Michael Landon Online Tribute and Memorial Website

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.

Comments

linda f. garner Sep 22, 2010

i lost my husband aug 4 of this year and the stories on highway to heaven have been so wonderful and when i was younger i would watch little house on the prairie evey chance every week it came on and my grandchildren enjoy it now. but your dad stood for values lost in the generation past on tv and movies his smile his laugh must make you feel wonderful because he makes my heart lighter we used your dad's words and tombstone because my husband was very much like him alwasy laughing and always positive and like both of them they wouldn't want to be remembered with tears but they still come and go. once i was working for md muscular dystrophy and he sent me a autograph copy of one of the programs and we auctioned if off, i now wish i would have done the bidding but that isn't the reason i wrote you i want nothing from you or your family but to tell you i am so glad tv is playing his program again the value makes me happy in this trying time for me, I hope you always remember that your Dad touched so many hearts and his values make a difference....Thanks for rereleasing his programs I know they are helping me just as they always have