Michael Landon

Biography

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 (1959–1973), Charles Ingalls in Little House on the Prairie (1974–1983), and Jonathan Smith in Highway to Heaven (1984–1989). Landon appeared on the cover of TV Guide 22 times, second only to Lucille Ball.

Career Overview

Michael Landon has 81 screen credits in a career dating back to 1948. Their work spans 2 cinematic universes — most prominently Little House on the Prairie - Collection with 3 titles. Signature works include Bonanza, Highway to Heaven, Love is Forever. Explore the interactive character relationship maps on each title page to trace how their roles connect across franchises.

Personal Facts

Known For: Acting
Gender: male
Known Credits: 81
Birth Date: 1936-10-31 00:00:00
Birth Place: Forest Hills, Queens, New York City, New York, USA

Known For

Associated Universes

Universe traveler — spans 2 universes

Little House on the Prairie - Collection (3 titles)
An Inconvenient Collection (1 titles)

Frequent Collaborators

Lorne Greene (1 collaborations)
David Canary (1 collaborations)
Tim Matheson (1 collaborations)
Mitch Vogel (1 collaborations)
Victor French (1 collaborations)
David Ackroyd (1 collaborations)
H. Richard Greene (1 collaborations)
Laura Gemser (1 collaborations)
Jürgen Prochnow (1 collaborations)
Edward Woodward (1 collaborations)

Credits

production (10 credits)
- Little House on the Prairie: A Merry Ingalls Christmas
  
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  2014
- Us
  
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  1991
- Where Pigeons Go to Die
  
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  1990
- Highway to Heaven
  
  producer
  
  production
  
  - Merry Christmas from Grandpa (1989) ... executive producer production
  
  - It's a Dog's Life (1989) ... executive producer production
  
  - The Inner Limits (1989) ... executive producer production
  
  - Summer Camp (1989) ... executive producer production
  
  - Choices (1989) ... executive producer production
  
  1984
- Little House: Bless All the Dear Children
  
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  1983
- Love is Forever
  
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  1983
- Killing Stone
  
  producer
  
  production
  
  1978
- The Loneliest Runner
  
  producer
  
  production
  
  1976
- Little House on the Prairie
  
  producer
  
  production
  
  - Hello and Goodbye (1983) ... producer production
  
  - May I Have This Dance? (1983) ... producer production
  
  - For the Love of Blanche (1983) ... producer production
  
  - The Last Summer (1983) ... producer production
  
  - A Child with No Name (1983) ... producer production
  
  1974
- Little House on the Prairie
  
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  1974
actors (49 credits)
- Little House on the Prairie: A Merry Ingalls Christmas
  Charles Ingalls
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2014
- A Bing Crosby Christmas
  Self (archive footage)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1998
- The Best of the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
  Self - Roastee (archive footage)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1998
- Us
  Jeff Hayes
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1991
- Where Pigeons Go to Die
  Adult Hugh Baudoum
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1990
- Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1988
- Creepy Classics
  Tony Rivers - (archive footage)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1987
- Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
  Self (archive footage)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1985
- The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: Michael Landon
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1984
- Highway to Heaven
  Jonathan Smith
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  - Merry Christmas from Grandpa (1989) ... Jonathan Smith actor actors
  
  - It's a Dog's Life (1989) ... Jonathan Smith actor actors
  
  - The Inner Limits (1989) ... Jonathan Smith actor actors
  
  - Summer Camp (1989) ... Jonathan Smith actor actors
  
  - Choices (1989) ... Jonathan Smith actor actors
  
  1984
- Sam's Son
  Gene Orman
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1984
- Little House: The Last Farewell
  Charles Ingalls
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1984
- Little House: Bless All the Dear Children
  Charles Ingalls (voice) (uncredited)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1983
- Little House: Look Back to Yesterday
  Charles Ingalls
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1983
- Love is Forever
  John Everingham
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1983
- Walt Disney: One Man's Dream
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1981
- Falcon Crest
  
  - Kindred Spirits (1982) ... actor actors
  
  1981
- The Little House Years
  Charles Ingalls
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1979
- A Walking Tour of Sesame Street
  Little Joe (archive footage)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1979
- The Loneliest Runner
  John Curtis
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1976
- Doug Henning's World of Magic
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1976
- Mitzi & 100 Guys
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1975
- Little House on the Prairie
  Charles Ingalls
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1974
- Little House on the Prairie
  
  - He Was Only Twelve (2) (1982) ... Charles Ingalls actor actors
  
  - He Was Only Twelve (1) (1982) ... Charles Ingalls actor actors
  
  - A Faraway Cry (1982) ... Charles Ingalls actor actors
  
  - A Promise to Keep (1982) ... Charles Ingalls actor actors
  
  - Days of Sunshine, Days of Shadow (2) (1982) ... Charles Ingalls actor actors
  
  1974
- Bing Crosby's Sun Valley Christmas Show
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1973
- The Special London Bridge Special
  Tennis Player
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1972
- Swing Out, Sweet Land
  Peter Minut
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1970
- The Dean Martin Christmas Show
  Self (uncredited)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1968
- Rowan & Martin at the Movies
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1968
- Bonanza: Ride the Wind
  Joseph 'Little Joe' Cartwright
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1966
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
  
  - Episode 139 (1980) ... Self actor actors
  
  - Episode 24 (1979) ... Self actor actors
  
  - Episode 59 (1977) ... Self actor actors
  
  - Episode 108 (1976) ... Self - Guest Host actor actors
  
  - Episode 173 (1975) ... Self - Guest Host actor actors
  
  1962
- The Mike Douglas Show
  
  - Episode 158 (1968) ... Self - Co-Host actor actors
  
  1961
- Bonanza
  Joe Cartwright
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  - The Hunter (1973) ... Joe Cartwright actor actors
  
  - The Marriage of Theodora Duffy (1973) ... Joe Cartwright actor actors
  
  - The Witness (1973) ... Joe Cartwright actor actors
  
  - First Love (1972) ... Joe Cartwright actor actors
  
  - The Bucket Dog (1972) ... Joe Cartwright actor actors
  
  1959
- The Legend of Tom Dooley
  Tom Dooley
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1959
- God's Little Acre
  Dave Dawson
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1958
- High School Confidential!
  Steve Bentley
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1958
- Maracaibo
  Lago Orlando
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1958
- The Rifleman
  
  - The Mind Reader (1959) ... actor actors
  
  - End of a Young Gun (1958) ... actor actors
  
  1958
- Wanted: Dead or Alive
  
  - The Legend (1959) ... Clay McGarrett actor actors
  
  - The Martin Poster (1958) ... Carl Martin actor actors
  
  1958
- The Texan
  
  - The Hemp Tree (1958) ... actor actors
  
  1958
- I Was a Teenage Werewolf
  Tony Rivers
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1957
- Fight for the Title
  Lombard
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1957
- These Wilder Years
  Boy in Poolhall (uncredited)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1956
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
  
  - Living is a Lonesome Thing (1959) ... Vance Coburn actor actors
  
  - Gift From a Gunman (1957) ... Dan Overton actor actors
  
  1956
- Cheyenne
  
  - White Warrior (1958) ... actor actors
  
  - Decision (1956) ... Trooper (uncredited) actor actors
  
  1955
- Matinee Theater
  
  - The Weak and the Strong (1957) ... actor actors
  
  1955
- The Wonderful World of Disney
  
  - Walt Disney...One Man's Dream (1981) ... Self actor actors
  
  1954
- Bambi
  
  - Episode 1 (1969) ... Self (archive footage) actor actors
  
  1948
- Studio One
  
  - Man Under Glass (1958) ... Augie Barone actor actors
  
  1948
writing (9 credits)
- Us
  
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1991
- Where Pigeons Go to Die
  
  teleplay
  
  writing
  
  1990
- Sam's Son
  
  screenplay
  
  writing
  
  1984
- Little House: The Last Farewell
  
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1984
- Highway to Heaven
  
  - Merry Christmas from Grandpa (1989) ... writer writing
  
  - Heavy Date (1987) ... writer writing
  
  - The Hero (1987) ... writer writing
  
  - Wally (1987) ... writer writing
  
  - For the Love of Larry (1986) ... writer writing
  
  1984
- Killing Stone
  
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1978
- The Loneliest Runner
  
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1976
- Little House on the Prairie
  
  - May I Have This Dance? (1983) ... writer writing
  
  - A Child with No Name (1983) ... writer writing
  
  - Home Again (1983) ... writer writing
  
  - The Older Brothers (1983) ... writer writing
  
  - Marvin's Garden (1983) ... writer writing
  
  1974
- Bonanza
  
  - Forever (2) (1972) ... writer writing
  
  - Forever (1972) ... writer writing
  
  - It's a Small World (1970) ... writer writing
  
  - The Wish (1969) ... writer writing
  
  - The Wormwood Cup (1967) ... teleplay writing
  
  1959
directing (12 credits)
- Us
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1991
- Where Pigeons Go to Die
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1990
- Sam's Son
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1984
- Little House: The Last Farewell
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1984
- Highway to Heaven
  
  - Merry Christmas from Grandpa (1989) ... director directing
  
  - It's a Dog's Life (1989) ... director directing
  
  - The Inner Limits (1989) ... director directing
  
  - Summer Camp (1989) ... director directing
  
  - Choices (1989) ... director directing
  
  1984
- The Little House Years
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1979
- Killing Stone
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1978
- The Loneliest Runner
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1976
- Little House on the Prairie
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1974
- It's Good to Be Alive
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1974
- Little House on the Prairie
  
  - Hello and Goodbye (1983) ... director directing
  
  - May I Have This Dance? (1983) ... director directing
  
  - For the Love of Blanche (1983) ... director directing
  
  - A Child with No Name (1983) ... director directing
  
  - Home Again (1983) ... director directing
  
  1974
- Bonanza
  
  - Forever (2) (1972) ... director directing
  
  - Forever (1972) ... director directing
  
  - It's a Small World (1970) ... director directing
  
  - The Wish (1969) ... director directing
  
  1959
creators (1 credits)
- Highway to Heaven
  
  creator
  
  creators
  
  1984

Content sources

Related entry on Wikidata (Q346411), public domain (CC0).