John Matuszak

John Daniel Matuszak (October 25, 1950 – June 17, 1989), known by the nickname "Tooz", was a towering defensive end who left a dual legacy in professional football and Hollywood. Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Audrey and Marvin Matuszak, his childhood was marked by tragedy as both of his brothers succumbed to cystic fibrosis, a loss that forged his determination to become a physical powerhouse, eventually winning the Wisconsin Class A state championship in the shot put. After a brief stint at Iowa Central Community College, he transferred to the University of Missouri where limited playing time as a tight end led to loss of his scholarship, prompting his move to the University of Tampa. There he returned to the defensive line, earned All‑American honors in 1972, and helped the Spartans defeat Kent State in the Tangerine Bowl. Selected first overall in the 1973 NFL Draft by the Houston Oilers, Matuszak’s NFL journey was tumultuous, featuring a brief World Football League episode with the Houston Texans, trades to the Kansas City Chiefs and Washington Redskins, and finally a stable tenure with the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders. With the Raiders he captured two Super Bowl titles (XI and XV), logged 48.5 sacks, and became a fan favorite despite a reputation for hard‑living habits that he later confessed in his autobiography Cruisin' with the Tooz. Transitioning to acting in the late 1970s, he portrayed memorable characters such as O.W. Shaddock in North Dallas Forty, the prehistoric Tonda in Caveman, and the deformed yet endearing Sloth in The Goonies, a role that required five hours of makeup daily. His television credits spanned MASH*, The A‑Team, and Miami Vice, showcasing his gentle‑giant persona. Matuszak’s life was cut short at 38 when an accidental propoxyphene overdose, compounded by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, bronchopneumonia, and traces of cocaine, led to his death in Burbank, California. His legacy endures as a symbol of raw talent, larger‑than‑life presence, and the complex interplay between athletic glory and personal demons.