Art Donovan
A jovial, rotund defensive tackle who anchored the Baltimore Colts' legendary championship teams and became football's most beloved storyteller.
1924–2013 (age 89)·American football player·Birthday: June 5·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Art Donovan looked like a bartender who wandered onto a football field, and he played with the joyful ferocity of a man who loved his job. The son of a famous boxing referee, he served as a Marine in the Pacific during World War II before playing at Boston College. His professional career began in the rough-and-tumble All-America Football Conference before he found a home with the Baltimore Colts. There, as a defensive tackle, he became the immovable object at the heart of a dynasty, helping the Colts win back-to-back NFL championships in 1958 and 1959. The 1958 title game against the New York Giants, known as 'The Greatest Game Ever Played,' cemented his place in history. But for a generation of fans, Donovan's true legacy was forged after retirement. With his thick Bronx accent and a cigar often in hand, he became a television personality, a regular on late-night shows where he spun hilarious, self-deprecating tales about the old days of football. His nickname 'Fatso,' given by opponents, became a badge of honor, and his genuine, unfiltered personality made him a folk hero far beyond the sport.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Art was born in 1924, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Art Was Born
The biggest hits of 1924
#1 Movie
The Sea Hawk
Art's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1924Born
First Winter Olympics held in Chamonix, France
President: Calvin Coolidge"It Had to Be You" — Isham Jones
1929Started school
Wall Street crashes, triggering the Great Depression
Gas: $0.21/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Singin' in the Rain" — Cliff EdwardsBest Picture: The Broadway Melody
1937Became a teenager
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1940Could drive
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1942Could vote
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1945Turned 21
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
1954Turned 30
Brown v. Board of Education desegregates US schools
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $8,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Little Things Mean a Lot" — Kitty KallenBest Picture: On the Waterfront
1964Turned 40
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1974Turned 50
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1984Turned 60
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1994Turned 70
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2004Turned 80
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2013Died at 89
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
Key Achievements
- Played a pivotal role on the Baltimore Colts teams that won the 1958 and 1959 NFL Championships.
- Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1968, his first year of eligibility.
- Selected to five consecutive Pro Bowls from 1953 to 1957.
- Named to the NFL 1950s All-Decade Team for his dominant defensive play.
Did You Know?
His father, Arthur Donovan Sr., was a Hall of Fame boxing referee who officiated several Joe Louis title fights.
He was a guest on 'The Late Show with David Letterman' over 40 times.
He owned and operated a country club in Baltimore for many years after his playing career.
Despite his 'Fatso' nickname, he was known for his remarkable stamina and rarely left the field.
“I never made a tackle in my life. I just grabbed hold of somebody and waited for help.”
