ACTOR
Michael Landon
Known for Little House on the Prairie · Bonanza · The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
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.
Snapshot 2026-10-13
- Born
- Oct 31, 1936
- Died
- Jul 1, 1991
- Birthplace
- Forest Hills, Queens, New York City, New York, USA
- Known For
- Acting
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.
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Known For
Filmography
Movies
These Wilder YearsBoy in Poolhall (uncredited)
1956FF
Fight for the TitleLombard
1957
I Was a Teenage WerewolfTony Rivers
1957
God's Little AcreDave Dawson
1958
High School Confidential!Steve Bentley
1958
MaracaiboLago Orlando
1958
The Legend of Tom DooleyTom Dooley
1959
Bonanza: Ride the WindJoseph 'Little Joe' Cartwright
1966
Rowan & Martin at the MoviesSelf
1968
The Dean Martin Christmas ShowSelf (uncredited)
1968
Swing Out, Sweet LandPeter Minut
1970
The Special London Bridge SpecialTennis Player
1972
Bing Crosby's Sun Valley Christmas Show
1973
It's Good to Be AliveDirector
1974
Little House on the PrairieCharles Ingalls
1974Little House on the PrairieExecutive Producer
1974Little House on the PrairieDirector
1974
Mitzi & 100 GuysSelf
1975DH
Doug Henning's World of Magic
1976
The Loneliest RunnerJohn Curtis
1976The Loneliest RunnerDirector
1976The Loneliest RunnerWriter
1976The Loneliest RunnerProducer
1976
Killing StoneDirector
1978Killing StoneWriter
1978Killing StoneProducer
1978
A Walking Tour of Sesame StreetLittle Joe (archive footage)
1979
The Little House YearsCharles Ingalls
1979The Little House YearsDirector
1979
Walt Disney: One Man's DreamSelf
1981
Little House: Bless All the Dear ChildrenCharles Ingalls (voice) (uncredited)
1983Little House: Bless All the Dear ChildrenExecutive Producer
1983
Little House: Look Back to YesterdayCharles Ingalls
1983
Love is ForeverJohn Everingham
1983Love is ForeverExecutive Producer
1983
Little House: The Last FarewellCharles Ingalls
1984Little House: The Last FarewellDirector
1984Little House: The Last FarewellWriter
1984
Sam's SonGene Orman
1984Sam's SonDirector
1984Sam's SonScreenplay
1984TD
The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: Michael LandonSelf
1984
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star BloopersSelf (archive footage)
1985
Creepy ClassicsTony Rivers - (archive footage)
1987
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBCSelf
1988
Where Pigeons Go to DieAdult Hugh Baudoum
1990Where Pigeons Go to DieDirector
1990Where Pigeons Go to DieTeleplay
1990Where Pigeons Go to DieExecutive Producer
1990
UsJeff Hayes
1991UsDirector
1991UsWriter
1991UsExecutive Producer
1991
A Bing Crosby ChristmasSelf (archive footage)
1998
The Best of the Dean Martin Celebrity RoastsSelf - Roastee (archive footage)
1998
Little House on the Prairie: A Merry Ingalls ChristmasCharles Ingalls
2014Little House on the Prairie: A Merry Ingalls ChristmasExecutive Producer
2014Television
BambiSelf (archive footage) · 1 eps
1948
Studio OneAugie Barone · 1 eps
1948
Schlitz Playhouse of StarsSandy · 1 eps
1951Schlitz Playhouse of Stars1 eps
1951Schlitz Playhouse of StarsDon Burns · 1 eps
1951
General Electric TheaterClaude Duncan · 1 eps
1953General Electric TheaterDixon · 1 eps
1953
The Wonderful World of DisneySelf · 1 eps
1954
Cheyenne1 eps
1955CheyenneTrooper (uncredited) · 1 eps
1955
Matinee Theater1 eps
1955
The 20th Century Fox HourEddie · 1 eps
1955
Dick Powell's Zane Grey TheatreDan Overton · 1 eps
1956Dick Powell's Zane Grey TheatreVance Coburn · 1 eps
1956
State Trooper1 eps
1956State TrooperWillie Losada · 1 eps
1956State TrooperJoe Durando · 1 eps
1956
Telephone Time2 eps
1956
The Adventures of Jim BowieJerome Juventin · 2 eps
1956
Wire ServicePietro · 1 eps
1956
Alcoa TheatreJohnny Risk · 1 eps
1957
SuspicionHoward · 1 eps
1957
Tombstone TerritoryChris Anderson · 1 eps
1957
Tonight Starring Jack PaarSelf · 1 eps
1957
TrackdownJed Daws · 2 eps
1957
Frontier Doctor1 eps
1958
The Rifleman1 eps
1958The RiflemanBilly Mathis · 1 eps
1958
The Texan1 eps
1958
Wanted: Dead or AliveCarl Martin · 1 eps
1958Wanted: Dead or AliveClay McGarrett · 1 eps
1958
Westinghouse Desilu PlayhouseAitchinson · 1 eps
1958
BonanzaJoe Cartwright · 431 eps
1959BonanzaStory
1959BonanzaDirector
1959BonanzaWriter
1959BonanzaTeleplay
1959
Johnny Staccato1 eps
1959
The Mike Douglas ShowSelf - Co-Host · 1 eps
1961
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonSelf · 6 eps
1962The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonSelf - Guest Host · 3 eps
1962
HullabalooSelf - Host · 2 eps
1965
Hollywood SquaresSelf · 20 eps
1966
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-InSelf · 1 eps
1968
The Electric Company1 eps
1971
The Pet SetSelf · 1 eps
1971VS
V.I.P. SchaukelSelf · 1 eps
1971
Match GameSelf · 1 eps
1973
The Dean Martin Celebrity RoastsSelf · 1 eps
1973
Little House on the PrairieCharles Ingalls · 181 eps
1974Little House on the PrairieDirector
1974Little House on the PrairieWriter
1974Little House on the PrairieProducer
1974Little House on the PrairieExecutive Producer
1974Little House on the PrairieProduction Executive
1974
Doug Henning's World of MagicSelf · 1 eps
1975
People's Choice AwardsSelf - Presenter · 1 eps
1975People's Choice AwardsSelf - Host · 1 eps
1975
Donny & MarieSelf · 1 eps
1976
Falcon Crest1 eps
1981
Father MurphyDirector
1981Father MurphyWriter
1981Father MurphyProducer
1981Father MurphyExecutive Producer
1981Father MurphyCreator
1981
Highway to HeavenJonathan Smith · 111 eps
1984Highway to HeavenDirector
1984Highway to HeavenWriter
1984Highway to HeavenExecutive Producer
1984Highway to HeavenCreator
1984H'
Hollywood '84Self · 1 eps
1984Photos
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