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Michael Landon is a Actor, Director, Writer and Producer American born on 31 october 1936 at New York City (USA)

Michael Landon

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Birth name Eugene Maurice Orowitz
Nationality USA
Birth 31 october 1936 at New York City (USA)
Death 1 july 1991 (at 54 years) at Malibu (USA)

Michael Landon (born Eugene Maurice Orowitz; October 31, 1936 – July 1, 1991) was an American actor, writer, director, and producer. He is known for his roles as Little Joe Cartwright in Bonanza (1959–73), Charles Ingalls in Little House on the Prairie (1974–83), and Jonathan Smith in Highway to Heaven (1984–89). Landon appeared on the cover of TV Guide 22 times, second only to Lucille Ball.

Landon produced, wrote, and directed many of his series' episodes, including his shortest-lived production, Father Murphy, which starred his friend and "Little House" co-star Merlin Olsen. In 1981, Landon won recognition for his screenwriting with a Spur Award from the Western Writers of America. Although his youngest daughter Jennifer Landon and Bonanza co-star David Canary have both won multiple Emmys, Michael Landon was never nominated for an Emmy. In 1976, Landon wrote and directed an auto-biographical movie, The Loneliest Runner, which was nominated for two Emmys.

Biography

Landon was married three times, and father to nine children.

Dodie Levy-Fraser (married March 1956; Landon filed for divorce in March 1962 – divorce finalized in December 1962)
Mark Fraser Landon, born 1948 (adopted; Dodie's biological son), died May 11, 2009 – did some small acting, including role in the Landon TV movie Us
Josh Fraser Landon, born 1960 (adopted as infant)
Jason Smith, born 1962 (adopted and subsequently given to another adoptive family)
Marjorie Lynn Noe (married January 12, 1963 – divorced 1982) had several small uncredited roles, including one in Bonanza
Cheryl Lynn Landon (born Cheryl Ann Pontrelli in 1953), Lynn's daughter from her first marriage and was nine when her mother and Landon married. Though Landon was unable to legally adopt her, he referred to her as his daughter. She has a master's degree in Education and a teaching credential. She has one son.
Leslie Ann Landon, born 1962, With a Ph.D. in psychology, Leslie Landon is a therapist, specializing in children who have experienced loss. She is married and has four children.
Michael Landon, Jr., born 1964
Shawna Leigh Landon, born 1971, appeared on Little House Years television movie and one episode of Little House on the Prairie
Christopher Beau Landon, born 1975, a producer, writer and director
Cindy Clerico (married on February 14, 1983), a makeup artist on Little House on the Prairie; currently also a producer
Jennifer Rachel Landon, born 1983, a Daytime Emmy-winning actress (played Gwen Norbeck Munson on As the World Turns)
Sean Matthew Landon, born 1986
In February 1959, Landon's father succumbed to a heart attack. In 1973, while a student at the University of Arizona, his eldest daughter Cheryl was involved in a serious car collision just outside of Tucson, Arizona. The sole survivor out of four involved in the collision, Cheryl Landon was hospitalized with serious injuries and remained in a coma for days. In March 1981, Landon's mother, Peggy, died.

Landon was by his own admission a chain smoker and a heavy drinker.