Rosey Grier facts for kids
Grier in 2008 at the Movieguide Faith
and Value Awards Gala |
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| No. 76 | |||||
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| Position: | Defensive tackle | ||||
| Personal information | |||||
| Born: | July 14, 1932 Cuthbert, Georgia, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | ||||
| Weight: | 284 lb (129 kg) | ||||
| Career information | |||||
| High school: | Abraham Clark (Roselle, New Jersey) |
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| College: | Penn State | ||||
| NFL Draft: | 1955 / Round: 3 / Pick: 31 | ||||
| Career history | |||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||
Roosevelt "Rosey" Grier was born on July 14, 1932. He is a famous American who has been a football player, actor, singer, and even a minister. He also worked as a bodyguard and is a motivational speaker.
Rosey Grier was an amazing college football player for Penn State. He was even named one of the 100 most influential student athletes in the history of the NCAA. He played professional football for 12 years. He was part of the New York Giants and later the famous "Fearsome Foursome" with the Los Angeles Rams. He played in the Pro Bowl twice and was chosen as an All-Pro player three times. He also won the 1956 NFL Championship with the Giants.
After his football career, Grier worked as a bodyguard for Senator Robert Kennedy during his 1968 presidential campaign. When Senator Kennedy was shot, Grier bravely took control of the gun and helped stop the shooter.
Rosey Grier also had his own TV show in Los Angeles. He appeared as a guest on about 70 different TV shows in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1983, he became a Protestant minister. He started a group called American Neighborhood Enterprises. This group helps young people in cities. Today, he travels and gives inspiring speeches.
One of Grier's interesting hobbies is needlepoint. He even wrote a book about it called Rosey Grier's Needlepoint for Men in 1973.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Rosey Grier was born on July 14, 1932, in Cuthbert, Georgia. He was one of twelve children. His parents named him after President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
High School Football Star
Grier played football at Abraham Clark High School in Roselle, New Jersey. He graduated in 1951.
College Sports at Penn State
After high school, Grier went to Penn State University. He was a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. He was a star football player for Penn State and was named an All-American. He was also the captain of the track team. In track, he was great at shot put and discus. He was a Track & Field All-American in 1954 and 1955.
Professional Football Career
After his successful college career, Rosey Grier was chosen in the 1955 NFL draft. The New York Giants picked him as the 31st player overall.
Playing for the New York Giants
Grier played for the Giants from 1955 to 1962. During this time, the Giants won the NFL Championship in 1956. They also won five Eastern Conference titles. Grier was chosen for the Pro Bowl in 1956 and 1960. He was named an All-Pro defensive tackle several times.
Joining the Los Angeles Rams
In 1963, Grier was traded to the Los Angeles Rams. There, he became part of the famous "Fearsome Foursome." This group included Deacon Jones, Merlin Olsen, and Lamar Lundy. They are considered one of the best defensive lines in football history. Grier's career ended in 1967 because of a serious injury to his Achilles tendon. He was the oldest member of the Fearsome Foursome.
Life After Football
After retiring from football, Rosey Grier started a new chapter in his life.
Television Host and Actor
Grier hosted the Rosey Grier Show on KABC-TV. It was a weekly show about community issues in Los Angeles. He also became a successful actor. He appeared in many films and TV shows. He was one of the first football stars to become a well-known actor.
Some of his TV appearances include The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and I Dream of Jeannie. He was a regular cast member on shows like Daniel Boone and The White Shadow. In one episode of The White Shadow, he even wore his old No. 76 Los Angeles Rams jersey!
He also appeared in movies like Skyjacked (1972) and The Thing with Two Heads (1972). He was on Sesame Street in 1975.
Working as a Bodyguard
Rosey Grier was a bodyguard for his friend, U.S. Senator and presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy. In 1968, Grier was protecting Senator Kennedy's wife, Ethel Kennedy. When shots were fired, Grier bravely stepped in. He took the gun from the shooter and made sure no one else was hurt. He later said, "I would not allow more violence."
Entertaining Troops with USO
In 1968, Grier joined Bob Hope on a USO tour called "Operation Holly." He performed for U.S. troops in places like Vietnam and Thailand. He entertained them alongside other stars like Ann-Margret.
Singing Career
Rosey Grier also had a singing career. He released his first songs in 1960. His song "People Make the World" was a tribute to Robert Kennedy. He also sang "It's All Right to Cry" for the children's album and TV show Free to Be… You and Me.
Community Service and Ministry
Grier is a cofounder of American Neighborhood Enterprises. This group helps people in cities buy homes. It also helps them get job training. In 1983, Grier became a Protestant minister. The next year, he started a non-profit center for inner-city teens. He created spiritual and educational programs for young people who need help.
Honors and Achievements
Rosey Grier has received many honors for his achievements. Penn State honored him with the Distinguished Alumni Award in 1974. He also received the Alumni Fellow Award in 1991. The NCAA named him to their "List of the 100 Most Influential Student-Athletes." In 1997, he was inducted into the New Jersey Sports Hall of Fame. In 2017, he was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame.
Personal Life
Family Life
Rosey Grier has a daughter named Sherryl Brown-Tubbs. He married Beatrice Lewis in 1962 and adopted her daughter, Denise. They later divorced. In 1973, Grier married Margie Grier. They had a son named Roosevelt Kennedy Grier. They divorced in 1978 but remarried in 1981. They were married until Margie's death in 2011. In 2013, Grier married Cydnee Seyler.
Rosey Grier's nephew, Mike Grier, also became a professional athlete. Mike played ice hockey in the NHL for 14 years. He later became the first black general manager in the league.
Hobbies and Books
Rosey Grier became well known in the 1970s for his hobbies. He enjoyed needlepoint and macrame. He even wrote a book about needlepoint for men in 1973.
Images for kids
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Rosey Grier in 2008
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Rosey Grier with Evan Freed in 1967
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Grier and comedian Don Rickles in a Kraft Music Hall skit, 1968
