Actor, Television Director, and Television Producer. Born in Forest Hills, Queens, New York, the family moved to Collingswood, New Jersey when he was four years old. Although he had a genius-level IQ, he failed to maintain passing grades in high school. He was, however, a popular student and was considered by most to be very funny. Throwing the javelin turned his life around. He became so proficient in the event that he was offered several athletic scholarships and accepted the offer from the University of Southern California (USC). While there, he injured his arm and was forced to relinquish the scholarship. He dropped out of college and became employed at a warehouse in California. An audition was planned at Warner Brothers Pictures for Michael and a co-worker. Warner Brothers was impressed with his audition. They signed him and sent him to acting school for four months. During this time, he decided to take a stage name and chose "Michael Landon," picking it from a telephone book. His first notable appearance in film was in 1957 at age 21 in "I Was a Teenage Werewolf". Around this time, TV producer David Dortort had a television show in the works that he had created for NBC called "Bonanza." Dortort successfully persuaded to the network that he could make a hit television show with relatively unknown actors. This was another turning point in Michael's life and would form the basis of his career. Dortort chose him for the role of 'Little Joe Cartwright.' The show premiered on September 12, 1959, and was a hit for 10 of the 14 years it was on the air. While Landon was involved in "Bonanza," he was able to nurture his talent for writing and directing. He wrote and directed several of the episodes. His next project was "Little House on the Prairie." Based on the Little House book series by Laura Ingalls Wilder, the show, which premiered in 1974 and ended in 1983, was very successful. Relationships with his fellow actors on these projects were an essential part of his life and many remained close friends with him until his death. In 1984, he starred in his last television series, "Highway to Heaven," alongside Victor French which was to run until 1989. He was working on the production of a series when he became ill and was not able to see it to fruition. In April 1991, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, which claimed his life. He was married three times. His first wife was Dodie Frasier. They were married from 1956 until 1962. In 1963, he married model Marjorie Lynn Noe, and they divorced in 1982. He married makeup artist Cindy Clerico on February 14, 1983. He was the father of five sons and four daughters. The National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum posthumously inducted him into the Western Performers Hall of Fame in 1998. His star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is located at 1500 N. Vine Street.