Eugene Maurice Orowitz
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Michael Landon, born Eugene Maurice Orowitz in 1936, became widely known playing Little Joe Cartwright on Bonanza for 14 seasons. He later created, produced, and starred in Little House on the Prairie 1974 as Charles Ingalls, and starred in Highway to Heaven 1984 as an angel. Landon was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 1991 and died that same year at age 54.
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Michael Landon — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.
In 1954, Eugene Maurice Orowitz set a national high school record in the javelin throw. Born on October 31, 1936, in Forest Hills, Queens, he moved to Collingswood, New Jersey at age five. After a shoulder injury ended his athletic scholarship at the University of Southern California, he worked in a warehouse and at a gas station before pursuing acting. He adopted the name Michael Landon from the Los Angeles phone directory.
In 1957, Landon played Tony Rivers in the horror film I Was a Teenage Werewolf. Two years later, he starred as Tom Dooley in The Legend of Tom Dooley, and producer David Dortort cast him as Little Joe Cartwright on Bonanza, which ran 14 seasons and 430 episodes. He wrote and directed episodes of the series. After Bonanza ended in 1973, he created and starred in Little House on the Prairie 1974-1982 as Charles Ingalls, also serving as producer, writer, and director. In 1984, he created Highway to Heaven, playing angel Jonathan Smith. The show ended in 1989 after Victor French’s death. His final project was the CBS pilot Us 1991, but cancer ended his career.
Landon married three times. His 1982 divorce from Lynn Noe cost him $26 million. He married makeup artist Cindy Clerico in 1983, who remained with him until his death. He had nine children, including actors Michael Landon Jr. and Jennifer Landon. He was left-handed and hand-wrote his scripts. He was close friends with Johnny Carson and Ronald Reagan.
Landon’s portrayal of Charles Ingalls on Little House on the Prairie was ranked #4 in TV Guide’s 50 Greatest TV Dads in 2004. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the International Emmy Founders Award. His work as a writer, director, and producer set a standard for family television. He is remembered for his roles on Bonanza, Little House on the Prairie, and Highway to Heaven.
Browse the complete filmography of Michael Landon — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.
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A wall of memorable lines from Michael Landon — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.
Whatever You Want to Do, Do It Now. There Are Only so Many Tomorrows.
I Was Grown Before I Realized That Other Mothers Didn’t Put Their Heads in the Oven.
I Felt My Father’s Presence with Me, Enlightening My Memories, Helping Me to Commit to Paper the Feelings I Had. I Really Heard My Father Speaking to Me from the Other Dimension, Filling My Mind with Just the Right Words. the Story Came so Fast and Was so Right. in Three Days, the Script Was Complete.
I Want People to Laugh and Cry, Not Just Sit and Stare at the Television. Maybe I’m Old Fashioned, but I Think Viewers Are Hungry for Shows in Which People Say Something Meaningful.
I Never Felt I Was Going to Make It as an Actor Because to Me Actors Were Tall and Handsome and Had Great Voices.
We Each Have Our Own Miracles. I’m Still Hoping to Beat It.
I Feel Sorry for People Who Have Problems Which Are Beyond Their Control, but Most of Life’s Problems Are Our Own Fault and Sympathy Under Those Conditions Doesn’t Do a Bit of Good.
I Came Home and Found My 12 Year Old Daughter Devouring the Laura Ingalls Wilder Books. Then I Discovered That My Wife Had Devoured Them Too When She Was a Girl, and Was Reading Them Again. so I Went to NBC and Told Them Little House Was It.
Little-known facts about Michael Landon — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.
Landon worked in a warehouse and at a gas station before his acting career.
Actress Melissa Gilbert named her son Michael after Landon in 1995.
He always claimed to have chosen his professional name by picking Michael Landon out of the Los Angeles telephone directory.
Despite a 3-5 percent survival chance, Landon announced he would beat his pancreatic cancer, but it had already spread to his liver and stomach.
He studied karate under Chuck Norris, as did the children of his Bonanza co-star Dan Blocker.
He wore lifts on Bonanza so he would not be dwarfed by taller co-stars Dan Blocker and Lorne Greene.
Charles Ingalls was ranked #4 in TV Guide’s 50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time in 2004.
His stepdaughter Cheryl recalled that after his diagnosis, Landon realized smoking, drinking, and unhealthy eating had taken their toll.
Comedian Johnny Carson was a longtime friend who confided in Landon.
In 1954, he was the national high school record holder in the javelin throw.
U.S. President Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy attended Landon’s memorial service.
His father was from a Jewish family and his mother was of Irish Catholic background.
His divorce from Lynn in 1982 cost him $26 million, including a $3.5-million Beverly Hills mansion.
He was left-handed and his awkward handwriting sometimes made it difficult for his secretary to read.
He was hired to direct episodes of Black Sheep Squadron but was unavailable due to Little House on the Prairie obligations.
He attended USC on an athletic scholarship but tore his shoulder ligaments, ending his javelin career.
Before his death, he appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson to discuss his battle with cancer.
In a 1985 interview, Landon claimed he ate lunch alone in high school and never had a date because of his Jewish background.
His father Eli Maurice Orowitz was a studio publicist and theater manager; his mother Kathleen Margaret O’Neill was a comedienne and dancer.
He wrote and directed two semi-autobiographical movies: The Loneliest Runner 1976 and Sam’s Son 1984.
He was inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers in 1998 as part of the Little House on the Prairie cast.
He and first wife Dodie adopted a son named Jason in 1961, but gave him up for adoption before finalizing.
His second wife Lynn Noe refused to attend his funeral, saying the divorce had been like a death to her.
He wore four-inch lifts in Bonanza and Little House on the Prairie.
He beat out Robert Blake for the role of Little Joe Cartwright on Bonanza, thanks to David Dortort’s wife.
He won the freshman javelin toss at USC.
When his marriage to Dodie floundered, they tried adopting another baby, but returned him and divorced.
He graduated third from the bottom of his class at Collingswood High School in 1954, with an IQ of 159.
Despite his fame, he never received an Emmy nomination.
He never legally adopted his stepdaughter Cheryl due to her birth father’s objections.
He smoked four packs of unfiltered Menthol cigarettes daily starting around 1961.
After his death, he was cremated and his urn is entombed at Hillside Memorial Park in Culver City, California.
He attended Ronald Reagan’s second gubernatorial inauguration in 1971 and his presidential inauguration in 1981.
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