In 1959, at the age of 22, Landon began his first starring TV role as "Little Joe Cartwright" on Bonanza, one of the first TV series to be broadcast in color.

The TV star is still sorely missed!

Michael Landon: The Life Of An Acting Legend

After starring in Bonanza for over 14 years and 430 episodes, he went on to star in Little House on the Prairie. He also wrote and directed a few episodes for the show.

After 23 years in the same genre, Michael Landon starred in the fantasy show Highway to Heaven which was canceled after 5 seasons. 

Trivia

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

He smoked four packs of unfiltered Menthol cigarettes a day starting around 1961, which probably contributed to the pancreatic cancer that killed him.