His football career was often overshadowed by his lifestyle. John Matuszak was in a relationship with Stephanie Cozart Burton (1980 - 1989).. About. He was an all-state defensive end his senior year of high school. Although there was a trace of cocaine in his system, thecause of death was an accidental overdose of the prescription drug, Darvocet a drug he was actually prescribed and took that very morning. John Matuszak played 123 games over his career . Matuszak's life was a multifaceted one. 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. And just in case there wasn't already enough tragedy in this story, here's an extra helping of it for you football injuries require pain medication, and Matuszak was one human being who should have stayed as far away from pain medication as possible. Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. The argument escalated, and then Matuszak slapped Robiskie, grabbed him, and shook him. There was also cocaine in his system but the amount was so small it was "not considered to have contributed to his death.". 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. He had a three-episode stint opposite O.J. Surprisingly he turned out to be a pretty good actor. John Matuszak was born on 25 October, 1950 in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, United States. He helped them win two Super Bowls (XI and XV), before retiring after spending the entire 1982 season on injured reserve. He signed up to play with the upstart World Football League's Houston Texans (no relation to the current team of the same name). "Car troubles" could have been the name of his biography: He amassed a long rap sheet of arrests, including ones for aggressive driving, careless driving, possession of drugs, and drunken driving. Tragic Details About The Actor Who Played Sloth - Looper Coroner: Drugs Killed Former NFL Star Died | AP News He was born in October 25, 1950, in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, United States. Matuszak's other notable movies areOne Crazy Summer(1986),Ghost Writer(1989),The Princess and the Dwarf(1989), and many others. Makeup Department: White Men Can't Jump. Matuszak also played for various NFL teams; his longest stint of six years having been spent with the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders, and later joining the Houston Oilers. Still, it was fun especially since Matuszak was a devoted Beatles fan. In June of 1989, it appeared that John Matuszak did "go back.". John Matuszak Net Worth, Height, Age, and More The rest of his estate, $230,000 in personal property, $217,000 in real property and $10,000 in income from that property, was left to his mother and his sisters, Karen and Dawn Matuszak. Matuszak was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Audrey and Marvin Matuszak. 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. Matuszak was notorious for sneaking women into his room at training camp and even somehow onto the team plane. Following his sophomore season at Mizzou, Matuszak transferred to the University of Tampa, where he became the star of their football team. John Matuszak was in a relationship with Stephanie Cozart Burton (1980 - 1989). 7; past master of the Alexandria Washington Lodge No. But the man who played Sloth led a troubled life. John Matuszak Clips from MASH TV show (2006) Hallmark Channelhttps://www.patreon.com/VHSVCRPlease support me on Patreonhttps://teespring.com/stores/vhs-vcrCh. How many men get to work under the genius of both John Madden and Steven Spielberg? He regularly took the drugs to keep away severe back pains. The university didn't like that, and revoked his scholarship. He started to devote a lot of time to working with kids and charities, and spent many hours with his beloved nieces and nephews as well. Helen P. Spencer Scouting Official Helen Page Spencer, 74, a former longtime official and volunteer with the Girl Scouts of America, died of pneumonia June 16 at Howard County General Hospital in Columbia. And it never had anything to do with the fact that he was high.". 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. 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. The team was seen as a bunch of rebels, and Matuszak's similar attitude and outlook were a perfect match. ", Matuszak often visited sick children in one case, he gave his football jersey and helmet to a cancer patient at Children's Hospital, and visited the sick boy every day for nearly a month. 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. John Matuszak was an American actor and football player. But he still managed to surprise Jeff Cohen, who played his onscreen buddy Chunk, by picking him up while strapped in a chair and kissing him. Kent State's coach was Don James, who went on to win the 1991 national championship at Washington. Later that year, as a free agent, Matuszak signed with the Raiders. John Matuszak has not been elected into the Hall of Fame. John Matuszak and Stephanie Cozart Burton wer See 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. He attended the University of Tampa and played for their football team. 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. Sloth was played by actor John Matuszak, who was a football player before moving into acting. Matuszak died of a drug overdose. 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. He started to get terrible back spasms and tried to play through them, but not even injectable painkillers dulled their edge. He was 38 years old. John Matuszak, a former NFL defensive end, played Sloth in "The Goonies." The 6-foot-8, 280-pound defensive lineman . We will not be able to determine an exact cause of death until we get the results of toxicological, neurological and microscopic lab tests, said coroners investigator Claude Boucher. According to author Kevin Cook, Matuszak fled to a nearby cemetery and hid behind a gravestone. From Times Wire Services. A few days ago, Twitter user Eyes on Cinema posted a 39-second clip of football-star-turned-The Goonies-actor John Matuszak's makeup test for Sloth.The clip is dated January 31, 1984; the film . You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. 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. On June 5, 1986, an Alameda County (Calif.) Superior Court jury ruled in his favor when he was sued for $1.5 million by two persons, one a male stripper, who accused the former defensive end of beating him up in a barroom brawl. At 39 years old, John Matuszak height After a freshman year playing football at Fort Dodge Junior College in Iowa, Matuszak was recruited to the University of Missouri by Dan Devine. 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 is not dating anyone. There was also cocaine in his system but the amount was so small it was not considered to have contributed to his death.. Once, he stayed clean for 89 days, and then fell off the wagon just one day short of his goal. He had one sister and two brothers. After being cut by the Redskins, Matuszak's football career was in limbo. American Football (American) Player John Matuszak was born John Daniel Matuszak on 25th October, 1950 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and passed away on 17th Jun 1989 Burbank, California aged 38. Mr. Matuszak also wrote his autobiography, "Cruisin' With The Tooz." He was born John Daniel Matuszak in Oak Creek, Wis. . 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." At the time, Manuszak had just appeared on an episode of Miami Vice and was filming an action movie called One Man Force. 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 . According to the LA Times, during his sophomore year in college, Matuszak played reserve tight end on a football scholarship at the University of Missouri, but his career there was short-lived. Enter Oakland Raiders maverick owner Al Davis, who decided to take a chance on Matuszak. Propoxyphene is considered a "mild narcotic" and is less addictive than similar drugs, probably prescribed to Matuszak in light of his past abuses. Spotlighting Raider Legends: John Matuszak Edition John Daniel Tooz Matuszak was an American professional football defensive lineman in the National Football League and His best known role was as the deformed Sloth in the 1985 movie The Goonies. He then joined Fort Dodge Junior College and played football in his first year. His career was indeed an endless stream of injuries. So it was off to the University of Tampa for Matuszak, an "outlaw school" where undesirables went to be desired. 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. Cookies help us deliver our Services. During his second season with the Oilers, John Matuszak got restless. 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. His wild partying eventually landed him in court. Sloth was a 1980s icon, as beloved as E.T. Raiders 24 -Steelers 7. He was stricken at his home and was taken by paramedics to the hospital, where he died at 9:39 p.m., a hospital spokesman said. The night after an exhibition game with the Oilers at the Astrodome, he had a game the next night at the same exact venue, with a different team, in a different league. He started playing football in the eighth grade, and became a star in high school. Why was his stint in Washington so short-lived? But his father, who had no interest in sports, showed him no affection he attended only one of John's games. In the CareUnit at Cedars-Sinai he left halfway through a one-month program and headed straight for a doctor's office, where he tried to obtain a prescription. John Matuszaks income source is mostly from being a successful . 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 and 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. Shaddock in 1979 in North Dallas Forty followed by Tonda in the 1981 film Caveman. According to his former girlfriend, Stephanie Cozart, Matuszak also turned to drugs to deal with family trauma. 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. Kent State's standouts included future Hall of Fame linebacker Jack Lambert and Gary Pinkel, who coached Missouri from 2001-15. 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. On a single day in the summer of 1976, he engaged in a wine-soaked tryst with a fan, came to practice tipsy, was sent home, went out drinking with teammates, attended an evening team meeting, was sent home again, went to a bar, took two sleeping pills, and blacked out. He regularly visited his sister in the hospital where she would receive treatment for her cystic fibrosis. Everything in his life was large: The wins on the field at any cost, the painkillers needed to offset those costs, the meals needed to sustain his lifestyle. His big goal was to get a 90-day chip and he never got one. Drafted by the Houston Oilers in the 1st round (1st overall) of the 1973 NFL Draft. "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. As a result, the city kid's world was rocked when his family moved to rural Oak Creek, Wisconsin. Matuszak participated in the 1978 World's Strongest Man competition, where he placed ninth. Ian Reso, both of Virginia Beach; a stepdaughter, Patricia Lee Reso of Chicago, and one grandchild. Kids are mean. Matuszak lived large during this era in his career, but it wasn't all beautiful women and parties at Hugh Hefner's place. Our dedicated Editorial team verifies each of the articles published on the Biographyhost. In Matuszak's first season,the Raiders won their first Super Bowl title, and Matuszak played a big part in that victory. Boucher said it may be 10 days before those results are available. His second wife, Patricia Beaumont Stetter, died in 1987. They give those out at the [AA and CA] meetings. 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. So even then, The Tooz had a reputation for drink and debauchery, though it would only get worse as the years passed. The Raiders ended up taking down the Vikings in Super Bowl XI. So in a way, those mean kids gave the world "The Tooz," the guy who would not only become one of the NFL's most charismatic football players, but also one of the most memorable movie icons of the 1980s. In the first four years of his professional career, Matuszak played for four different teams. A Girl Scout herself from 1924 until 1933, Mrs. Spencer later was an official and volunteer with the organization in Massachusetts from the mid-1930s until 1943. Coach Devine left after that season, and the new coach didn't want Tooz around. trivia, In late 1984, Matuszak met with director Richard Donner, who was deep into casting The Goonies. If you were an '80s kid and you didn't know about John "The Tooz" Matuszak who was just as famous for his hard-partying, loud, larger-than-life persona as he was for his football game you definitely knew about his alter-ego, the enormous, gentle, unconventionally-featured Sloth, who was the face of the 1985 classic Goonies. By using our Services, you agree to our use of cookies. John Matuszak weighed 272 lbs (123 kg) when playing. One local remembered him pushing aside the town's mayor so he could sign an autograph for a child. His first major role was in the 1979 movie North Dallas Forty as a football player. He attended the University of Tampa and played for their football team. Cohen's reaction is captured forever in the movie. A year later, he signed with the Houston Texans of the World Football League, where he played briefly before he was served an injunction obtained by the Oilers. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'biographyhost_com-banner-1','ezslot_5',132,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-biographyhost_com-banner-1-0'); According toCelebrity Net Worth, Matuszak had an estimated net worth equivalent to $400 thousand when he died in 1990. So, no lessons learned. For one thing, the Oilers were then the worst team in the NFL. She attended James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va. During World War II, she worked here as a driver with the American Red Cross. When his roommate came to pick him up from jail, he was wearing handcuffs, his Super Bowl Ring, a pair of powder blue cowboy boots and not a single shred of fabric. Shaddock in the 1979 filmNorth Dallas Forty. I take nothing, not even sleeping pills., Ive hit damn near bottom. Two of his little brothers died of it: Christopher after two months of life, and David at the age of two years. He sought help for both his drug and alcohol issues, and though he often relapsed, he got back on the horse multiple times. 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. As his fame grew, so did his personality, which stretched way beyond the gridiron. We don't have much information about He's past relationship and any previous engaged. How many games did John Matuszak play? 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. Matuszak got into an argument with the driver of the other car, then knocked him out cold before fleeing the scene. He earned his accounting degree from Southeastern University in Washington. He was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'biographyhost_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_1',163,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-biographyhost_com-medrectangle-3-0'); John Matuszak wasbest known for appearingon numerous 1980s TV series likeTrapper John M.D. In 1976, the Kansas City Chiefs traded him with the Washington Redskins but he was released by the Redskins soon after. A defensive lineman from the University of Tampa, Matuszak was the Houston Oilers' number one pick in the 1973 draft. Simpson on HBO's 1st & Ten, until his 'roided-up character died of a heart attack on the practice field. Football Player John Matuszak Dies at Age 38 John Daniel Matuszak was once a scrawny, awkward kid from the Midwest. He was 38. Actor: The Goonies. Right away, Donner could tell he was perfect for the role of Sloth, a disfigured and abused son with a heart of gold. [1], After a freshman year playing football at Fort Dodge Junior College in Iowa, Matuszak was recruited to the University of Missouri by Dan Devine. John Daniel Matuszak (October 25, 1950 June 17, 1989) was an American football defensive end in the National Football League who later became an actor. He also appeared in a number of cult classics including Caveman, One Crazy Summer, Ice Pirates, and as mentioned, The Goonies. The Steelers, Steroids, and Profound Misconceptions
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