Trivia

Actress Melissa Gilbert's son Michael (born 1995) was named after him.

Despite only being given a 3-5 percent chance of survival, Landon announced he was going to beat his pancreatic cancer. However, by the time of the diagnosis, the cancer had already spread to his liver and stomach.

Before he became a successful actor, he worked in a warehouse and at a gas station.

Charles Ingalls, Landon's character on Little House on the Prairie (1974), was ranked #4 in TV Guide's list of the "50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time" [June 20, 2004 issue].

His stepdaughter, Cheryl, recalled in his biography, "I Promised My Dad", that once Landon was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, he realized that all the years of smoking, drinking and eating an unhealthy diet had taken their toll. Later, despite going on a regimen that included a naturalistic approach to the cancer (coffee enemas and a healthy diet), Landon was devastated to learn that the cancer had tripled in size.

Studied karate under Chuck Norris, as did the children of his Bonanza (1959) co-star Dan Blocker.

Always claimed to have chosen his professional name by picking the name Michael Landon out of the Los Angeles telephone directory.

U.S. President Ronald Reagan and his wife, Nancy Reagan, attended Landon's memorial service the day after his death.

Wore lifts on Bonanza (1959) so he would not be dwarfed by considerably taller co-stars Dan Blocker and Lorne Greene.

Comedian and ex-talk show host, Johnny Carson was a longtime friend of his and had (in private) always confided in Landon and shared his own issues with him.

His father was from a Jewish family and his mother was of Irish Catholic background.

In 1954, he was the national high school record holder in the javelin throw.

When he filed for divorce from Lynn, it cost him $26 million. Though he gave her his $3.5-million, 35-room Beverly Hills mansion, this bitter divorce was a devastating blow for Lynn, who stated on television after his death that her ex-husband had become her angel (April 16, 1981).

He was left-handed, and his awkward handwriting (he often hand-wrote scripts) sometimes made it difficult for his secretary to read what he had written).

He was attending USC on an athletic scholarship but tore his shoulder ligaments, which would prevent him from throwing the javelin again.

His father, Eli Maurice Orowitz, was a studio publicist and theater manager, his mother, Kathleen Margaret 'Peggy' O'Neill, was a popular comedienne and dancer.

Was hired to direct several episodes of Black Sheep Squadron (1976) that starred Robert Conrad. He was conveniently "unavailable" to do so, due to his contractual obligations working on Little House on the Prairie (1974), at the same network that Black Sheep Squadron, was on, which was NBC. This should come as no surprise to his following, since the competitive Landon never liked to showcase or play opposite another actor who was the same "type" as he (Age, attractiveness quotient, star status.).

Michael and his first wife Dodie were adopting a son named Jason in 1961. Shortly before or after their divorce in 1962, Dodie gave the child up for adoption to another couple.

In a 1985 interview, Landon claimed he ate lunch alone at Collingswood High School, and that he never had a date as a teenager because no Christian father in the town would allow his daughter to go out with a Jew.

Before his death, he appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) to talk about his brave battle against cancer and his life.

Despite being one of the biggest names in television history, he never came close to being nominated for an Emmy Award, in any category.

Wrote and directed two movies that were semi-autobiographical: The Loneliest Runner (1976) and Sam's Son (1984).

His second wife, Marjorie Lynn Noe, was one of the few people who refused to attend his funeral, because, as she told her children, the divorce had already been like a death to her.

Beat out one only actor Robert Blake for a co-starring role as Little Joe Cartwright on Bonanza (1959), despite initially being all most passed over for the role. This was because David Dortort had mixed feelings about the new, unfamiliar actor auditioning for the role, thinking Landon was way too young to play the role. With the encouragement of David's wife, who picked up a publicity still of Landon, her husband changed his mind, and bestowed Landon the role.

Inducted (as a cast member of Little House on the Prairie (1974)) into the Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum (1998).

Never legally adopted his stepdaughter, Cheryl, because of her birth father's objections.

When Michael and Dodie's marriage was floundering, they thought adopting another baby might help, they called him Jason. But they both realized before the final adoption papers had been signed, that it was not the answer. They gave the infant back to the agency and went ahead with a divorce. Michael moved out and got his own apartment (he was allowed visitation w/Mark and Josh). He saw Lynn Noe (second wife) on the Bonanza set and married her in 1963.

Won the freshman javelin toss at the University of Southern California-Los Angeles.

He wore four-inch lifts in Bonanza (1959) and Little House on the Prairie (1974).

He smoked four packs of unfiltered Menthol cigarettes a day starting around 1961, which probably contributed to the pancreatic cancer that killed him.

Attended and graduated third from the bottom of his class at Collingswood High School in Collingswood, New Jersey (1954). Had an I.Q. of 159.

Children: Mark Fraser Landon (adopted-born October 1, 1948); aka Mark Landon) and Josh Fraser Landon (adopted as newborn in 1960-born February 11, 1960) with Dodie Levy-Fraser. Leslie Ann Landon (born 11 October 1963; aka Leslie Landon), Michael Graham Landon (born June 20, 1965; aka Michael Landon Jr.), Shawna Leigh Landon (born December 4, 1971; aka Shawna Landon) and Christopher Beau Landon (born February 27, 1975; Christopher Landon) with Lynn Noe and Jennifer Rachel Landon (born August 29, 1983; aka Jen Landon) and Sean Matthew Landon (born June 1986) with Cindy Landon. He also had a stepdaughter, Cheryl Ann Pontrelli.

In the "Little House on the Prairie" book series, Charles Ingalls wore a beard. But when the books were turned into a series, Landon's character never wore a beard.

Following his death, he was interred at Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery in Culver City, California, the same cemetery as Lorne Greene. He passed away on July 1, 1991, less than four months away from what would have been his 55th birthday on October 31.

Attended Ronald Reagan's second inauguration as Governor of California on January 3, 1971, and his first inauguration as President of the United States on January 20, 1981.

His birthplace, Forest Hills, is a neighborhood area in Queens, New York.

His last wife was former make-up artist Cindy Clerico, whom he met near the end of the "Little House" run in 1981, and married two years later.

Grew up in southern New Jersey in the town of Collingswood.

He converted to Christianity at age 18.

12 years after his death, his eldest sister, Evelyn, passed away on New Year's Day, 2003.

Michael Landon didn't grow up with very good parents and so he began to look at Lorne Greene as his real father.

Is buried at the Hillside Memorial Park in Culver City, California, within walking distance of his Bonanza costar, Lorne Greene.