect tackle, a good hit. He was a golfer and a member of the Society of Former Agents of the FBI. John Daniel Matuszak has a net worth of $5.00 million (Estimated) which he earned from his occupation as actor and American football player. But what he didn't give the world in offspring, he gave in winning memories for Raiders fans, and a unlikely movie hero for legions of '80s children who wanted Sloth to be their big buddy. Mr. Matuszak's lawyer argued that he was being made a scapegoat because of his fame and financial success. John Matuszak's grueling transformation. John Grunenwald, 94, passed away on January 10, 2023, in Corpus Christi , Texas. 3. 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. His aggressive play and tough attitude embodied the spirit of the Oakland Raiders in the years they were called the Evil Empire and helped win the team Super Bowl victories in the 1976 and 1980 seasons. Following his sophomore season at Mizzou, Matuszak transferred to the University of Tampa, where he became the star of their football team. Turns out, the pummelee was an Air Force cadet who ended up with 18 fractures in his face he needed a whopping 10 hours of surgery to be made whole again. By using our Services, you agree to our use of cookies. Malcolm Moran is a Tribune staff writer. You know, the ole "I only meant to give him a black eye, not break his whole nose" excuse. Hisfirst lead rolecame in the 1985 adventure comedy filmThe Goonies. 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. 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. There were also traces of cocaine found in his bloodstream. Why, I wasn't even the most valuable senior athlete in my high school in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. The attention he so desperately wanted from his peers finally started to come. Matuszak was born in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. According to author Kevin Cook, Matuszak fled to a nearby cemetery and hid behind a gravestone. Matuszak was born in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. It was followed by his appearances in the movieCaveman(1981) andThe Ice Pirates(1984). In addition to his contract with 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. He then joined Fort Dodge Junior College and played football in his first year. Kansas City was the next stop on the trouble tour, and it didn't exactly turn out to be a KC masterpiece. (sibling). In Matuszak's last college football game, Tampa defeated Kent State 21-18 in the Tangerine Bowl. PFR. He was cut before the season began in 1976. So, he bulked up his grades at Fort Dodge, a junior college. and "The Fall Guy." His castmates on Goonies remembered him as a "sweetheart. He was so out of control that Tom Flores, asked Ken . His part was more complex than he could have imagined. The announcement was made 10 years ago last month. 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. -- 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. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. But because of the many injuries hed sustained during his career, his heavy use of painkillers continued. One local remembered him pushing aside the town's mayor so he could sign an autograph for a child. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. Top 10 last week queries: john matuszak height, john matuszak death, john matuszak, john matuszak goonies, john matuszak wiki, john matuszak actor, john matuszak cause of death, john matuszak wife, john matuszak movies, john matuszak daughter, john matuszak goonies makeup, john matuszak imdb, john matuszak wikipedia, john matuszak stats . 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 was a graduate of the Powell Business School in his native Scranton, Pa., and Catholic University law school. Matuszak also played for various NFL teams; his longest stint of six years having been spent with the Oakland/Los . After graduating from high school, he briefly attended the University of Missouri . Shaddock in 1979 in North Dallas Forty followed by Tonda in the 1981 film Caveman and the deformed Sloth in the 1985 movie The Goonies. The following season, the Raiders weren't able to repeat their success, and by 1982, Tooz's body was telling him it was time to wrap up his career, even if he didn't want to. 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. I sure can't do television. Jan was born in 1854, in Poznan. 1 pick in the 1973 National Football League draft. Propoxyphene is considered a "mild narcotic" and is less addictive than similar drugs, probably prescribed to Matuszak in light of his past abuses. 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. And in TV, you never know if or when your series will be canceled. Jan 1, 1984. He had tumbled from the No. He was an accountant with Air Cargo Inc. of Washington for 35 years until he retired in 1979. Matuszak was in the middle of a game when lawyers for the NFL and the Oilers showed up with a court order barring Matuszak from playing under his Texans contract. Born John Daniel Matuszak on October 25, 1950, "The Tooz" was a local legend in his home state of Wisconsin. In 1981, Matuszak made headlines for partying the night before the Raiders' second Super Bowl victory. That was the part of the Tooz, a big part, that never left high school. 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. The Oilers were unsurprisingly unimpressed, and the LA Times said they even went as far as sending a team of lawmen to a football game to chase Matuszak around the sidelines with a subpoena. The ultimate football specimen had lived all that time with the knowledge that it just as easily could have been him. John Matuszak was also inducted into the University of Tampa . I mean, look at me. John Matuszak's childhood was full of grief and misfortune. According to the team physician, a lot of his teammates joined him with the drugs the bagels and Cheez Whiz were just a Tooz thing. 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 . John graduated from Kingston High School in 1945 an went on to earn a masters degree in Political Science from the University of Miami in 1971. The show aired for 147 episodes spanning seven seasons. Daughter: Helen Matuszak. ", "John was really nice to me and it was fun to work with him," said Jeff Cohen, who played Chunk in the iconic film. As a result, as he put it, "painkillers are a way of life in the NFL." Mr. Matuszak's off-field antics often gained him as much notoriety as his play. He played in 87 . Survivors include her husband of 47 years, George O. Clark, of Annapolis; two daughters, Karen Coffman, of Annapolis, and Laurie Richardson, of Richmond; a brother, E. Gordon Hershey, of Ocala, Fla., and three grandsons. His famous movie is The Goonies. Mrs. Spencer was a native of Putney, Vt., and a graduate of the American International College in Springfield, Mass. He is supposed to tie up as many linemen as possible in order to free the linebackers. Another Golden Flashes senior, future six-time national championship coach Nick Saban, suffered a season-ending injury in October. Still, it was worth it, according to Tooz. He prayed to stop growing, but he only grew taller. I was six foot one by the time I was twelve, 6'4" by the time I was fifteen. At a crowded party, Matuszak caught sight of a student assaulting his girlfriend, and so he decided to pummel him. He became a Certified Public Accountant in 1985. 22; past commander of the Old Dominion Commandry No. Survivors include her husband of 43 years, Kenneth Spencer, of Columbia; a daughter, Susan Elliker, of Norfolk; a son, William Spencer, of Columbia, a brother, Tracy Page, of Farmington, Conn., and four grandchildren. At the time, Manuszak had just appeared on an episode of Miami Vice and was filming an action movie called One Man Force. donated time to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Matuszak was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs. Father: Marvin Matuszak Mother: Audrey Matuszak Marital Status: Divorced Past Relationships: School: Tampa. Matuszak did not see much playing time at Mizzou because the starting tight end was an excellent blocker. Before he made his way to the silver screen as Sloth, John Matuszak was a professional football player. 11; and past patron of the Martha Washington Chapter No. John Matuszak in Wisconsin. 42, Order of the Eastern Star. The "Don't date my sister/daughter" Rule, spoken or unspoken, exists in every locker room in America. Those of us who had smiled at our small glimpses into his life held a series of unscheduled mini-wakes, in press boxes, in airports and on the telephone. John Matuszak was in a relationship with Stephanie Cozart Burton (1980 - 1989).. About. And then his body began to give out like all those others, and the back pain became too great. TIL John Matuszak, best known for playing Sloth in The Goonies, was a state champion in the shot put, was the #1 overall draft pick in the NFL, was served a restraining order during a game, had a head coach perform life-saving CPR, won 2 Super Bowls, and acted with Ringo Starr before ODing at 38 Family tragedy followed by early fame set him on a course of self-destruction that ended in his sudden and unexpected death at the age of 38. Paramedics attempted to perform CPR, but Matuszak's chest was so huge it was "like hitting a rock wall.". As the new year approaches and resolutions are considered, many people will be looking at their mid-sections and considering shedding some pounds through exercise. Home > Oakland Raiders > John Matuszak Jersey. He wasn't afraid of me. I can retire from football with a smile on my face. None of those characters was more iconic than Sloth, the hulking, deformed, and mistreated little brother of the bad guys. And with acting, you have to pull all the stops to make it work. John Matuszak Jersey There are 24 products. He helped them win two Super Bowls (XI and XV), before retiring after spending the entire 1982 season on injured reserve. Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle John Matuszak during the Chiefs 24-14 victory over the San Diego Chargers on October 27, 1974 at San Diego. a son, E. Wayne, of Leesburg; a daughter, Earlene L. Walton of . During one of his football training camps, he added Valium to his beer, which nearly killed him. He represented them for the 1973 season and moved to Houston, Texas, in 1974. John Matuszak. Matuszak also did a three day stint in jail for carrying a concealed weapon. Matuszak had nearly died during a Kansas City Chiefs training camp when he chose to create a lethal mix of valium and beer. During his days with the Raiders, the team mostly turned a blind eye to John Matuszak's antics. But he wore the suit, and lowered his voice, and delivered his message nearly flawlessly. Malcolm Moran. "Vodka and Valium," coach George Allen explained, "the breakfast of champions." Once he retired, Matuszak tried to start a new chapter of his life, this time as an actor. View Actual Record. He didn't know what was happening at the time and wanted to avoid confrontation. 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. [7] In his autobiography, he stated that he used drugs and abused alcohol while playing professional football. Just as he was a hellion off the field, Matuszak was a devil on the gridiron. In Silver Spring's Oak View community where she had lived for 27 years, Mrs. Spencer was a founder of the citizens association and the community pool. John Daniel Matuszak Net Worth. "No," Matuszak shouted. Age. 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. Year one didn't go so hot: They won a single game, and lost 13. And then he was gone, and the lifestyle-driven speculation was running wild. Paperback. Your IP: Matuszak also played for various NFL teams; his longest stint of six years having been spent with . Madden retired two years later, and was replaced with Tom Flores. He starred in North Dallas Forty, which is regarded by many as one of the best football movies ever made. 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 dad only cared about his grades, and that's the one field where his son wasn't a champion. He sought help for both his drug and alcohol issues, and though he often relapsed, he got back on the horse multiple times. Tooz decided he didn't want to end up like that, and called it quits on May 10, 1983. But the cause of death was listed as an accidental overdose of a prescription drug. Men's Nike Oakland Raiders 72 John Matuszak Elite Black Camo Fashion NFL Jersey. Why was his stint in Washington so short-lived? He started playing football in the eighth grade, and became a star in high school. . 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. He made sports page headlines when he violated team curfew by partying in New Orleans the night before the Raiders beat the Philadelphia Eagles 27-10 in the 1981 Super Bowl. I don't like stepping on other people's toes, but with my size 15 shoes, people step on mine sometimes. So even then, The Tooz had a reputation for drink and debauchery, though it would only get worse as the years passed. Matuszak enjoyed "enough parties for twenty people's lives", and especially lived it up during the season onWednesdays, AKA "Tooz Day." Matuszak, a defensive lineman from the University of Tampa, was the Houston Oilers' first-round pick in 1973. Stats Gamelogs. They give those out at the [AA and CA] meetings. In his later NFL career years, Matuszak played for Kansas City Chiefs from 1974 to 1975, Washington Redskins in 1976, and Los Angeles Raiders from 1976 to 1982. See John Matuszak full list of movies and tv shows from their career. He appeared in the movies Caveman, The Ice Pirates, One Man Force, and One Crazy Summer, but is frequently remembered as deformed captive Sloth in The Goonies, the make-up for which took five hours to apply. 40, born abt : 1900 . In Matuszak's first season,the Raiders won their first Super Bowl title, and Matuszak played a big part in that victory. But there was more to Matuszak than just a boisterous wild man. John Matuszak is one of ten former Raiders players who became actors; the others include Bob Golic, Bill Romanowski, Nnamdi Asomugha, Bubba Smith, Ben Davidson, Lyle Alzado, Howie Long, Fred Williamson, and Carl Weathers. His full name is John Daniel Matuszak and his nickname is Matuszak. But just because he was performing well on the field, it didnt mean that hed given up shenanigans all together. Unfortunately, though, for the real Sloth there was no happy ending. Boredom set in quickly: He was alone and depressed, desperately missing the joy and structure of football. "I ordered a cake," said Cozart. They loved playing with Matuszak so much that they would sometimes mess up his makeup, which took hours to re-apply. John Matuszak was just 38 when he died of heart failure a decade ago, and his flamboyance made an explanation mandatory. Daughter: Margaret Matuszak. Al Davis was the first to know about my decision to retire, and Mom was second. But when it came to John Matuszak, trouble seemed to follow him wherever he went. 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. After losing his brothers during his childhood, being around children was always a painful experience for Matuszak. Raiders 24 -Steelers 7. Popularly known as the actor and American football player of United States of America. The assignment was to explain a death that came much too soon. Matuszak also left the contents of his house in Franklin, Wis., to his sister, the boys mother, Christine Evancy. He always played well, though, so he managed to get away with all the hijinks.