First of All, That Wasn’t His Name
Sure, many celebrities end up changing their names to suit Hollywood, but Landon’s birth name was far from his “christened” actor name. He was born Eugene Maurice Orowitz on Halloween of 1936 in Queens, New York, to Jewish and Catholic parents. When he was four, the family moved to Collingswood, New Jersey.
Michael Landon. Source: Shutterstock
His father, a movie publicist, and his mother, an actress, constantly fought with each other. His mother, Peggy, was suicidal, and one attempt, in particular, stood out in Landon’s memory. The family was at a beach house, and after an argument, his mother left and headed toward the sea.