- Michael Landon was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, which led to his death three months later.
- His children, including Christopher Landon, shared their memories and grief.
- Christopher, now a successful writer and producer, reflected on growing up under his father’s legacy and coming out as gay.
Michael Landon, celebrated for his roles on “Bonanza,” “Little House on the Prairie,” and “Highway to Heaven,” left an indelible mark on television. Yet, beyond life on camera, his real-life drama unfolded with a heart-wrenching battle against pancreatic cancer, deeply affecting his family.
In a February 1992 interview, Michael’s son Christopher, alongside five of his siblings, recalled being told about his dad’s cancer diagnosis and how the journey from then on affected him, specifically.
Michael Landon attends the Hollywood Radio and Television Society’s 16th Annual International Broadcasting Awards on March 4, 1976 at Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
April 5, 1991, a seemingly ordinary day turned pivotal for Christopher, then 16, as he learned of his father’s diagnosis. The news came as a shock, transforming a moment of youthful triumph into a prelude to grief.
“I was in such a good mood. It was the Friday before spring vacation. I’d gotten an A on my English exam,” Christopher remembered at the time.
Michael Landon and Christopher Landon attend the Third Annual Moonlight Roundup Extravaganza at the Calamigos Ranch on July 29, 1989 in Malibu, California. | Source: Getty Images
He was a junior at Los Angeles High then when his sisters broke the news that their father had cancer, a disease which led to his death three months later in July 1991, at age 54. Christopher expressed, “I could feel every nerve in my body, like it was all lit up.”
A publicity portrait of Michael Landon, 1970 | Source: Getty Images
Similarly, Michael’s youngest daughter, Jenifer Landon, at just eight years old, faced the gravity of her father’s condition, a moment tenderly supported by her stepmother, Cindy Landon.
“Dad and Mom came downstairs with a nervous look on their faces. They told me,” an emotional Jennifer recounted during an interview. In that same interview, Michael’s other daughter Leslie Landon, admitted, “We miss everything about Dad. There isn’t a day [that] goes by when I don’t think of him.”
Michael Landon pictured on January 1, 1985 | Source: Getty Images
Meanwhile, Michael’s wife of eight years, Cindy, whom he was married to from February 1981, until his demise, was haunted by painful memories in the wake of his passing. “It was hard to get the images of when he was sick out of my mind,” said the former makeup artist.
Despite his frail state, Michael fought a good fight in his battle with cancer. He underwent experimental chemotherapy and preferred a “natural” regimen that included a vegetarian diet and acupuncture.
