Dick Butkus, one of the most feared linebackers in the sport's history, died in his sleep yesterday. He was 80 years old. There's no word on the cause of death.
Butkus played for the University of Illinois before terrorizing offenses for nine seasons in the NFL, from 1965 to 1973 . . . all with the Chicago Bears. He was a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 1979. The Bears retired his #51 in 1994.
After hanging up the cleats, Butkus became an actor. He starred in a series of Miller Lite commercials . . . often alongside fellow NFL retiree Bubba Smith.
He also appeared in TV series like "My Two Dads," "Blue Thunder", and "Hang Time". And he did tons of TV guest appearances over the years.
His movies included "Mother, Juggs and Speed," "Johnny Dangerously," "Necessary Roughness," and "Any Given Sunday."
And who can forget his award-worthy work in the 1986 cinematic classic "Hamburger: The Motion Picture"?
But his heart always belonged to football. He once said, quote, "Football for me was never work. If you love something, it's not work.
"But if acting were my real true love, I'd be honing my craft, wouldn't I, over at some [crappy] theater?"
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