Michael Landon, originally known as Eugene Maurice Orowitz, was a prominent American actor and filmmaker. He gained fame for his notable portrayals as Little Joe Cartwright in the long-running series Bonanza (1959–1973), Charles Ingalls in the beloved show Little House on the Prairie (1974–1983), and Jonathan Smith in the heartwarming series Highway to Heaven (1984–1989). In his career, Landon has made the TV Guide cover 22 times, a number only surpassed by Lucille Ball. Tragically, Michael Landon passed away suddenly on July 1, 1991. Fans all throughout the world continue to value and recognize his contributions to the entertainment industry.
Michael Landon Bio
| Full Name | Eugene Maurice Orowitz |
| Nickname | Little Joe |
| Date Of Birth | October 31, 1936 |
| Date of Death | July 1, 1991 (at the age of 54) |
| Zodiac Sign | Scorpio |
| Height | 5′ 9″ |
| Net Worth | Approximately $40 million |
Early life
Born on October 31, 1936, in Forest Hills, Queens, New York, Landon’s original name was Eugene Maurice Orowitz. His parents were Peggy (née O’Neill), a dancer and comedian, and Eli Maurice Orowitz. His older sister Evelyn was born in 1933, making Eugene the Orowitz family’s second child. 1941 saw the family moving to Collingswood, New Jersey, when Landon was four years old. At Temple Beth Sholom, he had his bar mitzvah after attending religious studies, which involved a significant effort, including daily bike trips to a nearby town to learn Hebrew and prayers.
During his childhood, Landon faced the distressing experience of his mother attempting suicide. On one occasion during a family beach vacation, she tried to drown herself, but Landon intervened and saved her. Despite this traumatic event, his mother acted as if nothing happened shortly after, leaving Landon deeply affected.
The stress from his mother’s suicide attempts contributed to him struggling with bedwetting, which was revealed in the unauthorized biography “Michael Landon: His Triumph and Tragedy.” Adding to his ordeal, his mother displayed his wet sheets outside his window for everyone to see, prompting Landon to rush home daily and try to remove them before his classmates could notice.
These challenging experiences would later be the inspiration for his semi-autobiographical television movie titled “The Loneliest Runner,” a project he wrote, produced, and directed.
Landon attended Collingswood High School, where he excelled in javelin throwing. His extraordinary skill resulted in a spectacular 193 ft 4 in (58.93 m) throw in 1954, which set a record for the longest throw by an American high school student that year.
He was able to attend the University of Southern California on an athletic scholarship as a consequence. Unfortunately, a serious injury tearing his shoulder ligaments abruptly ended his college sports career and his academic pursuits. At this point,
Landon turned his attention to show business and found work as an attendant at a service gas station near Warner Bros. studios. It was here that he caught the eye of Bob Raison, a local agent, who offered him advice and suggested that he change his surname, leading Landon to select a new one from a phone book.
Michael Landon: These are his nine children
Michael Landon had nine kids in all throughout his life, coming from three distinct marriages. These are what they are:
- Mark Fraser Landon (adopted) – born in 1948, passed away in 2009.
- Josh Fraser Landon (adopted) – born in 1960.
- Cheryl Ann Pontrelli (stepdaughter) – born in 1953.
- Leslie Landon – born in 1962.
- Michael Landon Jr. – born in 1964.
- Shawna Landon – born in 1971.
- Christopher Beau Landon – born in 1975.
- Jennifer Landon – born in 1983.
- Sean Matthew Landon – born in 1986.
At the age of 20, Michael Landon adopted his first son, Mark, with his then-wife, Dodie Levy-Fraser. Additionally, Josh was also adopted into the family during this time.
After his marriage with Dodie ended in divorce in 1962, Michael Landon tied the knot with Marjorie Lynn Noe in 1963. Marjorie had a daughter named Cheryl Ann Pontrelli from a previous relationship. The couple went on to have four children together: Leslie, Michael Jr., Shawna, and Christopher Beau. However, in 1982, this marriage also ended in divorce.
During the filming of ‘Little House,’ Michael Landon found love with Cindy Clerico. They got married in 1983 and welcomed two children, Jennifer and Sean Matthew, into their family.
Michael Landon’s children have kept their connection with the entertainment industry alive:
Following in their father’s footsteps, some of Landon’s children pursued careers in Hollywood. Leslie Landon, Michael Landon Jr., and Shawna Landon all embraced acting as their profession. Meanwhile, Christopher Beau Landon ventured into the field of screenwriting and film direction. Landon’s youngest daughter, Jennifer, also achieved success as an actress.
Prior to his passing in 2009, Mark Fraser Landon was also an actor. However, information regarding the occupations of Josh Fraser Landon and Cheryl Ann Pontrelli remains elusive.
As the youngest child of Michael Landon, Sean Matthew Landon found success in the luxury real estate business in Malibu, California, as stated on his Instagram profile.
Legacy
Following the passing of the actor, a community building was named “The Michael Landon Center” at Malibu’s Bluffs Park. In honor of Michael Landon, his son, Michael Jr, produced a heartfelt memorial special titled “Michael Landon: Memories with Laughter and Love.” The special featured touching accounts from the actor’s family, friends, and co-stars. David Canary, his co-star from Bonanza, described Landon as “fearless” in his dealings with network executives.
Melissa Gilbert, who played his daughter on Little House, fondly recalled feeling “incredibly safe” with him and admired his paternal nature. The special also highlighted Landon’s unique sense of humor, which included quirky antics like having toads leap from his mouth and donning a superhero costume to visit a pizza parlor.
During Landon’s final appearance on The Tonight Show in 1991, he surprised host Johnny Carson by taking him back to a restaurant they had visited before. Carson had believed he had accidentally run over the owner’s cat during their initial visit, but Landon revealed that it was all a playful prank. Landon had arranged for a fake menu featuring cat metaphors to add to the humorous twist of the situation.
Michael Jr. co-wrote and directed the made-for-TV film “Michael Landon, the Father I Knew,” which CBS broadcast in 1999. Joel Berti played Michael Landon Jr., Cheryl Ladd played Lynn Noe, and John Schneider played Michael Landon. The documentary examined the mental anguish Michael Jr. went through as a result of his parents’ divorce and his father’s untimely passing from Michael Jr. The events in the movie took place between the 1960s and the early 1990s.
In Landon’s hometown of Collingswood, a plaque and a small playground called the “Little Treehouse on the Prairie” were established in Knight Park. However, in 2011, the plaque was removed from the park by the borough. Later, it was returned to a safer location beside a bench during a cleanup the following summer.
In 2021, Karen Grassle, Landon’s co-star on Little House, released her memoir titled “Bright Lights, Prairie Dust: Reflections on Life, Loss, and Love by House’s Ma.” In the book, Grassle candidly revealed the challenging relationship she had with Landon, citing derogatory remarks he made about her while on the set of Little House, often in the presence of other cast and crew members. Despite their differences, Grassle eventually reconciled with Landon before his death in 1991 from pancreatic cancer.
Michael Landon’s Filmography
- 1956 – These Wilder Years
- 1957 – I Was a Teenage Werewolf
- 1958 – Maracaibo
– High School Confidential
– God’s Little Acre
- 1959 – The Legend of Tom Dooley
- 1961 – The Errand Boy
- 1984 – Sam’s Son
TV Shows & Serials List
- 1959-1973 – Bonanza
- 1974-1983 – Little House on the Prairie
- 1984-1989 – Highway to Heaven
Awards and Honors
- 1969: Bambi Award for the TV series International “Bonanza” (shared with Lorne Greene, Dan Blocker, Pernell Roberts) – Won.
- 1970: Bronze Wrangler Award for Fictional Television Drama for the “Bonanza” episode: “The Wish” (shared with director, producer, and cast) – Won.
- 1979: Golden Globe Award nomination for Best TV Actor – Drama in “Little House on the Prairie.”
- 1980: Spur Award for Best TV Script for the “Little House on the Prairie” episode: “May We Make Them Proud” – Won.
- 1984: Inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame as a Television Star at 1500 N. Vine Street.
- 1984: Golden Boot Award for Significant Contribution to the Western Genre – Honored.
- 1991: Youth in Film Award – Michael Landon Award for Outstanding Contribution to Youth Through Entertainment – Honored.
- 1995: Inducted into the Television Hall of Fame for Significant Contribution to the Field of Television – Honored.
- 1998: Inducted into the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum – Western Performers Hall of Fame.
- 2004: TV Land Award nomination for Most Memorable Mane in “Little House on the Prairie.”
Illness and Passing
Michael Landon started getting terrible headaches on April 2, 1991, while on a skiing holiday in Utah. He was given the heartbreaking news that he had exocrine adenocarcinoma, an aggressive form of pancreatic cancer that had already spread to his pancreas’ surrounding tissues and blood vessels. This news came to him within three days. Unfortunately, the malignancy was determined to be incurable and deadly.
He made an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson on May 9, when he spoke candidly about his struggle with cancer and used the occasion to denounce the dramatic headlines and false reports that the tabloid press had been peddling, including untrue statements about him and his wife. Landon boldly announced during the performance that he was going to combat the sickness and he pleaded with his fans for their prayers and support.
He successfully underwent surgery to remove a potentially fatal blood clot from his left leg twelve days later. He appeared on the cover of Life magazine in June after obtaining an exclusive private interview with Michael Landon. The interview covered his family, his life, and the difficulties he had while battling for his survival.
Michael Landon tragically passed unexpectedly in Malibu, California, on July 1 at the age of 54, surrounded by his loved ones, including Clerico. He was buried in the Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery in Culver City, California, in a private family mausoleum. His gravestone is inscribed with the heartfelt words, “He joyfully seized each day. He graciously offered life. Love and laughter are his lasting legacies.” Michael’s son Mark, who died in May 2009 as well, is interred next to him in the same mausoleum, continuing their shared heritage.
5 ASTONISHING FACTS
- Film Creation from Experience: He delved into filmmaking by writing and directing the 1976 telefilm “The Loneliest Runner,” drawing inspiration from his own childhood experiences.
- Karate Lessons from a Legend: Chuck Norris himself mentored him in the art of karate, showcasing his prowess in martial arts.
- Naturally Gray Hair: Remarkably, his hair started turning gray in his 20s, leading him to utilize over-the-counter colors to conceal the premature graying.
- Due to their long-standing friendship, he was able to openly discussed his battle with cancer on Carson’s show soon before Carson died away. As their professions developed, their relationship got stronger.
- Despite having a high IQ of 159, his passion for athletics had a significant detrimental impact on his capacity to perform well in school. He dropped from being an A student in elementary school to being third last in his grade.
FAQs
In April 1991, Michael Landon received a pancreatic cancer diagnosis; he went suddenly three months later.
Michael Landon died from pancreatic cancer on July 1, 1991, at the age of 54, just months after his diagnosis.
Michael Landon was American.
Michael Landon never practiced any religion as an adult despite the series’ religious undertones. The fact that he was incapable of playing the violin or fiddle is clearly obvious.
