who played sloth in the goonies

He was back to square one of rehabilitation. John Matuszak, a former NFL defensive end, played Sloth in “The Goonies.” The 6-foot-8, 280-pound defensive lineman most notably won two Super Bowls with the Oakland/ Los Angeles Raiders but also played for the Houston Oilers, Kansas City Chiefs and Washington Redskins in … Matuszak's family also struggled with a brutal history of cystic fibrosis. Standing at 6 feet, 8 inches tall, Matuszak cut a commanding figure on his own, and, in fact, before he was an actor, he was a champion athlete. April 27, 2020 by Chanel Vargas. The Goonies may have debuted more than 30 years ago, but its legacy will live in the hearts of viewers forever.. He wasn't allowed to leave the set, for fear of outsiders seeing him in costume, so he did a lot of sitting around. The pain in his body almost equaled the pain of not being able to be with his teammates on the field. and as recognizable as … This led to endless heartbreak, a crisis of faith, and trouble being around children going forward for Matuszak — their presence made him deeply sad. The Goonies Sloth (1985) Half Nelson (1985) Benson Roy (1985) He was traded ... to the Kansas City Chiefs. Although there was a trace of cocaine in his system, the cause of death was an accidental overdose of the prescription drug, Darvocet — a drug he was actually prescribed and took that very morning. Ravens. John Daniel Matuszak was once a scrawny, awkward kid from the Midwest. One of these walking object lessons was John Belushi. Sloth was physically deformed due to abuse, but he was blessed with a child-like innocence and a love of Baby Ruth candy bars. On June 17, 1989, John Matuszak died at age 38. Two of his little brothers died of it: Christopher after two months of life, and David at the age of two years. https://www.biography.com/news/goonies-cast-where-are-they-now Matuszak was suspended for the rest of the season and thrown out of his fraternity. Cohen's reaction is captured forever in the movie. Kansas City was the next stop on the trouble tour, and it didn't exactly turn out to be a KC masterpiece. I don't ever want to go back," he wrote. So, he bulked up his grades at Fort Dodge, a junior college. Matuszak also did a three day stint in jail for carrying a concealed weapon. The Goonies Cast Reunited With Josh Gad to Read Some of the Film's Most Iconic Scenes. He later wears a red windbreaker while down on Cannon Beach.His signature dance is the \"Truffle Shuffle\", where he pulls his shirt up and wiggles in place while making a number of embarrassing noises. When they offered the rookie a contract, they lowballed him. He is remembered for his kindness to children, his tendency to get into drunken bar fights, and his insecurities. The Heartbreaking Tale Of The Actor Who Played Sloth In The Goonies. He prayed to stop growing, but he only grew taller. Year one didn't go so hot: They won a single game, and lost 13. Sloth was a 1980s icon, as beloved as E.T. "Car troubles" could have been the name of his biography: He amassed a long rap sheet of arrests, including ones for aggressive driving, careless driving, possession of drugs, and drunken driving. One of these offenses killed a pending endorsement deal that would have seen him appear in beer commercials. On a single day in the summer of 1976, he engaged in a wine-soaked tryst with a fan, came to practice tipsy, was sent home, went out drinking with teammates, attended an evening team meeting, was sent home again, went to a bar, took two sleeping pills, and blacked out. On top of everything, the adhesives and prosthetics aggravated his skin. John Matuszak (October 25, 1950 - June 17, 1989) was a football player and actor who portrayed Sloth in The Goonies. Simpson on HBO's 1st & Ten, until his 'roided-up character died of a heart attack on the practice field. All hell broke loose. ~ Sloth Fratelli's most famous line of the movie, which a deleted scene shows he learned from Chunk. His debut came in 1979's North Dallas Forty: Matuszak's role as offensive lineman O.W. As his fame grew, so did his personality, which stretched way beyond the gridiron. Tragic Details About The Actor Who Played Sloth. In late 1984, Matuszak met with director Richard Donner, who was deep into casting The Goonies. Nothing seemed able to stop the other kids from teasing him incessantly. It was a minor separation of his shoulder, but Matuszak played through it, and paid the price in pain for years to come. Matuszak was bit by the acting bug as a kid, when he saw James Dean getting paid to be cool in Rebel Without a Cause. But though he was clearly multi-talented and little short of legendary in his hometown of Milwaukee, Wisc., Matuszak's life was not always charmed. Tooz was a top pick, and the team was hoping he'd turn the moribund franchise around. Still, it was fun — especially since Matuszak was a devoted Beatles fan. Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on October 25, 1950, Matuszak grew up playing football as a defensive end. Seven years later, Matuszak would join Belushi on the list of actors who died in their prime. Seriously: The man used to order half a dozen eggs and half a pound of bacon for breakfast, in addition to his steady diet of Cheez Whiz smeared on bagels. He was cut before the season began in 1976. It was a rough and wild time in his life — one that cast long shadows. After seeing Steve Reeves play the title role in 1958's Hercules, he asked his parents for weights to bulk up his skinny frame. The attention he so desperately wanted from his peers finally started to come. Still, he was happy to be free of the painkillers, and being black and blue on Mondays. Then he grew into a physical colossus, became a big-time California football star, and eventually, an out-and-out movie star. Matuszak tried to take it easy on his back while filming. The following season, the Raiders weren't able to repeat their success, and by 1982, Tooz's body was telling him it was time to wrap up his career, even if he didn't want to. John Matuszak, the man who played Sloth in The Goonies (1985), was selected 1st overall in the 1973 NFL Draft by Houston Oilers. One year, while with the Raiders, he played Santa Claus at a children's hospital, and the emotions that came with it changed his mind and outlook. The Cast Of Goonies: 12 John Matuszak. His career was indeed an endless stream of injuries. There is a tragic backstory behind one icon from the wonderfully weird and delightful classic The Goonies — the untimely death of the actor who played Sloth, John Matuszak — … His one-time roommate/babysitter, quarterback Ken Stabler, quoted John's recipe for fun in his own juicy biography, Snake: "Crown [Royal] and [Quaaludes], the late supper of champions.". Sloth, with Chunk on his back, knifes through the mast of Willy's ship, rescuing the other Goonies and facing his family head-on. John Matuszak got into quite a bit of trouble in his life. Usually, starting with a new team brings about a fresh start. The chance to work with Donner and Spielberg was once-in-a-lifetime. To make matters worse, he was a shy boy struggling with self-esteem issues and an awkward body: Matuszak was 6'1" by the age of 12. Chunk is, as his nickname might suggest, chunky. Sloth is making big scary noises, and Mikey, in hiding, looks totally freaked out. If you were an '80s kid and you didn't know about John "The Tooz" Matuszak — who was just as famous for his hard-partying, loud, larger-than-life persona as he was for his football game — you definitely knew about his alter-ego, the enormous, gentle, unconventionally-featured Sloth, who was the face of the 1985 classic Goonies.. There are 184 sloth goonies funny for sale on Etsy, and they cost $10.12 on average. He also lived with drug and substance addiction for most of his adult life, which he described in his own autobiography, Cruisin With the Tooz, including the time he spent in a rehabilitation facility to treat the addiction, per The New York Times. Matuszak enjoyed "enough parties for twenty people's lives", and especially lived it up during the season on Wednesdays, AKA "Tooz Day." Of course, he played Sloth in the Goonies, but Matuszak was also involved in a number of other acclaimed films. Explore this storyboard about Movies by Grunge on Flipboard. How many men get to work under the genius of both John Madden and Steven Spielberg? But when it came to John Matuszak, trouble seemed to follow him wherever he went. Yet he ended up calling his time in Houston his imprisonment. Sloth turns around, revealing his terrifying visage, and Mikey turns tail and runs. The most common sloth goonies funny material is aluminum. If you were an '80s kid and you didn't know about John "The Tooz" Matuszak — who was just as famous for his hard-partying, loud, larger-than-life persona as he was for his football game — you definitely knew about his alter-ego, the enormous, gentle, unconventionally-featured Sloth, who was the face of the 1985 classic Goonies. His mask had 15 overlapping pieces to it, including electronic eyes and ears. Though Matuszak survived, his career in Kansas City did not, and he was shipped off to the Washington Redskins. He had a lot of present-day stuff.". The Goonies is … Matuszak was enormously excited to work with Donner and producer Steven Spielberg, whom he called "the Al Davis of Hollywood.". The team was seen as a bunch of rebels, and Matuszak's similar attitude and outlook were a perfect match. In the end, it was an accidental overdose of the prescription drug propoxyphene that caused Matuszak's death at age 38 in 1989, with contributing physical factors including an enlarged heart, according to the reporting in The Times. The two teams sued each other, but in the end, Matuszak got his wish. He knocks out and ties up his brothers, then tosses his mother into the lagoon. The Tragic Story Of The Guy Who Played Sloth In 'The Goonies' - LADbible. Matuszak's life was a multifaceted one. Matuszak knew he had an obsessive personality, and tried to fight it when he could. Matuszak's off-the-field troubles also started in college. Matuszak's days of losing were over: One season in, and he was already Super Bowl bound. He starred in North Dallas Forty, which is regarded by many as one of the best football movies ever made. Matuszak never had any children. Tooz decided he didn't want to end up like that, and called it quits on May 10, 1983. John Matuszak's personality was as gigantic as his physical frame. After making sure that all the Goonies have escaped from the collapsing cave, Sloth also makes it … John played Lotney ‘Sloth’ Fratelli in the film, the youngest son of Mama Fratelli. John Daniel Matuszak (October 25, 1950 – June 17, 1989) was an American football defensive end in the National Football League who later became an actor. His second season in Houston ended before it ever started. Most fans associate Matuszak with one role, though — the scary, goofy, lovable, helpful Sloth in The Goonies (1985). His life may have been a rocky road, but the Tooz cruised through it, and there was rarely a dull moment along the way. For one thing, the Oilers were then the worst team in the NFL. His former partner Stephanie Cozart told Yahoo News, "The man was in a lot of emotional pain," and "He had a lot of childhood stuff to deal with. Senior year accolades starting piling up, and NFL scouts started to take notice of this rising star. In a small goof, Sean Astin … Matuszak's life was troubled, sometimes infamous, and far too short. He was no fan of the press, as the press always fed on his exploits, leading to the perception that he was a real "bad dude." He had a three-episode stint opposite O.J. However, whenever anyone met him, worked with him, or enjoyed life with him, they came away knowing he was a giving person and a gentle giant. Then, when it was time to actually start playing, the pressure was almost too high for him to succeed. A few days ago, Twitter user Eyes on Cinema posted a 39-second clip of football-star-turned-The Goonies-actor John Matuszak’s makeup test for Sloth.The Goonies makeup test for Sloth… Everything in his life was large: The wins on the field at any cost, the painkillers needed to offset those costs, the meals needed to sustain his lifestyle. He enjoyed the company of kids, but afterwards, they made him feel depressed. John Matuszak, the actor who so memorably played disfigured giant Sloth, died just four years after the release of the movie, hiding a past of drug … Coach Devine left after that season, and the new coach didn't want Tooz around. Close. Francis Fratelli , Jake Fratelli : Ring around the rosie, pocket full of posies... [Jake and Francis swing around Sloth to tie him up] Sloth : [Sloth rips off his shirt revealing a T-Shirt with the Superman 'S' on the front] Sloth! It was a minor separation of his shoulder, but Matuszak played through it, the Oilers were then the worst team in the NFL, it didn't exactly turn out to be a KC masterpiece, seeing Muhammad Ali on TV after Ali's career had taken a physical toll. 1 day ago. He also appeared in a number of cult classics including Caveman, One Crazy Summer, Ice Pirates, and as mentioned, The Goonies… He has brown curly hair and blue eyes. The Raiders ended up taking down the Vikings in Super Bowl XI. Matuszak actually came close to recovering and making a comeback, but he reinjured himself in 1983 trying to dodge a puppy on a beach. John Matuszak, the man who played Sloth in The Goonies (1985), was selected 1st overall in the 1973 NFL Draft by Houston Oilers. He signed up to play with the upstart World Football League's Houston Texans (no relation to the current team of the same name). His next role was in 1981's Caveman, opposite Ringo Starr, which no critic "confused [with] Gone With The Wind." So it was off to the University of Tampa for Matuszak, an "outlaw school" where undesirables went to be desired. The minor ones, which he called "hangnails," included "bruises, cuts, groin pulls, twisted ankles, dislocated fingers, pulled hamstrings and slightly fractured bones." After being cut by the Redskins, Matuszak's football career was in limbo. In one scene, Sean Astin accidentally calls Josh Brolin by his real name. His heart momentarily stopped, and he came shockingly close to death. He began as a football star and was a two-time Super Bowl winner with the Oakland Raiders as a defensive end. The most popular color? After losing his brothers during his childhood, being around children was always a painful experience for Matuszak. Turns out, the pummelee was an Air Force cadet who ended up with 18 fractures in his face — he needed a whopping 10 hours of surgery to be made whole again. John Matuszak played Sloth in the 1985 film, "The Goonies." This is when Matuszak believed his "bad guy" reputation began: The Tooz wanted out, but a trade was out of the question, so he knew he had to force the Oilers' hand. In order to film the most realistic reactions, the kids weren't allowed to see the ship until shooting … Still, it was worth it, according to Tooz. Sadly, Matuszak died of a drug overdose at the age of 38: His life was fully lived, but way too short. Jake Fratelli : We're in deep shit now, Francis. The man beneath all of that Sloth makeup was a beloved public figure who led a rich and complicated life, though the details are not as well-known now as they may once have been. Right away, Donner could tell he was perfect for the role of Sloth, a disfigured and abused son with a heart of gold. But he still managed to surprise Jeff Cohen, who played his onscreen buddy Chunk, by picking him up while strapped in a chair and kissing him. He takes pity on the "thing in the room" (since we don't know yet what Sloth's face looks like) and pushes his food closer to him. As a result, the city kid's world was rocked when his family moved to rural Oak Creek, Wisconsin. The role of Sloth in The Goonies required an incredible transformation - Matuszak would spend 5 hours having make-up applied every morning. Al Davis of Hollywood. `` own surprise, the youngest son of Mama Fratelli NFL.! But it was time to actually start playing, the City kid world... Overdose at the age of two years & Ten, until his character! 'S who played sloth in the goonies was as gigantic as his fame grew, so did his personality, and eventually, an movie... The pressure was almost too high for him to succeed seemed able to the! A players ' strike, which a deleted scene shows he learned from Chunk actually start,. Who had no interest in sports, showed him no affection — he attended only one these! 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