Michael Landon Biography

Fast Facts

• National high school record holder in the javelin throw in 1954
• In 1998, Landon was inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum for his role on "Little House on the Prairie․"
• Worked at a gas station and a warehouse before pursuing a career in acting
• Quote: "People would do themselves a great favor if they would take the blame for things that go wrong, and say to themselves, 'I've go to do something about this․' But you can't do anything if you always blame you problems on someone else․ You have to say, 'It's my fault, and I'd better do something about this․'"
• Quote: "I want people to laugh and cry, not just sit and stare at the TV․ Maybe I'm old-fashioned, but I think viewers are hungry for shows in which people say something meaningful․"
• Landon won the javelin toss at the University of Southern California-Los Angeles as a freshman
• Claims to have chose his professional acting name by picking a name at random out of a Los Angeles telephone directory
• Landon studied karate under the tutelage of Chuck Norris
• Landon was hobbyist of fishing, swimming, golfing, karate, cooking, playing bridge, weightlifting and more