Michael Landon Jr. (born Michael Graham Landon on June 20, 1964) is an American actor, director, writer, and producer.

Life

Landon Jr. is the son of actor

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 th ...

and his second wife, Marjorie Lynn Noe. He is the brother of Christopher B. Landon,

Leslie Landon Leslie Landon Matthews ( Landon) is an American psychologist and former actress. She had a supporting role on the ''Little House on the Prairie (TV series), Little House on the Prairie'' television series, in which her father, Michael Landon, pl ...

, Shawna Landon, and the half-brother of Cheryl Lynn Landon (from his mother's first marriage) and

Jennifer Landon Jennifer Landon (born August 29, 1983) is an American actress known for her role as Teeter on the Paramount Network series, ''Yellowstone'' (2020–2024). She is also known for her role as Gwen Norbeck Munson in the CBS soap opera ''As the World ...

and Sean Landon (from his father's third marriage). His paternal grandfather was

Jewish Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...

, whereas his paternal grandmother was

Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

, although his father was raised

. He married actress Sharee Gregory in December 1987. They have three children: daughters Ashley and Brittany and son Austin. Sharee Gregory is the older sister of former child actress

Natalie Gregory Natalie Gregory is an American former child actress. Early years Gregory is the daughter of Cliff and Linda Gregory. She has an older sister. Career She starred as Alice in the 1985 television film ''Alice in Wonderland''. Gregory has had ...

. Landon converted to Christianity at the age of 18.Interview – 'He Was My Everything'
Mark Moring, Christianity Today, February 22, 2005

Filmography

Acting

*1977: ''

Little House on the Prairie The ''Little House on the Prairie'' books comprise a series of American children's novels written by Laura Ingalls Wilder (b. Laura Elizabeth Ingalls). The stories are based on her childhood and adulthood in the Midwestern United States, Americ ...

'' as Jim (episode: "The Election") *1988: '' Bonanza: The Next Generation'' (TV) as Benjamin 'Benj' Cartwright *1988: ''Superboy'' as Stretch (episode: "The Fixer") *1993: ''Back to Bonanza'' (TV) as Host *1993: '' Bonanza: The Return'' (TV) as Benjamin 'Benj' Cartwright *1995: '' Bonanza: Under Attack'' (TV) as Benjamin 'Benj' Cartwright

Directing

*1991: ''Michael Landon: Memories with Laughter and Love'' (TV) *1999: '' Michael Landon, the Father I Knew'' (TV) *2003: '' Love Comes Softly'' (TV) *2004: '' Love's Enduring Promise'' (TV) *2005: '' Love's Long Journey'' (TV) *2006: ''

Love's Abiding Joy ''Love's Abiding Joy'' is a 2006 television film, made-for-television Christianity, Christian drama (film and television), drama film based on a series of books by Janette Oke. It was directed by Michael Landon Jr. and stars Erin Cottrell and Loga ...

'' (TV) *2007: ''

Saving Sarah Cain ''Saving Sarah Cain'' is a 2007 television film, made-for-television drama (film and television), drama film based on Beverly Lewis (author), Beverly Lewis' 2000 novel ''The Redemption of Sarah Cain''. The film premiered August 19, 2007 on Lifeti ...

'' (TV) *2007: '' The Last Sin Eater'' *2007: ''The Velveteen Rabbit'' *2008: ''Deep in the Heart'' *2011: ''The Shunning'' (TV) *2013: '' The Ultimate Life'' *2013: ''When Calls the Heart'' (TV movie) *2014, 2016: ''

When Calls the Heart ''When Calls the Heart'' is a Western drama television series inspired by Janette Oke's book of the same name from her ''Canadian West'' series and created by Michael Landon Jr. and Brian Bird. The series began airing on the Hallmark Channel ...

'' (TV series); 5 episodes

Writing

*1993: '' Bonanza: The Return'' (TV) (story) *1999: '' Michael Landon, the Father I Knew'' (TV) (story) *2003: '' Love Comes Softly'' (TV) (teleplay) *2004: '' Love's Enduring Promise'' (TV) (teleplay) *2005: '' Love's Long Journey'' (TV) (teleplay) *2006: ''

'' (teleplay) (television story) *2007: ''

Love's Unfolding Dream ''Love's Unfolding Dream'' is a 2007 made-for-television Christian drama film and the sixth film based on a series of books by Janette Oke. It originally aired on Hallmark Channel on December 15, 2007 and was produced for Hallmark by Larry Levin ...

'' (Teleplay) *2007: '' The Last Sin Eater'' (screenplay) *2013 ''

'' (teleplay) *2014: ''

''; episode: "Lost & Found" (teleplay with Cindy Kelley)

Producing

*2003: '' Love Comes Softly'' (TV) (co-executive producer) *2004: '' Love's Enduring Promise'' (TV) (co-executive producer) *2007: ''Saving Sarah Cain'' (film) (producer) *2007: '' The Last Sin Eater'' (producer) *2008: ''Deep in the Heart'' *2013–present: ''

'' (executive producer) *2019, 2021: '' When Hope Calls'' (executive producer)

References

External links

*
Personal interview with Michael Landon Jr.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Landon, Michael Jr. 1964 births Living people American male television actors American male screenwriters American people of Jewish descent American television directors Television producers from California American male child actors People from Encino, Los Angeles Screenwriters from California Family of Michael Landon Converts to Christianity from Judaism