pro bowl

On January 1 we reported that former football star and actor Merlin Olsen was suing NBC Universal, NBC Studios, and 20th Century Fox for exposing him to asbestos over the years. Now comes word that Olsen has died of mesothelioma in California.

Olsen was someone who had successful careers in both sports and acting. TV drama fans will remember him from his roles in 'Little House on the Prairie' (he played Jonathan Garvey) and 'Father Murphy' (as the title character) and football fans will remember his long pro football career playing for The Los Angeles Rams. He was the 1962 Rookie of the Year and retired in 1976 after being named to the Pro Bowl fourteen times. He also had a career as a sports commentator and analyst.

Olsen had roles in other TV shows and movies as well, including 'Aaron's Way,' 'Fathers and Sons,' 'Kung Fu,' 'The Brian Keith Show,' and 'Petticoat Junction.'

Here's the TV lineup for tonight (all times Eastern).

• BBC America is showing Alfred Hitchcock movies all night.
• At 7, ABC has a new America's Funniest Home Videos, followed by new episodes of Extreme Makeover, Desperate Housewives, and Brothers & Sisters.
• CBS has a new 60 Minutes at 7, then The Grammy Awards.
• NBC has a new, two-hour Dateline at 7, followed by Saturday Night Live Presents: Sports All-Stars.
• FOX has two new episodes of 'Til Death at 7, then new episodes of The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, and American Dad.
• ESPN2 has more of The Winter X Games at 7.
• At 7:20, ESPN has The Pro Bowl Game.
• At 9, PBS has a new Masterpiece Classic.
• There's a new Big Love on HBO at 9.
• Food Network has a new Iron Chef America at 9, then a new Worst Cooks in America.
• TLC has a new Cake Boss at 9.
• History Channel has a new Ax Men at 9.
• At 10, Travel Channel has two new episodes of 101 Chowdown Countdown.

Check your local TV listings for more.