Michael Landon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Michael Landon
Landon in the 1960s
Born	Eugene Maurice Orowitz (1936-10-31)October 31, 1936 Queens, New York, U.S.
Died	July 1, 1991(1991-07-01) (aged 54) Malibu, California, U.S.
Resting place	Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery
Education	Collingswood High School
Occupation	Actor writer producer director singer
Years active	1955–1991
Known for	Bonanza Little House on the Prairie Highway to Heaven
Spouse(s)	Dodie Levy-Fraser ​ ​ (m. 1956; div. 1962)​ Marjorie Lynn Noe ​ ​ (m. 1963; div. 1982)​ Cindy Clerico ​ ​ (m. 1983)​
Children	9, including Mark, Leslie, Michael Jr., Christopher and Jennifer Landon
Relatives	Rachel Matthews (granddaughter)

Michael Landon (born Eugene Maurice Orowitz) was a famous American actor, writer, and director. He was born on October 31, 1936, and passed away on July 1, 1991.

He is best known for his roles in popular TV shows like Bonanza, where he played Little Joe Cartwright. He also starred as Charles Ingalls in Little House on the Prairie and Jonathan Smith in Highway to Heaven. Michael Landon was so popular that he appeared on the cover of TV Guide magazine 22 times!

Early Life and Talents

Michael Landon was born Eugene Maurice Orowitz in Forest Hills, Queens, New York, on October 31, 1936. His mother, Peggy, was a dancer and comedian, and his father, Eli, was Jewish. Eugene was the second child in his family; his older sister, Evelyn, was born in 1933.

When he was four years old, his family moved to Collingswood, New Jersey. He studied for his bar mitzvah at Temple Beth Sholom. His family remembers that he worked hard to learn Hebrew and prayers for the important event.

Landon went to Collingswood High School. He was an amazing javelin thrower! In 1954, his throw of 193 feet 4 inches (about 59 meters) was the longest by any high school student in the United States that year. This impressive skill earned him a sports scholarship to the University of Southern California. However, he later injured his shoulder, which ended his college sports career and his time as a student.

After college, Landon thought about becoming an actor. He worked at a gas station near Warner Bros. studios. A local agent, Bob Raison, noticed him. Following advice, Landon chose a new last name from a phone book, becoming "Michael Landon."

A Star is Born: Michael Landon's Career

First Acting Roles

Michael Landon's first main role on TV was in the series Telephone Time in 1956. He then got parts in movies like I Was a Teenage Werewolf (1957) and The Legend of Tom Dooley (1959). He also appeared in many other TV shows, including The Rifleman and Wanted Dead or Alive.

Bonanza: A Wild West Adventure

Landon as Little Joe Cartwright in Bonanza (1960)

In 1959, when he was 22, Landon began his first big TV role as Little Joe Cartwright on Bonanza. This was one of the first TV shows to be shown in color! He starred alongside Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, and Dan Blocker.

Bonanza became super popular. From 1964 to 1967, it was the number one show on TV. Michael Landon received more fan mail than anyone else on the show. He even started writing and directing some episodes. In 1962, he wrote his first script, and in 1968, he directed his first episode.

One memorable episode was Little Joe's two-hour wedding in 1972. It was listed as one of TV's most unforgettable specials. Bonanza ended in 1973 after 14 seasons. Landon, along with Lorne Greene, was in every single episode. He often worked with the same people, like producer Kent McCray and composer David Rose, on his later shows too.

Little House on the Prairie: A Family Favorite

Landon as Charles Ingalls, 1974

Just one year after Bonanza finished, Landon starred in another huge hit: Little House on the Prairie. This show was based on the famous books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Landon played Charles Ingalls, the father of the family.

Nine-year-old Melissa Gilbert played Laura Ingalls. Other young actresses, Melissa Sue Anderson and Karen Grassle, played Mary Ingalls and Caroline Ingalls. Landon was also the executive producer, writer, and director for Little House.

The show was nominated for many awards. After eight seasons, the show changed its focus in 1982 to Little House: A New Beginning, which centered on the Wilder family. Landon remained the executive producer, director, and writer. The series ended in 1983, followed by three TV movies.

Melissa Gilbert, who played his daughter, said Landon was like a "second father" to her. She shared that he taught her that "nothing's more important than 'Home & Family'." He believed that loving your family and helping your community were the most important things in life.

Highway to Heaven: Helping Others

After Little House, Landon created another successful show called Highway to Heaven. In this series, he played Jonathan Smith, a probationary angel whose job was to help people. His co-star was Victor French, who had also worked with Landon on Little House.

Landon was the executive producer, writer, and director for Highway to Heaven. This was the only show in his career that he fully owned. He even brought real-life cancer patients and people with disabilities to the set. He hired adults with disabilities to write episodes for the show, showing his commitment to helping others.

Highway to Heaven ran for five seasons, ending in 1989. Sadly, Victor French passed away shortly after the show ended. Landon even invited his youngest daughter, Jennifer Landon, to appear in the final episode.

Other Creative Works

Landon at the 42nd Emmy Awards Governor's Ball, September 1990

Michael Landon also worked on other projects. In 1973, he directed and wrote for the TV series Love Story. In 1982, he co-produced a TV movie called Love Is Forever, where he also starred. This movie was based on a true story about a photojournalist who rescued his lover from Laos.

In 1984, Landon wrote and directed a movie called Sam's Son. This film was loosely based on his own early life. He also appeared on the children's TV series The Electric Company.

Before he passed away, Landon wrote and directed the TV film Where Pigeons Go to Die, which was nominated for two Emmy awards. For 30 years, all of Landon's TV shows were on NBC. After Highway to Heaven, he moved to CBS and starred in a pilot called Us in 1991. He also hosted a CBS special called America's Missing Children.

Singing Career

Michael Landon also had a brief singing career as a teen idol. In 1957, he released a single called "Gimme a Little Kiss (Will "Ya" Huh)". He also sang on TV shows like The Dean Martin Show and Hullabaloo.

Michael Landon's Family Life

Michael Landon was married three times and had nine children. Three of his children were adopted.

• Dodie Levy-Fraser (married 1956; divorced 1962)
  • Mark Fraser Landon (adopted)
  • Josh Fraser Landon (adopted)
• Marjorie Lynn Noe (married 1963; divorced 1982)
  • Cheryl Lynn Landon (Lynn's daughter from a previous marriage)
  • Leslie Ann Landon
  • Michael Landon Jr.
  • Shawna Leigh Landon
  • Christopher Beau Landon
• Cindy Clerico (married 1983)
  • Jennifer Rachel Landon
  • Sean Matthew Landon

Landon believed strongly in God, family, truth, and the power of love. He once said, "I believe that we really are created in God’s image, that there is God in all of us."

Illness and Passing

Crypt of Michael Landon at Hillside Memorial Park

On April 2, 1991, Michael Landon began to feel very unwell while on a skiing trip. A few days later, he was diagnosed with a very serious form of pancreatic cancer. The cancer was inoperable.

On May 9, he appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson to talk about his illness. He also spoke out against tabloid newspapers for printing untrue stories. He passed away on July 1, 1991, at the age of 54, in Malibu, California. He was buried in a private family mausoleum at Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery in Culver City, California. His headstone reads, "He seized life with joy. He gave to life generously. He leaves a legacy of love and laughter."

Michael Landon's Legacy

Landon's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

After Michael Landon's passing, a community building at Malibu's Bluffs Park was named "The Michael Landon Center" in his honor. His son, Michael Jr., created a special called Michael Landon: Memories with Laughter and Love. In this special, his family, friends, and co-stars shared their memories.

David Canary, who acted with him on Bonanza, said Landon was "fearless." Melissa Gilbert, his TV daughter from Little House, said he made her feel "incredibly safe" and was like a father. Many people remembered his funny sense of humor, like when he would make toads seem to leap from his mouth!

In 1999, a TV movie called Michael Landon, the Father I Knew aired on CBS. It was written and directed by his son, Michael Jr. The movie showed Michael Jr.'s feelings about his parents' divorce and his father's early passing.

A small playground and plaque called the "Little Treehouse on the Prairie" were placed in Knight Park in Collingswood, New Jersey, Landon's hometown. This honors his connection to the town.

In 2021, Karen Grassle, who played Caroline Ingalls on Little House, wrote a book where she shared that she and Landon had some disagreements while working together. However, she said they made up before he passed away.

Filmography

Film Roles

Television Roles

Awards and Honors

See also

In Spanish: Michael Landon para niños