The esteemed American actor Michael Landon passed away at the age of 54, leaving behind a legacy marked by his iconic roles in Bonanza, Little 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.
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.’”
What happened to Ann Curry after a 25-year career at NBC News?
What happened to Ann Curry?
The veteran journalist, who celebrates her 67th birthday on November 19, has remained relatively quiet since she was forced out of her job at Today in 2012 and later, NBC News in 2015.
Despite her name no longer appearing in the headlines, Curry continues to work in the field of journalism.
Curry, the eldest of five, was born in Guam to Hiroe Nagase and Robert Paul “Bob” Curry. As a child she spent several years living in Japan before her family moved to Oregon where she attended high school and would later attend and graduate from college.
She began her broadcasting career in 1978 as an intern at KTVL, then an NBC affiliate in Oregon. After succeeding as an intern she was promoted to become the station’s first female news reporter.
Two years into her career she moved to KGW in Portland where she worked as both an anchor and reporter. She later moved to Los Angeles where she worked as a reporter for a CBS affiliate for six years.
During that time she won two Emmy Awards for her work.
Career at NBC News
In 1990, Curry began her career at NBC News.
She began as an NBC News Chicago correspondent before securing a job as an anchor on the now defunct show, NBC News at Sunrise. During her five-year stint as an anchor on the morning show, she also filled in for Today‘s Matt Lauer.
In 1997 she was promoted to news anchor on Today and held the position from 1997 to 2011.
In addition to reading the news on Today, Curry was named co-anchor of Dateline NBC in 2005, and she was the main substitute on NBC Nightly News from 2005 to 2011.
Regardless of her accolades or coverage of hard news stories, in June 2012, Curry found herself out of a job.
Her departure was emotional and public, and it was never very clear the reason behind her leaving Today.
While she no longer sat next to Matt Lauer, she remained with NBC News, but only until January 2015.
Life after NBC News
Following her 25-year career with NBC News, Curry slowed down, but made no less of an impact with her reporting.
She founded a multi-platform media company, reported and produced the PBS series We’ll Meet Again, gave a TED Talk about restoring trust in journalism, and hosted TNT’s Chasing the Cure.
In 2022, Curry received the Murrow Lifetime Achievement Award from Washington State University’s Edward R. Murrow College of Communication. The university recognized her work “on human suffering in war zones and natural disasters through her work as an American journalist, photojournalist, and reporter.”
Most recently, Curry sat down with Min Jin Lee, author of “Pachinko,” for PBS Arts Talk.
And while Curry has kept posting to a bare minimum on social media, after a year and a half absence, she returned to share a wintry photo.
“Good morning world. Keep safe and cozy. ‘The woods are lovely, dark and deep…’” she wrote before disappearing again.
Leave a Reply