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Michael Landon}’s portrait

Michael Landon

  • 54 years old
  • Male
  • Born Oct 31, 1936
  • Died Jul 01, 1991
  • United States
an American actor, producer and director
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About

Biography

Born Eugene Maurice Orowitz in New York City, Michael Landon was an American, director, producer and actor.  He starred in many television series, and his career spanned thirty years. 

He is best known for his roles as ‘Little Joe’ in Bonanza, ‘Pa – Charles Ingles’ in Little House on the Prairie, and as ‘Jonathan Smith’ in Highway to Heaven.  He produced, wrote, and directed many of the episodes in which he appeared.  He changed his name in the late 1950s and began with small parts in several productions.  He landed his first big role in 1959 in the highly successful television series Bonanza.  The series ran for 14 seasons.  The following year he starred in Little House on the prairie which ran for a total of 9 seasons.  He then went on to produce television series and a movie, but returned to acting as the star in ‘Highway to Heaven’.

He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 1991, shortly after beginning a new television series.  The cancer spread to his liver and lymph nodes.  His four pack a day smoking habit likely contributed to the cancer.  He died in 1991.

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Memories

Clean,Moral and Judaic Ways,Legacy Continues

NEIMAH RAY Oct 26, 2011

I have known Michael since 1982 to 1991. Was there at a neighbor's home when Michael Passed. We drove up to see our friend Milt. Milt told me back in 1983 or 1984 that Michael and Brian were terminally ill.

When I was diagnosed with my own progressive disability,Michael was there.
When I was down,he was there to encourage and kept ties about me with Milt.
When I wanted to know something,Milt passed it on to Michael.

You could not ask for a better friend in the entire world. What I am doing online now is to continue the Landon Legacy. All of the American points especially Make A Wish Foundation which he helped to build I am continuing for him. When he was so terminally ill,I was there for him. We looked into each others lives and I was thrilled to be apart of this. Thanks Mike for helping and for caring!

NEIMAH RAY

My memory

Odette Borg Sep 13, 2011

Bonanza, Little House on the Prairie, Highway to Heaven all good moral programs. We need more of this type of programming. Michael set the bar, but few have been able to attain it. He showed us what life should be, a challenge, a learning experience where what we have learned be shared with others. After watching these programs I always felt that I could deal with my childhood, my adolecence as I now saw things in colour and not just black and white. They showed me that there was always more than one way to look at things. I will miss him but will always think of him. There will always be a candle burning in my heart.

Clean, moral TV entertainment.

Pepper Cruse May 10, 2011

I am a 44 year old woman. So I was a kid when Little House was on TV. I have always loved westerns, so I enjoyed Bonanza, but it was Little House On The Prairie that I truly lost myself...in a good way. I wanted to be Laura Ingals and live like they did in those days. Michael Landon, you had true talent and I attribute your show LHOTP for my discovering of the Laura Ingals books which I read many times over & over. We need more good, wholesome family shows like Bonanza and LHOTP.
~ Pepper Clark Cruse

Clean, moral TV entertainment.

Pepper Cruse May 10, 2011

I am a 44 year old woman. So I was a kid when Little House was on TV. I have always loved westerns, so I enjoyed Bonanza, but it was Little House On The Prairie that I truly lost myself...in a good way. I wanted to be Laura Ingals and live like they did in those days. Michael Landon, you had true talent and I attribute your show LHOTP for my discovering of the Laura Ingals books which I read many times over & over. We need more good, wholesome family shows like Bonanza and LHOTP. ~ Pepper Clark Cruse

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