U.S. President Ronald Reagan and his wife, Nancy Davis Reagan, attended Landon's memorial service the day after his death.

Had an IQ of 159.

Won the freshman javelin toss at the University of Southern California-Los Angeles.

Before he became a successful actor, he worked in a warehouse and at a gas station.

In 1954, he was the national high school record holder in the javelin throw.

His father died of a heart attack in February 1959.

Always claimed to have chosen his professional name by picking the name Michael Landon out of the Los Angeles telephone directory.

Comedian and ex-talk show host, Johnny Carson was a longtime friend of his and had (in private) always confided in Landon and shared his own issues with him.

Before his death, he appeared on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" (1962) to talk about his brave battle against cancer and his life and it was the highest-rated show of all time.

Like his "Bonanza" (1959) co-star Lorne Greene, Landon was a staunch supporter of the Republican Party.

Started having grey hair at age 20.

Never legally adopted his stepdaughter, Cheryl, because of her birth father's objections.

By most accounts he was exactly like the kind, gentle, heroic characters he portrayed onscreen and in fact few, if any, people complained about working with him, something rare in Hollywood.

Grew up in the southern New Jersey town of Collingswood and graduated Collingswood High School in 1954.

His stepdaughter, Cheryl, recalled in his biography "I Promised My Dad" that once Landon was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, he realized that all the years of smoking, drinking and eating an unhealthy diet had taken their toll. Later, despite going on a regimen that included a naturalistic approach to the cancer (coffee enemas and a healthy diet), Landon was devastated to learn that the cancer had tripled in size.

Interred at Hillside Memorial Park, Culver City, California, USA.

His mother Peggy died on March 15, 1981.

When he filed for divorce from Lynn, it cost him $26 million. Though he gave her his $3.5-million, 35-room Beverly Hills mansion, this bitter divorce was a devastating blow for Lynn, who stated on TV that her ex-husband had become her angel. (16 April 1981)

His parents were Jewish and Irish Catholic.

Wore lifts in "Bonanza" (1959) so he would not be dwarfed by considerably taller co-stars Dan Blocker and Lorne Greene.

Charles Ingalls, Landon's character on _"Little House on the Prairie" (1974)_, was ranked #4 in TV Guide's list of the "50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time" [20 June 2004 issue].

Studied karate under Chuck Norris, as did the children of his "Bonanza" co-star Dan Blocker.

12 years after his death, his eldest sister, Evelyn, died on New Years' Day, 2003.

His last wife was former make-up artist Cindy Clerico, whom he met near the end of the "Little House" run in 1981, and married two years later.

Starred with Victor French in two of his successful TV series.

Brian Keith and Ernest Borgnine attended his funeral.

Best remembered by the public for his role as Little Joe on "Bonanza" (1959) and for his starring role as Charles Ingalls on "Little House on the Prairie" (1974).

He smoked 4 packs of unfiltered Menthol cigarettes a day during his lifetime, which probably contributed to the pancreatic cancer that killed him.

Is buried at the same cemetery as his TV father, Lorne Greene (Hillside Memorial Park, Culver City, California).

Children: Mark Fraser Landon (adopted at age 7 in 1956; aka Mark Landon), Josh Fraser Landon (adopted as newborn in 1960), Leslie Ann Landon (b 11 October 1963; aka Leslie Landon), Michael Graham Landon (b. 20 June 1965; aka Michael Landon Jr.), Shawna Leigh Landon (b. 1971; aka Shawna Landon), Christopher Beau Landon (b. 27 February 1975; Christopher B. Landon), Jennifer Rachel Landon (b. 29 August 1983; aka Jennifer Landon), Sean Matthew Landon (b. 6/1986) and step-daughter Cheryl Ann Pontrelli.

Graduated third from the bottom of his class academically in 1954.

Inducted (as a cast member of "Little House on the Prairie") into the Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in 1998.

Had to drop out of the University of California-Los Angeles because he tore his shoulder ligaments, which would prevent him from throwing the javelin again, and he was attending UCLA on an athletic scholarship.

His birthplace, Forest Hills, is a neighborhood area in Queens, New York.

Wrote and directed two movies that were semi-autobiographical: The Loneliest Runner (1976) (TV) and Sam's Son (1984).

Despite being given a less than three per cent chance of survival, Landon announced he was going to beat his pancreatic cancer. Unfortunately by the time of the diagnosis it had already spread to his liver and stomach.

The youngest of two children.

His second wife, Marjorie Lynn Noe, was one of the few people who refused to attend his funeral, because she told her children that the divorce had already been like a death to her.

He was left-handed, and his awkward handwriting (he often hand-wrote scripts) sometimes made it difficult for his secretary to read what he'd written).

Actress Melissa Gilbert's son Michael (b. 1995) was named after him.