Former star player with the Los Angeles Rams during the 1960s, this impressively built African-American athlete made a successful transition into acting by appearing in a variety of television shows, including The Man from U.N.C.L.E. in 1964, The Wild Wild West in 1965, and I Dream of Jeannie in 1965.
Grier's acting career gained momentum with his role in the TV movie The Desperate Mission in 1969, which earned him positive reviews. He then landed a recurring role alongside Fess Parker in the extremely popular children's television series Daniel Boone in 1964, a role that led to a short-lived stint as the host of his own variety show, The Rosey Grier Show, in 1968, which unfortunately only ran for one season.
Throughout the 1970s, Grier remained busy with work in various television shows and appeared in several feature films, including Skyjacked in 1972, The Thing with Two Heads in 1972, and The Timber Tramps in 1973.
Although he continued to make appearances in minor roles throughout the 1970s, it is debatable whether Grier possessed the same level of acting talent as other prominent African-American athletes-turned-actors, such as Fred Williamson, Jim Brown, and Jim Kelly.
In 1983, Grier became an ordained minister and has since dedicated his life to championing the causes of those less fortunate and guiding inner-city teens from impoverished backgrounds.
