[5][6], Matuszak's football career was often overshadowed by his lifestyle. He was born John Daniel Matuszak in Oak Creek, Wis. He attended Oak Creek High School. Even John Matuszak's fiancee Stephanie Cozart couldn't convince him to stay clean. Coach Devine left after that season, and the new coach didn't want Tooz around. During one of his football training camps, he added Valium to his beer, which nearly killed him. The university didn't like that, and revoked his scholarship. An article written for Sports Illustrated's website in January 2005 named him one of the top five all-time "bad boys" of the NFL.[8]. One other complication that was a factor in his death was that he had an enlarged heart, too big even for his massive frame. He died as a result of "acute propoxyphene intoxication," a painkiller known by the trade name of Darvon, at the untimely age of 38. John lost two brothers to cystic fibrosis, from which his sister also suffered. He is from United States. Mr. Griffith was a native of Washington and a graduate of George Mason High School in Falls Church. Matuszak died on June 17, 1989, as a result of acute propoxyphene intoxication, an accidental overdose of the prescription drug Darvocet, according to the findings of the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office. Madden retired two years later, and was replaced with Tom Flores. He said he had no plans to play in that game but requested to play after seeing about 25 men looking for him on the sidelines. Witnesses offer conflicting accounts, How Palm Springs ran out Black and Latino families to build a fantasy for rich, white people, Mars Voltas lead singer broke with Scientology and reunited with the band. June 19, 1989 12 AM PT. Kent State's standouts included future Hall of Fame linebacker Jack Lambert and Gary Pinkel, who coached Missouri from 2001-15. He had a three-episode stint opposite O.J. He starred in a short-lived 1985 prime-time television series, "Hollywood Beat," playing George Grinsky, a huge gay informant whose business was used by undercover cops working in Hollywood. Barbara Bach & John Matuszak - Caveman (1981). He was 38. Matuszak also played for various NFL teams; his longest stint of six years having been spent with . His debut came in 1979's North Dallas Forty:Matuszak's role as offensive lineman O.W. John Matuszak was in a relationship with Stephanie Cozart Burton (1980 - 1989). But the story behind the actor who played Sloth is almost as unbelievable as the plot of The Goonies. The One Tragedy That Forever Changed The Actor Who Played Sloth In The In the LA Times' 1989 tribute to the deceased football star, she remembered the number of times he committed himself to rehab and then walked out before completing the program. John Matuszak was 6-8 (203 cm) tall. Matuszak did not see much playing time at Mizzou because the starting tight end was an excellent blocker. His castmates on Goonies remembered him as a "sweetheart. Matuszak fled to a cemetery and effectively used gravestones . His full name is John Daniel Matuszak and his nickname is Matuszak. -- these are the real bad boys of NFL lore", "Matuszak's Death Caused By Accidental Overdose", "Here is the Butt of Sloth from "the Goonies", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_Matuszak&oldid=1146496367, Season 10 Episode 18 "Promotion Commotion", Season 7 Episode 5 "No More Mr. Nice Guy", This page was last edited on 25 March 2023, at 07:11. The Oilers were unsurprisingly unimpressed, and the LA Times said they even went as far as sending a team of lawmen to a football game to chase Matuszak around the sidelines with a subpoena.