Michael Landon
From Little House Wiki, the Little House encyclopedia
Michael Landon (October 31, 1936 - July 1, 1991) was an actor, writer, director, and producer, who starred in three popular NBC television series that spanned three decades. Landon's first big role was playing feisty brother Little Joe Cartwright in Bonanza, later he starred as Charles Ingalls on Little House on the Prairie, writing, producing, and directing many episodes in the show.
He also played an angel named Jonathan Smith in Highway to Heaven for five seasons (Landon was the creator of the show). Little House was the second longest running show Landon had starred in, Bonanza was the first.
[edit] Bonanza
Michael Landon's first large role was playing "Little" Joe Cartwright for fourteen seasons. This is also were Landon gained experience in directing and writing episodes for television. The same year Bonanza ended Michael Landon co-created Little House on the Prairie.
