Eugene Maurice (Orowitz) Landon (1936 - 1991)

Born 31 Oct 1936 in Forest Hills, Queens, New York City, New York, United States

Ancestors

Died 1 Jul 1991 at age 54 in Malibu, Los Angeles, California, United States

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Biography

Michael (Orowitz) Landon is Notable.

Landon was an American actor, writer, director, and producer and Golden Globe Nominee. He is best known for his roles as Little Joe Cartwright in Bonanza (1959–73), Charles Ingalls in Little House on the Prairie (1974–83), and Jonathan Smith in Highway to Heaven (1984–89).

Michael Landon, born Eugene Maurice Orowitz, on October 31, 1936 in Forest Hills, Queens, New York.^[1] He was the second child of Eli Maurice Orowitz (an actor and movie theater manager of Jewish descent) and Peggy O'Neill (a dancer and comedienne of Irish descent). Michael had one sister, Evelyn, who was 3 years old at the time of his birth.^[2]

The family was living in Collingswood, New Jersey by 1941.^[3] Michael's Bar Mitzvah was celebrated at Temple Beth Sholom, a conservative chapel in Haddon Heights. Michael's childhood was plagued by his mother's suicide attempts. On vacation one year, she tried to drown herself but Michael saved her. She acted like nothing had happened and he was so upset he was sick to his stomach.^[4]

At his high school, Michael was noted for his accomplishments with the javelin.^[5][6] This earned him an athletic scholarship to the University of Southern California, but he subsequently tore his shoulder ligaments, ending his javelin throwing career and his participation on the USC track team.^[7]

Marriages

His 1st marriage was to Dorothy (Dodie) Fraser on March 11, 1956 (divorced December 1, 1962).^[8]

His 2nd marriage was to Marjorie Lynn Noe in January 12, 1963 in Nevada (divorced January 2, 1982).^[8]

His 3rd marriage was to Cindy Clerico on February 14, 1983 in Los Angeles, California.^[9][8]

Michael Landon started his film career as Little Joe on Bonanza in 1959 when he was 22 years old.^[8] Michael Landon wanted to direct and produce some of the episodes, and because of the high ratings Bonanza received, the executive producer agreed. Bonanza was cancelled in November 1972. He then directed and played the role of Charles Ingalls in Little House On the Prairie. The show was based on the book series written by Laura Ingalls Wilder in 1935. Michael Landon's last major show was Highway to Heaven, where he played a probationary angel alongside Victor French who previously worked with Michael on Little House on the Prairie. French sadly died of cancer on June 15, 1989.^[8]

On April 5, 1991, Landon was diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer and asked his fans to pray for him. On May 21, 1991 he had successful surgery for a blood clot in his left leg. In June 1991, he granted Life Magazine an exclusive interview about his life, his family and his struggles with his medical problems.^[10]

Michael Landon died at the age of 54 on July 1, 1991 in Malibu, California and his remains were interred in the Landon Mausoleum at Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery in Culver City, California. His son, Mark, who died in May 2009, is also interred there. He was survived by his wife, 2 ex-wives and their combined 9 children.^{[11][12][13][14]}

Mausoleum Plaque Inscription

Landon Mausoleum Plaque

He seized life with joy.

He gave to life generously.

He leaves a legacy of love and laughter.

Research Notes

1. Michael's FamilySearch profile ID is LTGM-B63. Have caution with the many links posted there, the sources have not been vetted.
2. There is a biographical paragraph above describing Michael's mother's battles with mental illness with no citation or sources.

Sources

1. ↑ Birth: "New York, New York, U.S., Birth Index, 1910-1965," database with images
   Original data New York City Department of Health, courtesy of www.vitalsearch-worldwide.com. Digital Images, Certificate Number 9070
   Ancestry Sharing Link - (Ancestry Record 61457 #3306409 : accessed 11 December 2023)
   Eugene Orowitz born on 31 Oct 1936 in Queens, New York City, New York, USA.
2. ↑ 1940 Census: "United States Census, 1940," database with images
   citing Affiliate Publication Number: T627; Line: 64; Digital film/folder number: 005456893; Image number: 535; Sheet number: 9; Sheet letter: B
   (FamilySearch Record: KQJR-1J4 : accessed 11 December 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: 3QS7-89MY-HQTY
   Eugene Oroutz (3), single son, in household of Eli Oroutz (42) in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Born in New York.
   The household consisted of Eli Oroutz 42, wife Peggy Oroutz 30, daughter Evelyn Oroutz 6, and son Eugene Oroutz 3.
3. ↑ 1950 Census: "United States 1950 Census," database with images
   citing Page: 75; Line: 21; Digital film/folder number: 108970095; Image number: 25
   (FamilySearch Record: 6F9Y-RWY8 : accessed 11 December 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: 3QHK-9QHW-LJMR
   Eugene Orowitz (13), single son, in household of Eli M Orowitz (54) in Collingswood, Camden, New Jersey, United States. Born in New York.
   The household consisted of Eli M Orowitz 54, wife Peggy Orowitz 41, daughter Evelyn Orowitz 16, and son Eugene Orowitz 13.
4. ↑ See research note #2.
5. ↑ 1954 School Yearbook: "U.S., School Yearbooks, 1900-2016," database with images
   "U.S., School Yearbooks, 1880-2012", School Name Collingswood High School, Year 1954
   Ancestry Sharing Link - (Ancestry Record 1265 #1448790954 : accessed 11 December 2023)
   Name Eugene Orowitz, Estimated Age Abt 16, Birth Year abt 1938, Yearbook Date 1954, School Collingswood High School, School Location Collingswood, New Jersey, USA, Yearbook Title Knight.
6. ↑ 1955 School Yearbook: "U.S., School Yearbooks, 1900-2016," database with images
   "U.S., School Yearbooks, 1880-2012", School Name Collingswood High School, Year 1955
   Ancestry Sharing Link - (Ancestry Record 1265 #770702985 : accessed 11 December 2023)
   Name E Orowitz, Estimated Age Abt 16, Birth Year abt 1939, Yearbook Date 1955, School Collingswood High School, School Location Collingswood, New Jersey, USA.
7. ↑ Online Biography: Editors, Biography.com. (2014) Michael Landon Biography ‘Online’.
   Available at: https://www.biography.com/actors/michael-landon : accessed 11 Dec 2023.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4} Mini-Biography: Collins, Gary Richard. Michael Landon Mini-Biography ‘Online’. Available at: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001446/bio/?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm : accessed 11 Dec 2023.
9. ↑ Marriage: "California Marriage Index, 1960-1985," database
   citing Los Angeles, California, Center of Health Statistics, California Department of Health Services, Sacramento
   (FamilySearch Record: V6VS-SFS : accessed 11 December 2023)
   Michael Landon (46) marriage to Cindy K Clerico (26) on 14 Feb 1983 in Los Angeles, California.
10. ↑ Obituary: "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, Births, and Marriages 1980-2014," database with images
    citing Affiliate Name: NewsBank, Inc.; Digital film/folder number: 100670797; FHL microfilm: 100670797; Image number: 1269
    (FamilySearch Record: QVSB-FSMP : accessed 11 December 2023)
    FamilySearch Image: 3QSQ-G9LW-55M
    Name Michael Or Eugene Maurice Landon Or Orowitz, Obituary Date 02 Jul 1991, Obituary Place Middle Atlantic, Virginia, United States, Birth Date 1937, Birth Place Forest Hills, , New York, Death Date 2 Jul 1991, Death Place Malibu, ,, Age 54, Role Type Deceased, Relationship To Head Head, Source Newspaper Roanoke Times, The, System Of Record SLS.
11. ↑ Death: "California Death Index, 1940-1997," database
    (FamilySearch Record: VPZR-JFQ : accessed 11 December 2023)
    Michael Landon death 1 Jul 1991 (born 31 Oct 1936), son of Orowitz & Oneil, in Los Angeles, California, United States.
12. ↑ NUMIDENT: "United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007," database
    citing Digital film/folder number: DI0001099
    (FamilySearch Record: 6K9N-79YS : accessed 11 December 2023)
    Eugene M Orowitz death Jul 1991 (born 31 Oct 1936).
13. ↑ SSDI: "United States Social Security Death Index," database
    citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing)
    (FamilySearch Record: JKBW-96F : accessed 11 December 2023)
    M Landon death Jul 1991 (born 31 Oct 1936).
14. ↑ Memorial: "Find a Grave," database with images
    (Find A Grave: Memorial #601 : accessed 11 December 2023)
    Memorial page for Michael Landon (31 Oct 1936-1 Jul 1991), citing Hillside Memorial Park, Culver City, Los Angeles County, California, USA (plot: Mausoleum, Memorial Court (outside/rear), Family Room 1 (private), Crypt 3); Maintained by Find a Grave.

See also:

• Wikipedia entry: Wikipedia contributors, "Michael Landon," database
  (Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia : accessed 11 December 2023).
• Obituary: Peter B. Flint, “Michael Landon, 54, Little Joe on 'Bonanza' for 14 Years, Dies,” The New Youk Times, 02 Jul 1991, HTML edition, archived (https://www.nytimes.com/1991/07/02/obituaries/michael-landon-54-little-joe-on-bonanza-for-14-years-dies.html : accessed 11 Dec 2023; citing online edition.
• Religious Article: Landon, Michael. (1976) Guideposts Classics: Michael Landon on God’s Blessings ‘Online’. Available at: https://guideposts.org/angels-and-miracles/miracles/gods-grace/guideposts-classics-michael-landon-gods-blessings/?sourcekey=WEBTRAXY1A (Accessed: 11 Dec 2023).
• Some Images of Michael Landon.