Josh Fraser Landon is the son of Michael Landon, an American actor and filmmaker, and Dodie Levy-Fraser, an actor and comedian. Josh’s father was best known for playing Little Joe Cartwright in Bonanza, Charles Ingalls in Little House on the Prairie, and Jonathan Smith in Highway to Heaven. Michael also made 22 appearances on the cover of TV Guide, second to Lucille Ball. Dodie and Landon divorced six years into their marriage after Michael became smitten with a model and started dating behind her.
What is it like being Michael Landon’s son? And does Josh Fraser have siblings? Keep reading to learn more about the troubled family life of Fraser’s father.
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Josh Fraser Landon Early Life
Josh Landon was born on 11 February 1960. He is the son of Landon’s first wife. Landon adopted Josh and his brother Mark after he married their mother in 1956. Even after their divorce, Landon remained close to his sons.
The details of Josh Fraser’s upbringing are not available on the web. Still, it is evident his father was close to him as he inherited about $8-$10 million after his death, just like the other children of Landon. Landon once said that he hated when people referred to his sons as adopted since they were his children.
Josh Fraser Landon Siblings
Fraser has eight siblings from his father’s three marriages. His brother Mark is the oldest of them all and had an acting career before he died in 2009. Michael Landon Jr. is a director and TV producer, Christopher Beau Landon is a writer and movie director, and Jennifer Rachel Landon is an actress. Cheryl Landon published the book titled I Promised My Dad in 1992. Leslie Ann is a clinical psychologist, and Rachel Matthews had a voicing role in Frozen II. Apart from Josh Fraser, whose life and career details are unknown, Shawna Leigh and Sean Matthew are two of Michael Landon’s children who circumvented show business and worked in real estate.
Josh Fraser Landon’s Mother
Dodie Levy-Fraser was born in 1933 in New York City and is best known as Michael’s first wife. The couple got married in 1956 but divorced in 1962 after Michael started an affair with a model. Dodie was an actress, author, producer, and director.
Josh Fraser Landon’s Father
According to Michael Landon, he had a difficult home life while growing up. His mother had difficulty managing her depression and dealt with suicidal ideation. The stress caused Michael to wet his bed even as a teen, and his mother made it worse by hanging the soiled sheets for all to see.
The Little House on the Prairie star was bullied at school, having been the center of anti-Semitic Jokes. According to Kent McCray, a good friend of Landon, the star’s childhood home life was sorrowful. Landon used to play alone in the surrounding wooded areas.
Michael Landon had a successful acting career in Bonanza, Little House on the Prairie, Highway to Heaven, and several other projects. He was also a singer.
Michael was diagnosed with an aggressive form of pancreatic cancer and succumbed to the disease on 1 July 1991.
It’s a Wrap
Michael may have had a difficult upbringing, but he did his best to give his children a better life than his despite having three separate marriages.