| # | Fact |
|---|
| 1 | Karras made his film debut in Paper Lion (1968), playing himself as a member of the Detroit Lions. |
| 2 | His wife Susan Clark co-starred on Webster (1983) with him. |
| 3 | Karras spent the summer of 1957 with an American track team of Greek descent. He participated in the shot put, throwing a respectable 52 feet. |
| 4 | He was a four-time Indiana all-state football selection at Gary's Emerson High School. |
| 5 | Best remembered by the public (as an actor) for his starring role as George Papadapolis on Webster (1983). |
| 6 | Friends with: Alan Alda, McLean Stevenson, Howard Cosell, Cleavon Little, Mel Brooks, Slim Pickens, Barbara Carrera, Vincent Gallo, Peter Bonerz, James Franciscus, Jack Kruschen, Cathryn Damon, Eugene Roche, Henry Polic II and his wife Susan Clark. |
| 7 | His father, George Karras, opened up his own medical practice. He died when Alex was only age 13. |
| 8 | The younger of two brothers. |
| 9 | Met Susan Clark while filming Babe (1975). |
| 10 | He and his second wife Susan Clark were both the executive producers of Georgian Bay Entertainment from 1975 to 1989. |
| 11 | Graduated from Emerson High School in Gary, Indiana, in 1953. |
| 12 | After his final guest-starring role on The Tom Show (1997), he retired from acting at age 62. |
| 13 | Was a staunch Democrat. |
| 14 | Of Greek and Canadian immigrants. |
| 15 | His parents were George Karras, a University of Chicago graduated who obtained a medical degree in Canada, and Emmeline (Wilson) Karras, a housewife from Canada. |
| 16 | Alex Karras passed away on October 10, 2012. Days after his death, Maffew, creator of Internet wrestling series Botchamania, paid tribute to him. Karras's depiction of 'Mongo' in Blazing Saddles had often used and parodied in Botchamania, as an introduction to clips involving 'Steve 'Mongo' McMichael'. |
| 17 | Inducted into the Indiana Football Hall of Fame in 1976. |
| 18 | Played in the 1957 East-West Shrine game. |
| 19 | It was announced on Tuesday, October 9th, 2012, that Alex only had days to live after suffering kidney failure. He was also suffering from dementia from repeated head injuries. He died the following day, Wednesday, October 10th, 2012. |
| 20 | Alex was one of the NFL players who are suing the league regarding the treatment of head injuries. |
| 21 | During National Football League career he was among the closest Detroit Lions defensive blockers that tried to block New Orleans Saints place-kicker, Tom Dempsey's 63-yard record-setting and game winning field goal, as time expired from the New Orleans Saints 37 yard line on November 8, 1970. Final score: New Orleans Saints 19 and Detroit Lions 17. |
| 22 | Stepbrother-in-law of Linda Thorson. |
| 23 | Perhaps his most memorable moment as an actor was the scene in Blazing Saddles (1974) where his character, Mongo, punched a horse. |
| 24 | He was suspended from the NFL for one season for gambling on football games. |
| 25 | He wrestled late professional wrestler, Dick the Bruiser (Dick Afflis), in 1963, between his 1961-1962 and 1962-1963 seasons as a Detroit Lion. |
| 26 | Defensive tackle for the NFL's Detroit Lions, 1958-1971. |
| 27 | Retired and late professional football player and actor. |
| 28 | Consensus all-American (making 10 teams) in 1957 Member of inaugural class of the Iowa Lettermen's Club Hall of Fame |
| 29 | Played in the Hula Bowl, 1958. |
| 30 | Named to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1991. |
| 31 | Named to All-Big Ten team, 1956 and 1957 |
| 32 | In conjunction with the 100 years of Hawkeye football celebration in 1989, Iowa Hawkeye fans selected an all-time team. The squad features 11 players on offense and defense, two kickers and 15 special mention players who received strong fan support. Karras was voted to the team as a defensive lineman. |
| 33 | 2nd place in voting for Heisman Trophy, 1957 (Honoring the outstanding college football player in the United States, presented by the Downtown Athletic Club of New York) |
| 34 | Outland Trophy, 1957 (Honoring the outstanding interior lineman, selected by the Football Writers Association of America) |
| 35 | Played on the Hawkeyes' 1956 Rose Bowl championship team |
| 36 | Played football for the University of Iowa Hawkeyes |
| 37 | Daughter, Katie (b. 1980), with Susan Clark. |
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