Michael Landon

Michael Landon Sr. (born Eugene Maurice Orowitz; October 31, 1936 – July 1, 1991) was an American actor and filmmaker. He is known for his roles as Little Joe Cartwright in ''Bonanza'' (1959–1973), Charles Ingalls in ''Little House on the Prairie'' (1974–1983), and Jonathan Smith in '' Highway to Heaven'' (1984–1989). Landon appeared on the cover of ''TV Guide'' 22 times, second only to Lucille Ball.

Early life

Landon was born Eugene Maurice Orowitz on October 31, 1936, in Forest Hills, a neighborhood of Queens, New York. His parents were Kathleen "Peggy" (née O'Neill; a dancer and comedian) and Eli Maurice Orowitz. His father was Jewish, and his mother was Roman Catholic. Eugene was the Orowitz family's second child; their daughter, Evelyn, had been born three years earlier in 1933.

In 1941, when Eugene was four, he and his family moved to the borough of Collingswood, New Jersey. He celebrated his ''bar mitzvah'' at Temple Beth Sholom in Cherry Hill. His family recalls that Landon "went through a lot of hassle studying for the big event, which included bicycling to a nearby town every day in order to learn how to read Hebrew and recite prayers." Years later he told an interviewer that he never went on a date when he was in high school "because no Christian father in the town would allow his daughter to go out with a Jew."

During his childhood, Landon worried constantly about his mother attempting suicide. He later reported that on a family beach vacation, his mother tried to drown herself, but Landon rescued her. Shortly after the attempt, his mother acted as if nothing happened, and a few minutes later, he vomited. He said that it was the worst experience of his life. Stress overload from his mother's suicide attempts caused Landon to battle the childhood problem of bedwetting, which was reported in the unauthorized biography ''Michael Landon: His Triumph and Tragedy''. His mother put his wet sheets on display outside his window for all to see. He ran home every day and tried to remove them before his classmates could see. Some of these experiences were incorporated into his semi-autobiographical television movie, '' The Loneliest Runner'', which he wrote, produced, and directed.

Landon attended Collingswood High School and was an excellent javelin thrower, with his toss in 1954 being the longest throw by a high schooler in the United States that year. This earned him an athletic scholarship to the University of Southern California, but he subsequently tore his shoulder ligaments, putting an end to his days as a college athlete and as a student.

Now in Los Angeles, Landon considered going into show business, and worked as an attendant at a service station across from the Warner Bros. studios in Burbank, California. He was eventually noticed by Bob Raison, a local talent agent. Following his advice, Landon changed his Jewish-sounding name, selecting his new name from a telephone book.

Career

Early work

Landon's first starring appearance was on the television series '' Telephone Time'', in the episode "The Mystery of Casper Hauser" (1956) as the title character. Other parts came, including movie roles in '' I Was a Teenage Werewolf'' (1957), ''Maracaibo'' (1958), '' High School Confidential'' (1958), '' God's Little Acre'' (1958), and '' The Legend of Tom Dooley'' (1959), as well as many roles on television, such as '' Crossroads'' (three episodes), '' The Restless Gun'' (pilot episode aired on '' Schlitz Playhouse of Stars''), ''Sheriff of Cochise'' (in "Human Bomb"), ''U.S. Marshal'' (as Don Sayers in "The Champ"), ''Crusader'', '' Frontier Doctor'', '' The Rifleman'' (in "End of a Young Gun", 1958), ''The Adventures of Jim Bowie'', '' Johnny Staccato'', ''Wire Service'', '' General Electric Theater'', '' The Court of Last Resort'', '' State Trooper'' (two episodes), '' Tales of Wells Fargo'' (three episodes), '' The Texan'' (in the 1958 episode "The Hemp Tree"), '' The Tall Man'', ''Tombstone Territory'' (in the episodes "The Man From Brewster", with John Carradine and "Rose of the Rio Bravo", with Kathleen Nolan), '' Trackdown'' (two 1958 episodes), and '' Wanted Dead or Alive'', starring Steve McQueen (in episodes "The Martin Poster", 1958, and "The Legend", 1959). Landon also appeared in at least two episodes of ''Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theater'' including "Gift from a Gunman" in 1957 and "Living is a Lonely Thing" in 1959. Landon can be seen in two uncredited speaking roles as a cavalry trooper in a 1956 episode of the ABC/ Warner Bros. television series '' Cheyenne'', an episode titled "Decision". Two years later, Landon returned to that same series as White Hawk in "The White Warrior".

''Bonanza''

In 1959, at the age of 22, Landon began his first starring TV role as Little Joe Cartwright on ''Bonanza'', one of the first TV series to be broadcast in color. Also starring on the show were Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, and Dan Blocker. During ''Bonanza''s sixth season (1964–1965), the show topped the Nielsen ratings and remained number one for three years.

Receiving more fan mail than any other cast member, Landon negotiated with executive producer David Dortort and NBC to write and direct some episodes. In 1962, Landon wrote his first script. In 1968, Landon directed his first episode. In 1993, ''TV Guide'' listed Little Joe's September 1972 two-hour wedding episode ("Forever") as one of TV's most memorable specials. Landon's script recalled Little Joe's brother, Hoss, who was initially the story's groom, before Dan Blocker's death. During the final season, the ratings declined, and NBC canceled ''Bonanza'' in November 1972. The last episode aired on January 16, 1973. Along with Lorne Greene and Victor Sen Yung, Landon appeared in all 14 seasons of the series. Landon was loyal to many of his ''Bonanza'' associates, including producer Kent McCray, director William F. Claxton, and composer David Rose, who remained with him throughout ''Bonanza'', as well as ''Little House on the Prairie'' and ''Highway to Heaven''.

''Little House on the Prairie''

The year after ''Bonanza'' was canceled, Landon went on to star as Charles Ingalls in the pilot of what became another successful television series, ''Little House on the Prairie'', again for NBC. The show was taken from a 1935 book written by Laura Ingalls Wilder, whose character in the show was played by 9-year-old actress Melissa Gilbert. In addition to Gilbert, two other unknown actresses also starred on the show: Melissa Sue Anderson, who appeared as Mary Ingalls, the oldest daughter in the Ingalls family, and Karen Grassle as Charles' wife, Caroline. Landon served as executive producer, writer, and director of ''Little House''. The show was nominated for several Emmy and Golden Globe awards. After eight seasons, ''Little House'' was retooled by NBC in 1982 as '' Little House: A New Beginning'', which focused on the Wilder family and the Walnut Grove community. Though Landon remained the show's executive producer, director, and writer, ''A New Beginning'' did not feature Charles and Caroline Ingalls. ''A New Beginning'' was actually the final chapter of ''Little House'', as the series ended in 1983. The following year, three made-for-television movies aired.

In a 2015 interview, Gilbert said of Landon, "He gave me so much advice...the overall idea that he pounded into me, from a little girl, into my brain was that nothing's more important than 'Home & Family'; no success, no career, no achievements, no accomplishments, nothing's more important than loving the people you love and contributing to a community. Though we were working, really, really hard, we were 'Not Saving the World', one episode of television at a time, we're just entertaining people and there are more important things to do... and have fun; no matter what."

''Highway to Heaven''

After producing both "Little House" and later the '' Father Murphy'' TV series, Landon starred in another successful program. In '' Highway to Heaven'', he played a probationary angel (who named himself Jonathan Smith) whose job was to help people in order to earn his wings. His co-star on the show was Victor French (who had previously co-starred on Landon's ''Little House on the Prairie'') as ex-cop Mark Gordon. On ''Highway'', Landon served as executive producer, writer, and director. ''Highway to Heaven'' was the only show throughout his long career in television that he owned outright.

By 1985, prior to hiring his son, Michael Landon Jr., as a member of his camera crew, he also brought real-life cancer patients and disabled people to the set. His decision to work with disabled people led him to hire a couple of adults with disabilities to write episodes for ''Highway to Heaven''.

By season four, ''Highway'' dropped out of the Nielsen top 30, and in June 1988, NBC announced that the series would return for an abbreviated fifth season, which would be its last. Its final episodes were filmed in the fall of 1988. One aired in October, two in December, one in March 1989, and the remainder aired on Fridays from June to August. French did not live to see ''Highway'' series finale broadcast; he died of advanced lung cancer on June 15, 1989, two months after it was diagnosed. Landon invited his youngest daughter, Jennifer Landon, to take part in the final episode.

Other projects

In 1972, he was among the guests in David Winters' musical television special '' The Special London Bridge Special'', starring Tom Jones and Jennifer O'Neill.

In 1973, Landon was an episode director and writer for the short-lived NBC romantic anthology series '' Love Story''. In 1982, he co-produced an NBC "true story" television movie, '' Love Is Forever'', starring Laura Gemser (who was credited as Moira Chen) and himself, about Australian photojournalist John Everingham's successful attempt to scuba dive under the Mekong to rescue his lover from communist-ruled Laos in 1977. The real Everingham was cast as an extra in the film, which also marked the acting debut of Priscilla Presley.

'' Sam's Son'' was a 1984 coming-of-age feature film written and directed by Landon and loosely based on his early life. The film stars Timothy Patrick Murphy, Eli Wallach, Anne Jackson, Hallie Todd, and James Karen. Karen previously worked for Landon in the made-for-television film ''Little House: The Last Farewell''.

He was a guest of the PBS television series '' The Electric Company''.

After the cancellation of ''Highway to Heaven'' and before his move to CBS, Landon wrote and directed the teleplay '' Where Pigeons Go to Die''. Based on a novel of the same name, the film starred Art Carney and was nominated for two Emmy awards.

Through the run of ''Highway to Heaven'', all of Landon's television programs were broadcast on NBC, a relationship which lasted 30 consecutive years with the network. After the cancellation of ''Highway'' and due to a fallout with those within NBC's upper management, he moved to CBS and in 1991 starred in a two-hour pilot called '' Us''. ''Us'' was meant to be another series for Landon, but with his diagnosis on April 5 of pancreatic cancer, the show never aired beyond the pilot. Also during the 1990–91 season, Landon appeared as host of the CBS special ''America's Missing Children'', which explored actual cases of missing children that were under investigation. This special was also being considered as the pilot for a new series. He appeared as a celebrity panelist on the premiere week of '' Match Game ''on CBS.

Singing

Landon also had a singing career, of the teen idol type.

In 1957, Candlelight Records released a Michael Landon single "Gimme a Little Kiss (Will "Ya" Huh)"/ "Be Patient with Me" during the height of his notoriety for his role in the film ''I Was a Teenage Werewolf''. Some copies show the artist credited as the "Teenage Werewolf" rather than as Michael Landon. In 1962, both the A- and B-sides of the record were re-released on the Fono-Graf label that included a picture sleeve of Landon's then-current role on ''Bonanza'' as Little Joe Cartwright.

In March 1964, RCA Victor Records released another Landon single, "Linda Is Lonesome"/"Without You". All of Landon's singles have since been issued on compact disc by Bear Family Records as part of a ''Bonanza'' various-artists compilation.

Landon sang on television, on the '' Dean Martin Show,'' '' Hullabaloo'', and other venues, and also sang live on stage at theatrical venues (sometimes with a holster and gun strapped to his hip).

Personal life

Landon was married three times and was a father to nine children (three of whom were adopted):
* Dodie Levy-Fraser (married 1956; divorced 1962)
** Mark Fraser Landon (adopted; Dodie's biological son (in 1956 aged 11)
** Josh Fraser Landon (adopted as infant)
* Marjorie Lynn Noe (married 1963; divorced 1982)
** Cheryl Lynn Landon (born Cheryl Ann Pontrelli), Lynn's daughter from her first marriage; she was nine when her mother and Landon married.
** Leslie Ann Landon
** Michael Landon Jr.
** Shawna Leigh Landon
** Christopher Beau Landon
* Cindy Clerico (married 1983), a makeup artist on ''Little House on the Prairie''
** Jennifer Rachel Landon
** Sean Matthew Landon

In February 1959, Landon's father died from a heart attack.

In 1973, his eldest daughter, Cheryl, and three others were involved in a serious car collision just outside Tucson, Arizona, while Cheryl was a student at the University of Arizona. She was the sole survivor. She was hospitalized with serious injuries and remained in a coma for days.

Landon's mother, Peggy, died in March 1981.

Landon admitted to being a chain smoker and heavy drinker.

Landon said in an interview with the Associated Press, "I believe in God, I believe in family, I believe in truth between people, I believe in the power of love, I believe that we really are created in God's image, that there is God in all of us."

A 1985 profile in ''People'' described him as a conservative who was close to Ronald Reagan. In a 1991 interview, he criticized political polarization and political correctness in America. In 1990, he supported a proenvironmentalist proposition in California.

Illness and death

Landon began to suffer from a severe headache while he was on a skiing vacation in Utah."Autopsy: The Last Hours of Michael Landon". ''Autopsy: The Last Hours of...''. Nar. Eric Meyers. Exec. Prod. Suzy Davis and Michael Kelpie. Reelz, 7 Apr. 2019. Television. Three days later, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, which had begun to affect the tissues and blood vessels around his pancreas. The cancer was inoperable and terminal. Landon said that he believed his smoking and drinking had caused his pancreatic cancer, and that he had tried to quit smoking after co-star Victor French died of lung cancer.

He appeared on ''The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson'' to speak about the cancer and condemn the tabloid press for its sensational headlines and inaccurate stories, including the claim that his wife and he were trying to conceive another child. During his appearance, Landon pledged to fight the disease and asked his fans to pray for him. Twelve days after his appearance on the show, he underwent successful surgery for a life-threatening blood clot in his left leg. In June, he appeared on the cover of ''LIFE'' after granting the periodical an exclusive private interview about his life, his family, and his struggle to live.

Landon died at the age of 54 in Malibu, California, at 1:20 pm on July 1, 1991, with his wife at his bedside. Landon was interred in a private family mausoleum at Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery, in Culver City, California. Landon's headstone reads, "He seized life with joy. He gave to life generously. He leaves a legacy of love and laughter." His adopted son Mark, who died in May 2009, is also interred there.

Legacy

A community building at Malibu's Bluffs Park was named the Michael Landon Center following the actor's death. Landon's son, Michael, Jr., produced a memorial special called ''Michael Landon: Memories with Laughter and Love,'' featuring the actor's family, friends, and co-stars; ''Bonanza'' co-star David Canary said that one word that described Landon was "fearless" in his dealings with network brass. Melissa Gilbert, who played his daughter on ''Little House'', said that the actor made her feel "incredibly safe" and that he was "paternal". Often cited on the special was Landon's bizarre sense of humor, which included having toads leap from his mouth and dressing as a superhero to visit a pizza parlor.

In 1991, during Landon's final ''Tonight Show'' appearance, Johnny Carson related how the actor took him back to a restaurant the two had dined at previously. Carson had been led to believe he accidentally ran over the owner's cat in the parking lot during their first visit. When sitting down to eat the second time, Carson discovered that Landon had helped create a fake menu of dinner items featuring cat metaphors.

A made-for-TV movie, '' Michael Landon, the Father I Knew'', co-written and directed by his son Michael Jr., aired on CBS in May 1999. John Schneider starred in the title role as Michael Landon, with Cheryl Ladd as Lynn Noe and Joel Berti as Michael Landon Jr. The biopic detailed, from Michael Jr.'s point of view, the personal emotional trauma he endured during his parents' divorce and his father's premature death. The movie spanned a timeline from the 1960s through the early 1990s.

A plaque and small playground referred to as the Little Treehouse on the Prairie was erected in Knight Park, a central park in Landon's hometown of Collingswood. In 2011, the plaque was removed from the park by the borough and was later given to a local newspaper by an unnamed person. According to the Collingswood, NJ, website, the plaque was removed during a fall cleanup with plans to return it to a safer location. The plaque was reinstated next to a bench in a safer location the following summer.

In 2021, Karen Grassle, Landon's co-star on ''Little House'', published her memoir, ''Bright Lights, Prairie Dust: Reflections on Life, Loss, and Love by House's Ma''. In the book, Grassle detailed the troubled relationship she had with Landon, citing derogatory remarks he made about her while on the set of ''Little House'', often with other members of the cast and crew present. Grassle subsequently "mended fences" with Landon prior to his death.

Landon allegedly damaged a motel room wall during a 1962 stay while headlining the local county fair in Neligh, Nebraska. The room, now called the Michael Landon Suite, remains largely unchanged, and the plaque beside the hole commemorates the incident.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and honors

References

External links

Michael Landon arrives in Odessa 1967
from Texas Archive of the Moving Image
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*
Landon Remembrance Project site
archived at the Wayback Machine
Michael Landon

{{DEFAULTSORT:Landon, Michael
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