About Michael Landon

Born Eugene Maurice Orowitz in New York City, Michael Landon was an American, director, producer and actor.  He starred in many television series, and his career spanned thirty years. 

He is best known for his roles as ‘Little Joe’ in Bonanza, ‘Pa – Charles Ingles’ in Little House on the Prairie, and as ‘Jonathan Smith’ in Highway to Heaven.  He produced, wrote, and directed many of the episodes in which he appeared.  He changed his name in the late 1950s and began with small parts in several productions.  He landed his first big role in 1959 in the highly successful television series Bonanza.  The series ran for 14 seasons.  The following year he starred in Little House on the prairie which ran for a total of 9 seasons.  He then went on to produce television series and a movie, but returned to acting as the star in ‘Highway to Heaven’.

He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 1991, shortly after beginning a new television series.  The cancer spread to his liver and lymph nodes.  His four pack a day smoking habit likely contributed to the cancer.  He died in 1991.