Football star and actor Merlin Olsen has died at the age of 69 after a yearlong battle with mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer that has been linked to asbestos exposure.

According to this article, Olsen was diagnosed with mesothelioma last year.

Olsen had previously filed an asbestos exposure lawsuit, saying he was exposed to the harmful substance at a young age when he did manual labor work after school and in the summer, the article said.

Asbestos has been linked to numerous health issues including mesothelioma, a rare and often deadly form of cancer. Even brief exposure to asbestos can cause harm, and symptoms of asbestos exposure may emerge years after the exposure occurred. If you or a loved one has been exposed to asbestos, you should contact a personal injury lawyer with experience in asbestos and mesothelioma lawsuits to discuss your possible case.