{"id":22436,"date":"2012-10-10T17:58:21","date_gmt":"2012-10-10T21:58:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.filmbuffonline.com\/FBOLNewsreel\/wordpress\/?p=22436"},"modified":"2012-10-10T17:58:21","modified_gmt":"2012-10-10T21:58:21","slug":"alex-karras-77","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.filmbuffonline.com\/FBOLNewsreel\/wordpress\/2012\/10\/10\/alex-karras-77\/","title":{"rendered":"Alex Karras, 77"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Alex Karras, the former NFL defensive lineman who used his charm and sense of humor about himself to transition into acting the 1970s, has died in Los Angeles today. Karras was one of a number NFL players of that era who had been diagnosed with dementia, mostly likely stemming from brain injuries related to their time on the gridiron. He had recently suffered kidney failure. He was 77.<\/p>\n

Karras\u2019s most memorable role was that of the big, brutish, dim-witted and horse-punching Mongo in Mel Brooks\u2019s 1973 comedy Blazing Saddles<\/strong>. As the henchman of the evil Hedley LaMarr (Harvey Corman), Mongo was sent repeatedly to try and terrorize the folks of Rock Ridge only to be turned away in a variety of Looney Tunes-inspired blackout gags. His character spoke little, but when he did, it was with an unusual clarity amount his station in life.<\/p>\n