Landon was the only actor who had three consecutive hit television series that ran more than five years. After a short-lived career in javelin throwing, he turned to acting, starring in a B-movie flick called "I Was A Teenage Werewolf". But it was the TV series "Bonanza" that was Landon's true calling, playing the part of Little Joe for nearly the entire series run. After "Little House" ended in 1984, he starred with his acting buddy Victor French in "Highway To Heaven", which ran for five years. Landon had just finished the pilot for a new TV series called "US" when he was diagnosed with cancer in 1991 and subsequently died from that disease. Michael Landon was the "father figure" for all of family television, and his legacy lives on in reruns.
Born in Berkeley, CA, Karen Grassle was trained at the London Academy Of Music and Dramatic Art. Aside from her acting career, she is also a long-standing advocate for women's rights. "Little House" is her best-known work. For many years, Grassle was a spokesperson for Time-Life Video's release of the series. She has recently done work on the stage. In 2002, she appeared on a "TV Moms" edition of the NBC game show "The Weakestlink". She is currently married to J. Alan Radford and has an adopted daughter.