Bernie Casey, an accomplished National Football League receiver who successfully painted and acted in dozens of films, including “Revenge of the Nerds,” “Brian’s Song” and “I’m Gonna Git You Sucka,” died on Tuesday in Los Angeles. He was 78.

His friend Wren T. Brown said the cause was complications of a stroke.

A fast 6-foot-4 receiver, Mr. Casey had been a football and track star at Bowling Green State University in Ohio when he signed with the San Francisco 49ers in 1961. Over eight seasons he was a model of consistency, catching at least 50 passes per season five times and finishing in the top 10 among N.F.L. receivers four times. He was chosen for the Pro Bowl in 1967, before he moved on to the Los Angeles Rams.

In the Rams’ next-to-last regular-season game in 1967, Mr. Casey caught the game-winning touchdown with 34 seconds left to lead them to a 27-24 win over the Green Bay Packers. The win ensured that the Rams would play the Baltimore Colts for the Coastal Division. The Rams won easily, but lost the conference championship to the Packers. Mr. Casey scored the Rams’ only touchdown.