This made me cry, I just love to hear those who knew Mike best speak so lovingly about him, I just wish I could have met this remarkable human being. Not one soul have said differently which means it must have been the truth, I didn't think any differently. I heard someone say no one left his set except they retired and they followed him from place to place which I find to be the truth as well because the same faces on bonanza can be seen on LHOTP and Highway to heaven. He was an absolute gem. 💔💔💔
I love how they all adored him...and you can see it in their eyes and the way they talk about him. Not one of his co workers criticizes his work, so he really must have been great to work with/for.
Unfortunately his co-star doesn’t say nice things about him in her book. Of course there is always two sides to the story and then the truth. Wonder if she is trying to sell books?
@@MikeM-vx8hf Hearing what Karen Grassle said about Michael was very upsetting. After all these years she has to reveal this and he can’t even defend himself. Very sad. I still adore Michael Landon.
I hate that she’s saying such horrible things about him NOW. Why didn’t you say it then? He didn’t just work side by side with her. One of these women would have spoken up if it was as bad as she makes it out to be! For her to do this when the man is dead and can’t defend himself is absolutely HORRIFIC!
Both were great Actors. I watched little House on the Prairie now on German Television (House on the Prairie, in German, the called it: "Unsere kleine Farm") on Sat 1 Gold. I love it, it has a very nostalgic Atmosphaire. Bonanza and Highway to Heaven are also great Shows.
Beautiful interview. It shows how our Michael Landon was. Thanks for sharing this. Thanks for have been such amazing, caring and lovely human being, Michael.
Its nice that he appreciates Michael and even his sensitivity , because lots of reminices about him are about his faults, and bad habits. The truth must be he was very human, a creative dynamo, and a generous creative spirit,.
His saying that Michael contracted "sleeping sickness" and emerged from that brush with death with more maturity was new to me and facinating. Love this kind of insight into Michael from people who had an obvious fondness for him, so that when he's describing Michael's faults, it's the kind of honesty a person that just wants the best for you gives. In other words a true friend. So when he said he thought if only someone could beat discipline into young Michael's head and referenced his on set behavior I smiled and chuckled. It made me remember this quote from Haskell Boggs, Bonanza's cinematographer: “Well, I’ll tell you, to be honest, he was a little brat,” said Boggs with a laugh. However, Boggs added that with a few more years of experience under his belt, Landon became a great guy. “When I think about Mike, I could see the cogs turning around. A few years before ‘Bonanza’ closed down, I could see Mike…he was applying himself,” said Boggs. “He was doing things to prepare himself in case. And he did. And he turned out, in my opinion, to be a very wonderful actor, director, everything.” Boggs was nominated for five Emmys throughout his career. Four of his nominations were for his work on “Bonanza.” The other was for his work on the Michael Landon television movie, “Where Pigeons Go to Die.” Michael really did keep the same actors and crew from "Bonanza" around him his whole life! What loyalty! He really took care of them. What a great boss to work for! Mr Boggs for one, and Dabbs Greer was not only on "Little House" but in several Bonanza episodes! Victor French too!
I just watched Mr. Greer in Five into the Wind on Bonanza...wow, great episode! In another commentary I'll upload soon, an actor says Mike was "always thinking". Thank you for the Boggs quote. Another great insight!
This is awesome! I have never seen an interview with Dabs Greer before, so thanks for posting it. I know of the episode of Wanted: Dead or Alive that he was talking about here since I watch that show often. It was strange seeing Michael Landon firing a pistol. Especially at another person(He played a bad guy, obviously). But it was great seeing him and Steve McQueen acting together. I should add that I don't watch much Bonanza, and that it why it was strange for me to see Michael firing a pistol. On Little House he always used a rifle, and only when hunting.
Unfortunately there are some who are hell bent on bashing Michael Landon to sell their books. Interesting these same people never quit the show and waited decades to come out against him. Glad to see Mr Greer share his perspective!
Yes and Karen Grassle should be ashamed of herself for trying to tar and feather a great human being,the one who is responsible for giving her a role that today is the only reason anyone even knows who she is. Instead of being appreciative of that,she's decided to hop on the "woke" "me-too" bus and pander to the lowest common denominator as an attempt to sell books and stay relevant. There's a on old saying "people who live in glass houses shouldn't cast stones". She was an alcoholic on the set of little house. Her gripes against Michael Landon are laughable at best.
I didn't know Michael Landon personally, but I can typically gauge a person by their "fruits," and even actors can't hide all of their fruits from showing. Michael Landon was human like the rest of us, and had his strongholds that he dealt with, but overall he seemed to be a kind soul that was generally selfless in nature. It was probably a joy to be friends with him. He knew the deep/dark secrets of Hollywood and was forced to remain silent in that regard, but overall he was an open/loving soul that spread that love around. ❤
I hate that she’s saying such horrible things about him NOW. Why didn’t you say it then? He didn’t just work side by side with her. One of these women would have spoken up if it was as bad as she makes it out to be! For her to do this when the man is dead and can’t defend himself is absolutely HORRIFIC!
Complicated question. She was just ungrateful. She demanded a pay increase after the 1st year. NBC wouldn't give it to her. She nagged Mike about it and he was dealing with a lot having to produce, direct, write and star in the show. So he acted cold to her, which I totally understand. He wanted the show to succeed and Karen was bringing everything down.
Love dabbs Greer. Yeah I heard something too about Michale getting some form of life threatening malaria. I’m guessing once he survived, he was able to understand what life was truly all about and the maturity that that realization gave him.
