Michael Landon Career and Net Worth

Michael Landon Career and Net Worth, Who inherited Michael Landon’s money? These and many other facts about Michael, his career and estate.

Michael Landon was an American actor, writer, producer, and director. Michael had a net worth equal to $40 million in today’s dollars at the time of his death in 1991. Landon was known for starring in several classic television shows. He acted Joseph “Little Joe” Cartwright in the television series “Bonanza” from 1959 to 1973. he also played Charles Ingalls in the TV series “Little House on the Prairie” from 1974 to 1983, as well as Jonathan Smith in the series “Highway to Heaven” from 1984 to 1989.

Michael Landon Early Life
Eugene Maurice Orowitz was born on October 31, 1936 in Queens, New York. He was born to mother Peggy who was Roman Catholic, and father Eugene, who was Jewish. Michael had an older sister named Evelyn born in 1933. Michael relocated with his family to Collingswood, New Jersey at the age of four. Michael attended Temple Beth Shalom in Cherry Hill, New Jersey throughout elementary school. Michael proceeded to Collingswood High School. At Collingswood, he excelled at athletics. He set the high school record for longest javelin throw in 1954. Michael’s gift fetched him an athletic scholarship to the University of Southern California. After he tore his shoulder ligaments, he forfeited his scholarship and abandoned college altogether. Michael became interested in show business and started working as a gas station attendant sharing just a street with the Warner Bros studios and was subsequently noticed by local talent agent Bob Raison.

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Michael Landon Early Career
After he was discovered by Bob Raison, Michael changed his name from Eugene Orowitz to Michael Landon- a name he found by searching through a phone book. He featured in a number of bit and un-credited appearances in television shows. In 1956, he landed his first starring role on a series called “Telephone Time”, in the episode “The Mystery of Casper Hauser” as the title character. Michael played other notable roles include. Michael roles in “I Was a Teenage Werewolf” in 1957, “Maracaibo” in 1958, “High School Confidential” in 1958, “God’s Little Acre” in 1958, and “The Legend of Tom Dooley” in 1959. Michael played a number of roles on television, such as “Crossroads”, “The Restless Gun” (pilot episode aired on “Schlitz Playhouse of Stars”), “Sheriff of Cochise” (in “Human Bomb”) “Crusader”, “Frontier Doctor”, “The Rifleman” (in “End of a Young Gun”, 1958), “The Adventures of Jim Bowie”, “Johnny Staccato”, ‘Wire Service”, “General Electric Theater”, ‘The Court of Last Resort”, “State Trooper” (two episodes), “Tales of Wells Fargo” (Three episodes), “The Texan” (in the 1958 episode “The Hemp Tree”), “The Tall Man”, “Tombstone Territory” (in the episodes “The Man From Brewster”, “Rose of the Rio Bravo”, “Trackdown” (two episodes), and “Wanted Dead or Alive”. He appeared in several episodes of Dick Powell’s “Zane Grey Theater”.

Michael Landon Bonanza
Michael began starring as Little Joe Cartwright on “Bonanza” in 1959. The series was one of the very first programs to be aired in color nationally. It was massive hit, topping Nielsen ratings as the #1 show for three straight years. Michael was the breakout star of the show. He got more fan mail than any other cast member. Michael was able to get the option to write and direct a number of Bonanza episodes.

Michael Landon Personal Life
Landon was married three times and fathered nine children in total. Michael married Dodi Levy-Fraser from 1956 to 1962. The couple had two kids- Mark Fraser Landon and Josh Fraser Landon. He married Marjorie Lynn Noe from 1963 to 1982. The couple have five children together. Who inherited Michael Landon’s money? His nine children inherited his estate according to the People Magazine.