Which actor's real name was Eugene Maurice Orowitz?

Michael Landon (born Eugene Maurice Orowitz; October 31, 1936 – July 1, 1991) was an American actor, writer, director, and producer. He is known for his roles as Little Joe Cartwright in "Bonanza" (1959–1973), Charles Ingalls in "Little House on the Prairie"(1974–1983), and Jonathan Smith in "Highway to Heaven" (1984–1989).

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. Also starring on the show were Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, and Dan Blocker. During "Bonanza's" sixth season (1964–1965), the show topped the Nielsen ratings and remained number one for three years.

The year after "Bonanza" was canceled, Landon went on to star as Charles Ingalls in the pilot of what became another very successful television series, "Little House on the Prairie", again for NBC. The show was taken from a 1935 book written by Laura Ingalls Wilder, whose character in the show was played by nine-year-old actress Melissa Gilbert. Landon served as executive producer, writer, and director of "Little House". The show, a success in its first season, emphasized family values and relationships. "Little House" became Landon's second-longest running series.

On April 5, 1991, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, which had metastasized to his liver and lymph nodes. The cancer was inoperable and terminal. On July 1, 1991, at age 54, Landon died in Malibu, California.