Stories

Michael Landon Once Said His Children Were Very Scared Of His Mom

ADVERTISEMENT

Michael Landon became a big star but growing up, it wasn’t always easy. Before his death, he opened up that he grew up with an “abusive” mom and that later on, even his children were afraid of her. Michael shared that his mom had mental health issues and would even try to kill him.

He shared in 1987, “My mother was sad—she never got better—and she always kept me a little off balance. I could do all the bad things—fail a grade, skip school for weeks—and she wouldn’t say a word. But if I drank milk out of a bottle, she’d dropkick me all over the kitchen.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Michael Landon shared how his mom was “abusive” and mentally ill

BONANZA, Michael Landon, 1959-73 (1959 photo by Zinn Arthur) / Everett Collection

He admitted that his children were always scared of their grandma because her moods were so unpredictable. He added, “She scared the hell out of them because they never knew who she was going to be. She spoke with a lot of different accents, and she’d use them all in one conversation.”

ADVERTISEMENT

RELATED: Michael Landon, America’s Favorite Pa, Had A Truly Troubled Life

Michael Landon, 1981 (photo by Gene Trindl) / Everett Collection

While she did try to get help, Michael said that no psychiatrist was ever able to diagnose or help her. Over the years, Michael had some traumatic experiences with his parents, including the time his mother tried to drown herself in the ocean. The incident upset Michael, rightfully so, and his father called him “pathetic” for being upset, he said.

HIGHWAY TO HEAVEN, Michael Landon, 1984-89. ©NBC/courtesy Everett Collection (photo by Mario Casilli)

So incredibly sad! Eventually, Michael passed away from pancreatic cancer in 1991. His legacy lives on with the shows he worked on and created such as Little House on the Prairie.

RELATED: The Heartbreaking Story Behind Michael Landon’s ‘The Loneliest Runner’

Show comments
Share
Published by

Recent Posts

Titanic Replica Will Set Sail In 2027 — Here’s What We Know

Australian billionaire Clive Palmer has announced a date for the first voyage of the Titanic’s…

3 mins ago

Lori Loughlin Reflects On Career-Altering Scandal Five Years Later In New Interview

Lori Loughlin, widely recognized for her iconic portrayal of Aunt Becky on the beloved sitcom…

1 hour ago

Boney M Music Group Then And Now 2024

UPDATED 4/30/2024 Can you feel that beat!?!? Boney M was a disco band formed in…

3 hours ago

Christopher Walken’s Dance Moves From Over 50 Movies Spliced Into Epic Music Video

About a decade ago, a wholesome video of Annie Hall’s Christopher Walken dancing resurfaced after it…

4 hours ago

‘Designing Women’ Star Delta Burke Says She Used Crystal Meth For Weight Loss

The latter half of the ‘80s belonged to the Designing Women, a CBS sitcom led…

16 hours ago

Richard Simmons Rejects Biopic On His Life, Gets Dramatic Reaction From Star Pauly Shore

At 75 years of age, Richard Simmons remains one of the most memorable and unique…

19 hours ago