Childhood and Education Journey of Michael Landon in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: August 11, 2025

How education and upbringing influenced the life of Michael Landon. A timeline of key moments.

Michael Landon Sr. was a prominent American actor and filmmaker, best known for his starring roles in three highly successful television series. He gained fame as Little Joe Cartwright in the long-running Western, Bonanza. Subsequently, he portrayed Charles Ingalls in Little House on the Prairie, a family drama that he also executive produced, wrote, and directed. Later, he starred as Jonathan Smith in Highway to Heaven. Landon's popularity was reflected in his frequent appearances on the cover of TV Guide, solidifying his status as a major television personality.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

1933: Birth of Evelyn Orowitz

In 1933, Evelyn Orowitz, Michael Landon's sister, was born three years before him.

October 31, 1936: Eugene Maurice Orowitz Born

On October 31, 1936, Eugene Maurice Orowitz, later known as Michael Landon Sr., was born. He would later become an American actor and filmmaker known for his roles in Bonanza, Little House on the Prairie, and Highway to Heaven.

1941: Family Moved to Collingswood, New Jersey

In 1941, when Eugene was four years old, he and his family moved to Collingswood, New Jersey.

February 1959: Death of Landon's Father

In February 1959, Michael Landon's father died from a heart attack.

1962: Motel Room Incident in Neligh, Nebraska

In 1962, Michael Landon allegedly damaged a motel room wall during a stay in Neligh, Nebraska, while headlining the local county fair. The room, now known as the Michael Landon Suite, remains mostly unchanged and features a plaque commemorating the incident.

1973: Car Accident of Cheryl Landon

In 1973, Michael Landon's eldest daughter, Cheryl, was involved in a serious car collision just outside Tucson, Arizona. She was the sole survivor and was hospitalized with serious injuries, remaining in a coma for days.

1977: Rescue Attempt

In 1977, Australian photojournalist John Everingham's successful attempt to scuba dive under the Mekong to rescue his lover from communist-ruled Laos.

March 1981: Death of Landon's Mother

In March 1981, Michael Landon's mother, Peggy, died.

1985: People Profile

In 1985, a People profile described Michael Landon as a conservative close to Ronald Reagan.

March 1991: Criticized Political Polarization

In a March 1991 interview, Michael Landon criticized political polarization and political correctness in America.

1991: Final Tonight Show Appearance

In 1991, during Michael Landon's final Tonight Show appearance, Johnny Carson recounted how Landon pranked him at a restaurant by creating a fake menu featuring cat metaphors, playing on Carson's belief that he had accidentally run over the owner's cat during a previous visit.

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May 1999: Michael Landon, the Father I Knew Aired on CBS

In May 1999, the made-for-TV movie "Michael Landon, the Father I Knew", co-written and directed by Michael Landon Jr., aired on CBS. Starring John Schneider as Michael Landon, Cheryl Ladd as Lynn Noe, and Joel Berti as Michael Landon Jr., the biopic portrayed Michael Jr.'s emotional trauma during his parents' divorce and his father's death, spanning from the 1960s through the early 1990s.

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May 2009: Interment of Adopted Son Mark

In May 2009, Michael Landon's adopted son, Mark, who died that month, was interred in the private family mausoleum at Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery, in Culver City, California, where Michael Landon is also interred.

2021: Karen Grassle Published Memoir

In 2021, Karen Grassle, Landon's co-star on Little House, published her memoir, "Bright Lights, Prairie Dust: Reflections on Life, Loss, and Love by House's Ma". In the book, Grassle detailed a troubled relationship she had with Landon.

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