Survivors include two children by his first marriage, Nancy Stetter Graham and Grant Hamilton Stetter, both of Falls Church; two stepsons, Navy Capt. Stephanie Cozart Burton - IMDb John Matuszak is UPDATE SOON. Matuszak enjoyed "enough parties for twenty people's lives", and especially lived it up during the season onWednesdays, AKA "Tooz Day." 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." One thing most of the actors who worked with Matuszak had to say about him was that he was a genuine pleasure to work with. Seriously: The man used to order half a dozen eggs and half a pound of bacon for breakfast, in addition to his steady diet of Cheez Whiz smeared on bagels. 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. She attended James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va. During World War II, she worked here as a driver with the American Red Cross. 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. John Matuszak, a former NFL defensive end, played Sloth in "The Goonies." The 6-foot-8, 280-pound defensive lineman . John Matuszak (Actor) Wiki, Biography, Age, Wife, Net Worth, Family Following his sophomore season at Mizzou, Matuszak transferred to the University of Tampa, where he became the star of their football team. But it's also true that it wasn't just the pain that led to their son's struggles with illegal and legal substances years of hard partying and drug abuse had steered him too far down a path that was extremely difficult to come back from. After seeing Steve Reeves play the title role in 1958'sHercules, he asked his parents for weights to bulk up his skinny frame. He attended Oak Creek High School. 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. 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. 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. It sounded like Matuszak had finally gotten the stability in his life and the redemption he needed. Two of his little brothers died of it: Christopher after two months of life, and David at the age of two years. In a lot of ways, Sloth was not just the on-screen alter ego of the former football star, he was the actual manifestation of the person Matuszak was on the inside: a lovable giant who was also a generous friend. This is when Matuszak believed his "bad guy" reputation began: The Tooz wanted out, but a trade was out of the question, so he knew he had to force the Oilers' hand. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. Paramedics attempted to perform CPR, but Matuszak's chest was so huge it was "like hitting a rock wall.". Usually, starting with a new team brings about a fresh start. His battles with the church arent over, 17 SoCal hiking trails that are blooming with wildflowers (but probably not for long! Matuszakdied at the age of 38on 17 June 1989. Cause of Death. He helped them win two Super Bowls (XI and XV), before retiring after spending the entire 1982 season on injured reserve. She was a member of the Mary Washington chapter No. John Matuszak Warner Bros./Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images After a short career in the NFL, Matuszak became an actor, most famously playing Lotney "Sloth" Fratelli. Stephanie Cozart Burton. The joke at the time was that you didnt have to be a convicted felon to play for the Raiders, but it helped. Maybe because Matuszak fit in with this team full of screw-ups and misfits, he finally buckled down and began to perform up to his potential. His death made a huge impact upon Matuszak so huge, it couldn't be overshadowed by the fact that Matuszak met Richard Donner the very same night he met Belushi. Survivors include his wife, Louise B. Griffith of Alexandria; a son, E . An enlarged heart and pneumonia were also contributing factors in his demise. When they offered the rookie a contract, they lowballed him. That was not the case with Matuszak, Boucher said, but he declined to speculate on what else may have caused the death, pending test results. He was 38. He helped them win two Super Bowls (XI and XV), before retiring after spending the entire 1982 season on injured reserve. 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 . He regularly took the drugs to keep away severe back pains. Matuszak participated in the 1978 World's Strongest Man competition, where he placed ninth. Hisfirst lead rolecame in the 1985 adventure comedy filmThe Goonies. "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. After he retired, most of the wild antics came to an end. How tall was John Matuszak? After Wiggin personally pounded on Matuszaks chest until he started breathing again, he booted him as quickly as possible, Next, Matuszak was picked up by the Washington Redskins. His full name is John Daniel Matuszak and his nickname is Matuszak. John Matuszak Wiki, Biography, Age, Wife, Family, Net Worth Matuszak did not see much playing time at Mizzou because the starting tight end was an excellent blocker. Matuszak's days of losing were over: One season in, and he was already Super Bowl bound. 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. ELIZABETH H. (BETTY) CLARK Defense Department Secretary Elizabeth H. (Betty) Clark, 66, a longtime Arlington resident who was a secretary with the Department of Defense for 30 years until she retired in the early 1970s, died of cancer June 17 at Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis. 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. Mrs. Clark was a native of Washington and a graduate of Washington-Lee High School in Arlington. According to our Database, He has no children. She once tried to run him over in her car after a fight. Death should have feared John Matuszak. With the Raiders, Matuszak played a key role in securing a couple of Super Bowl wins in 1977 and 1981. Discover John Matuszak's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Matuszak was selected to the All American Team 1972. 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. He played for the University of Missouri during college, and was drafted into professional football for two teams at once, the Houston Oilers in the NFL and the Houston Texans . His net worth is USD $4 million (approx) in 2021. Mr. Matuszak's lawyer argued that he was being made a scapegoat because of his fame and financial success. He even liked to dress up as Santa Claus and entertain children around Christmas time. According to the LA Times, he had an excuse for all of them, ranging from swerving to avoid a child to not knowing there was marijuana in the car. Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on October 25, 1950, Matuszak grew up playing football as a defensive end. 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. He was born John Daniel Matuszak in Oak Creek, Wis. is 2.01m . 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. Matuszak, who played on two Super Bowl champions before turning to an acting career, was taken from his home in Los Angeles to St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank on Saturday night, where he died after suffering massive heart failure. Matuszak also played for various NFL teams; his longest stint of six years having been spent with . In 1987,Matuszak got in yet another car accident, but instead of exchanging insurance information which would have been perfectly cordial given that Matuszak was huge and anyone who was on the receiving end of a fender-bender with the guy would have almost certainly been really understanding Matuszak decided to punch the driver and leave the scene. Once, he stayed clean for 89 days, and then fell off the wagon just one day short of his goal. 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. 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. Matuszak died of a drug overdose. His movie credits included "North Dallas Forty," "Caveman" and "Ice Pirates." He then joined Fort Dodge Junior College and played football in his first year. John Matuszak's personal life was also affected by all the hard-partying. Login A preliminary police investigation found no signs of foul play, said a police spokesman. Or purchase a subscription for unlimited access to real news you can count on. It was a rough and wild time in his life one that cast long shadows. Matuszak tried to take it easy on his back while filming. The team was seen as a bunch of rebels, and Matuszak's similar attitude and outlook were a perfect match. We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 25 October. The Tragic Life Of 'Goonies' Actor John Matuszak Revealed He is most remembered for His best known role was as the deformed Sloth in the 1985 movie "The Goonies".. His zodiac sign is Scorpio. Kent State's standouts included future Hall of Fame linebacker Jack Lambert and Gary Pinkel, who coached Missouri from 2001-15.Another Golden Flashes senior, future six-time national championship coach Nick Saban, suffered a season-ending injury in October. How many games did John Matuszak play? Kent State's standouts included future Hall of Fame linebacker Jack Lambert and Gary Pinkel, who coached Missouri from 2001-15. FORMER GIRLFRIEND SAYS LIFESTYLE OF MATUSZAK, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), The new OrlandoSentinel.com: FAQs and more, DeSantis oversight board votes to sue Disney, FORMER GIRLFRIEND SAYS LIFESTYLE OF MATUSZAK WAS EXCESSIVE, Florida lawmakers agree to $116 billion budget in final week, Photos: Best and worst looks from the 2023 Met Gala, Florida man guilty in 2017 serial killings of 4 people, Seaweed mass hits record-breaking size in Caribbean as it heads to Florida and Gulf, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. [5][6], Matuszak's football career was often overshadowed by his lifestyle. With the Masons, Mr. Griffith was a Royal Patron of the Order of the Amaranth, Alexandria Court No. He was also a member of Mount Vernon United Methodist Church in Alexandria. After sitting out the 1982 season in Los Angeles, where the Raiders moved that year, with an injury, he retired to pursue full time an acting career in which he had dabbled while a player. It was Jakes first football game. John Matuszak - Death, Movies, Wife & Height - Biography Football Player John Matuszak Dies at Age 38 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. How much did John Matuszak weigh when playing? On a particularly rowdy night, he was arrested for driving drunk and firing a gun at street signs. Sloth was a 1980s icon, as beloved as E.T. In Matuszak's last college football game, Tampa defeated Kent State 21-18 in the Tangerine Bowl. According to author Kevin Cook, Matuszak fled to a nearby cemetery and hid behind a gravestone. There were also traces of cocaine found in his bloodstream. He signed up to play with the upstart World Football League's Houston Texans (no relation to the current team of the same name). One local remembered him pushing aside the town's mayor so he could sign an autograph for a child. [7] In his autobiography, Matuszak stated that he used drugs and abused alcohol while playing professional football. Explore John Matuszak Wiki Age, Height, Biography as Wikipedia, Wife, Family relation. 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