This boy lost his famous dad at 16 – now, he’s a proud gay man and father

The esteemed American actor Michael Landon passed away at the age of 54, leaving behind a legacy marked by his iconic roles in BonanzaLittle House on the Prairie, and Highway to Heaven.

Despite his storied Hollywood career, Landon always placed his family at the forefront of his life.

He was a father to nine children and had the joy of meeting some of his grandchildren before his untimely death.

Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, Landon faced his illness with remarkable bravery. He dedicated himself to various treatments, including chemotherapy and natural remedies, and adopted a largely vegetarian diet in hopes of recovery. Tragically, he succumbed to the disease just three months after his diagnosis.

Michael Landon and his wife Cindy Landon pictured in June 1989. Credit: Ron Galella / Ron Galella Collection / Getty.

By Father’s Day in 1990, the severity of his condition was unmistakable. On June 16, Landon confided in his wife, Cindy, that he was nearing the end. She witnessed his struggle firsthand that day as he tried to move around the house with the aid of an oxygen tank.

As the end approached, a nurse warned Landon’s family that his death was imminent, prompting Cindy to ensure that all of Landon’s children had the opportunity to say their goodbyes. Each of his children, with their individual personalities and life paths, faced the loss in their unique ways.

Christopher, one of his sons, was only sixteen when Landon passed away. A year later, Christopher opened up about his grief and the impact of losing his father at such a young age.

Christopher recalled the day he learned of his father’s terminal illness and his emotional state before receiving the devastating news. He had been feeling upbeat after acing an English exam, only to be informed later by his sisters about their father’s diagnosis. Reflecting on the moment he received the news, Christopher said (via People): “I could feel every nerve in my body like it was all made up.”

Seven months after his father’s death, Christopher began to talk about his grief more openly. His mother, stepmother, and siblings shared in this process of healing. Christopher regretted not being able to apologize to his father for the hardships he endured. Michael’s final words to Cindy were simply, “I love you.”

Christopher noted the shift in his perception of death since his father’s passing: “Before, when I used to think about death, I’d say, ‘I don’t want to die at all!’ But now I’d say the worst that’s going to happen is that I’ll see Dad again,” per People.

In the wake of his father’s death, Christopher vowed to live life to its fullest and to honor his father’s memory by living authentically. At 24, this commitment meant coming out about his sexuality.

Despite the fame of his father and the challenges of high school, Christopher grappled with his identity and feared judgment. He once worried that his coming out might negatively impact his father’s wholesome image, thinking: “For a while, I thought an article about me would come out with the headline ‘Little House on the Fairy’ or ‘Highway to Hell.’”

Seven months after his father’s death, Christopher began to talk about his grief more openly. His mother, stepmother, and siblings shared in this process of healing. Christopher regretted not being able to apologize to his father for the hardships he endured. Michael’s final words to Cindy were simply, “I love you.”

Christopher noted the shift in his perception of death since his father’s passing: “Before, when I used to think about death, I’d say, ‘I don’t want to die at all!’ But now I’d say the worst that’s going to happen is that I’ll see Dad again,” per People.

In the wake of his father’s death, Christopher vowed to live life to its fullest and to honor his father’s memory by living authentically. At 24, this commitment meant coming out about his sexuality.

Despite the fame of his father and the challenges of high school, Christopher grappled with his identity and feared judgment. He once worried that his coming out might negatively impact his father’s wholesome image, thinking: “For a while, I thought an article about me would come out with the headline ‘Little House on the Fairy’ or ‘Highway to Hell.’”

Rich Young Woman Mocks Poor Old Man, Two Days Later Karma Strikes

A wealthy young woman makes fun of the janitor at her father’s company, and he decides to teach her a lesson she will never forget.

Danielle Grobber had always gotten what she wanted. She was pretty, smart, talented, and very, very rich. At least, her father was very rich, and she always thought his money belonged to her.

Danielle, or Danie, as her friends called her, was a bit spoiled, but she usually used her charm and bright smile to get out of trouble. Then she crossed a line, and her father gave her a lesson she would never forget.

Danielle was excited to go on a two-week vacation to the Caribbean. She had convinced her father to take her shopping, even though she didn’t really need anything; she just loved spending time with him.

Unfortunately, her dad had to skip their lunch to handle some urgent matters. So, Danielle wandered around until she found a famous fast food restaurant. She ordered a burger, fries, a large soda, and an apple pie.

After getting her food, she walked back to her dad’s building, which had a nice lawn with trees, benches, and fountains. She sat down to eat while texting her friends on her phone.

When she finished, she wiped her mouth, crumpled the napkin, and put on her lipstick. Then she got up and walked away, leaving the trash on the bench.

Source: Unsplash

A voice suddenly stopped her. “Excuse me, miss!” it said. “Please pick up your trash and throw it in the bin.”

Danie turned around and saw a thin old man in a janitor’s uniform who was sweeping the path. “Excuse me?” she asked. “Are you talking to ME?”

“Yes, young lady,” he replied. “This park is for everyone who works here, and it’s not fair to leave trash behind.”

Source: Unsplash

“I don’t clean up!” Danie said proudly. “People clean up for me. People like you—the servant class. Isn’t that your job? So just do it!”

The elderly man turned red. “Young lady,” he said. “My job is to keep this building and garden clean, but what you did is rude…”

Source: Unsplash

Danie interrupted him. “You work for my father, so you work for me! If I tell you to clean up, you clean up. If I tell you to lick my shoes, you do that too, or I’ll get you fired!”

Just then, Danie heard a loud voice: “DANIELLE!” She turned to see her father looking very angry. “Who do you think you are?” Jack Grobber asked. “How dare you treat this man poorly? He has worked for me for over 20 years, and he has a family!”

Source: Unsplash

“Daddy?” Danie said in her sweetest voice. “Please don’t be mad! I’m so sorry!” But her father saw a hint of mockery in her smile. Danie thought she would get away with it, just like always.

“Apologize to Mr. Terence, Danielle,” Jack ordered. He watched as she turned to the janitor, trying to act charming, but he knew it was fake.

Jack thought, “It’s my fault. I have to fix this!” But how could he change a lifetime of being spoiled and teach her about respect and responsibility?

Source: Unsplash

Then he had a great idea. “Mr. Terence, you look tired!” he said. “I think you need a vacation!”

Mr. Terence smiled and shook his head. “My wife says the same, Mr. Grobber, but I’m saving my vacation days for Christmas with the grandkids!”

“That’s okay, Mr. Terence,” Jack said. “I’m giving you two weeks off and an all-expenses-paid trip to the Bahamas for you and your wife!”

Mr. Terence was shocked. “Sir? The Bahamas? But who will do my job?”

Source: Unsplash

“Don’t worry, Mr. Terence,” Jack said with a smile. “My daughter Danielle will be happy to do your job while you’re away to make up for how she treated you.”

“WHAT?” screamed Danie. “Are you crazy, Dad? I’m going on vacation!”

“Not anymore,” Jack said. “Mr. and Mrs. Terence will go instead, and you will take his place while he is away.”

“YOU CAN’T DO THIS TO ME!” Danie yelled. “I’m not a janitor! Cleaning toilets? Sweeping? Picking up trash? I won’t do it!”

“Yes, you will,” her father said coldly. “If you don’t, I’ll cut off your allowance and take away your convertible…”

Source: Unsplash

“It’s MY car!” Danie cried.

“No, Danielle,” Jack said softly. “It’s MY car. I pay for it all. Everything you have is because of me. It’s time you learn how hard people work for every dollar.”

Danie knew her father well, and she could see in his eyes that she had crossed a line. He would not change his mind!

“You start on Monday,” Jack told her. Then he turned to Mr. Terence. “You should go home and pack! Enjoy your trip!”

On Monday morning, Danie showed up in her uniform, ready to clean and sweep. By the end of the day, she was exhausted, her pretty nails were ruined, and her soft hands were sore.

When Mr. Terence returned from the Bahamas with a nice tan, he told Mr. Grobber that Danielle had done a great job keeping everything clean—no trash in the garden!

From then on, Danie never disrespected anyone who worked hard because she understood how tough that job really was!

Danielle was excited to go on a two-week vacation to the Caribbean. She had convinced her father to take her shopping, even though she didn’t really need anything; she just loved spending time with him.

Unfortunately, her dad had to skip their lunch to handle some urgent matters. So, Danielle wandered around until she found a famous fast food restaurant. She ordered a burger, fries, a large soda, and an apple pie.

Source: Unsplash

After getting her food, she walked back to her dad’s building, which had a nice lawn with trees, benches, and fountains. She sat down to eat while texting her friends on her phone.

When she finished, she wiped her mouth, crumpled the napkin, and put on her lipstick. Then she got up and walked away, leaving the trash on the bench.

Source: Unsplash

A voice suddenly stopped her. “Excuse me, miss!” it said. “Please pick up your trash and throw it in the bin.”

Danie turned around and saw a thin old man in a janitor’s uniform who was sweeping the path. “Excuse me?” she asked. “Are you talking to ME?”

“Yes, young lady,” he replied. “This park is for everyone who works here, and it’s not fair to leave trash behind.”

Source: Unsplash

“I don’t clean up!” Danie said proudly. “People clean up for me. People like you—the servant class. Isn’t that your job? So just do it!”

The elderly man turned red. “Young lady,” he said. “My job is to keep this building and garden clean, but what you did is rude…”

Source: Unsplash

Danie interrupted him. “You work for my father, so you work for me! If I tell you to clean up, you clean up. If I tell you to lick my shoes, you do that too, or I’ll get you fired!”

Just then, Danie heard a loud voice: “DANIELLE!” She turned to see her father looking very angry. “Who do you think you are?” Jack Grobber asked. “How dare you treat this man poorly? He has worked for me for over 20 years, and he has a family!”

Source: Unsplash

“Daddy?” Danie said in her sweetest voice. “Please don’t be mad! I’m so sorry!” But her father saw a hint of mockery in her smile. Danie thought she would get away with it, just like always.

“Apologize to Mr. Terence, Danielle,” Jack ordered. He watched as she turned to the janitor, trying to act charming, but he knew it was fake.

Jack thought, “It’s my fault. I have to fix this!” But how could he change a lifetime of being spoiled and teach her about respect and responsibility?

Source: Unsplash

Then he had a great idea. “Mr. Terence, you look tired!” he said. “I think you need a vacation!”

Mr. Terence smiled and shook his head. “My wife says the same, Mr. Grobber, but I’m saving my vacation days for Christmas with the grandkids!”

“That’s okay, Mr. Terence,” Jack said. “I’m giving you two weeks off and an all-expenses-paid trip to the Bahamas for you and your wife!”

Mr. Terence was shocked. “Sir? The Bahamas? But who will do my job?”

Source: Unsplash

“Don’t worry, Mr. Terence,” Jack said with a smile. “My daughter Danielle will be happy to do your job while you’re away to make up for how she treated you.”

“WHAT?” screamed Danie. “Are you crazy, Dad? I’m going on vacation!”

“Not anymore,” Jack said. “Mr. and Mrs. Terence will go instead, and you will take his place while he is away.”

“YOU CAN’T DO THIS TO ME!” Danie yelled. “I’m not a janitor! Cleaning toilets? Sweeping? Picking up trash? I won’t do it!”

“Yes, you will,” her father said coldly. “If you don’t, I’ll cut off your allowance and take away your convertible…”

Source: Unsplash

“It’s MY car!” Danie cried.

“No, Danielle,” Jack said softly. “It’s MY car. I pay for it all. Everything you have is because of me. It’s time you learn how hard people work for every dollar.”

Danie knew her father well, and she could see in his eyes that she had crossed a line. He would not change his mind!

“You start on Monday,” Jack told her. Then he turned to Mr. Terence. “You should go home and pack! Enjoy your trip!”

On Monday morning, Danie showed up in her uniform, ready to clean and sweep. By the end of the day, she was exhausted, her pretty nails were ruined, and her soft hands were sore.

When Mr. Terence returned from the Bahamas with a nice tan, he told Mr. Grobber that Danielle had done a great job keeping everything clean—no trash in the garden!

From then on, Danie never disrespected anyone who worked hard because she understood how tough that job really was!

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