Rosey Grier
A fearsome NFL lineman who reinvented himself as a gentle giant, becoming a singer, actor, and advocate for emotional strength and needlepoint.
Born 1932 (age 94)·American football player, actor writer·Birthday: July 14·The Silent Generation
Biography
Rosey Grier was a paradox of power and sensitivity. On the gridiron, he was an immovable force, a cornerstone of the Los Angeles Rams' legendary 'Fearsome Foursome' defensive line that terrorized quarterbacks in the 1960s. But his public identity shattered stereotypes. He famously helped subdue Robert F. Kennedy's assassin in 1968, an event that deepened his introspection. He then carved a path few athletes dared, releasing albums of folk music, acting in film and television, and even hosting a children's show. In later years, he became a ordained minister and motivational speaker, openly discussing masculinity and mental health. Perhaps most unexpectedly, he championed needlepoint as a therapeutic hobby, authoring a book on the subject and appearing on talk shows with his yarn and canvas, forever redefining what it meant to be a tough guy.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Rosey was born in 1932, placing them squarely in The Silent 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 Rosey Was Born
The biggest hits of 1932
#1 Movie
Grand Hotel
Best Picture
Grand Hotel
Rosey's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1932Born
Amelia Earhart flies solo across the Atlantic
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Night and Day" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Grand Hotel
1937Started school
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
1945Became a teenager
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
1948Could drive
Israel declares independence; Berlin Blockade begins
Gas: $0.26/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Twelfth Street Rag" — Pee Wee HuntBest Picture: Hamlet
1950Could vote
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1953Turned 21
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1962Turned 30
Cuban Missile Crisis brings the world to the brink
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,800Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Stranger on the Shore" — Acker BilkBest Picture: Lawrence of Arabia
1972Turned 40
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1982Turned 50
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1992Turned 60
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2002Turned 70
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2012Turned 80
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2026Age 94 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Was a key defensive tackle for the Los Angeles Rams' 'Fearsome Foursome,' one of the most dominant defensive lines in NFL history.
- Played in two Pro Bowls and was named a First-team All-Pro in 1966.
- Authored the book 'Rosey Grier's Needlepoint for Men' and popularized the craft.
- Had a multifaceted second career as a singer, actor, and ordained minister.
Did You Know?
He was a bodyguard for Robert F. Kennedy and helped tackle Sirhan Sirhan after the senator's assassination.
He recorded the album 'Rosey Grier Sings Folk Songs' and the single 'It's All Right to Cry' for the 'Free to Be... You and Me' project.
He played the role of 'Mo' in the 1977 sci-fi film 'The Thing with Two Heads'.
He was a standout college football player at Penn State University.
“It's all right to cry. Crying gets the sad out of you.”
