Michael Landon stubbornly failed to prioritize his health before cancer, daughter says
Michael Landon failed to prioritize his health before he was diagnosed with the cancer that would ultimately kill him, according to his daughter.
Leslie Landon Matthews, daughter of the late "Little House on the Prairie" actor, told Fox News in an interview published Sunday that her famous dad was stubborn and resisted scheduling physicals during his life.
"The one thing that I know was part of my dad's personality was his stubbornness," she shared. "And I don't think staying on top of his health was a priority. I think he put it aside. I know that my mom often talked about (how) getting him to his physicals was always a feat."
She added that by the time her dad began experiencing an "uncontrollable pain" in his stomach on vacation, he "couldn't ignore it anymore" and had to fly home early to see a doctor.
Landon was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in April 1991 and died three months later, on July 1. He was 54. The actor played Charles Ingalls on "Little House on the Prairie," while Landon Matthews appeared on the show as Etta Plum, a school teacher.
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Speaking with Fox News, Landon Matthews reflected that if her father was alive today, "He would say, 'Boy, I blew it. I really should have been staying on top of my health every year and making sure I was getting full checkups.' "
On "The Tonight Show" in 1991, Landon said he was working on maintaining high spirits during his cancer battle.
"For any of those families out there who have a relative who has cancer, they know how tough the fight is and how important the mental attitude is," he said. "You pull together and you keep a very, very up attitude, 'I'm going to beat it' kind of thing, because mentally is more than 50% of your medicine."
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Last month, Shannen Doherty paid tribute to Landon on her "Let's Be Clear" podcast, noting that having him as a mentor while she starred on "Little House on the Prairie" spurred her passion for acting.
"He was just unbelievable," Doherty said. "So, so, so talented, so kind, so considerate. It really helped shape me."
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Landon was survived by nine children. Earlier this year, Landon Matthews and her brother Michael Landon Jr. attended a cast reunion and festival in Simi Valley, California, celebrating the show's 50th anniversary.
"When we pulled up, we didn't know, there might be a line, it's all the way around the corner," Landon Jr. said at the event. "Oh, my gosh, this has been unbelievable. And you've totally rekindled our hearts for the show and the love of the show. Thank you for that."
Contributing: Laura Trujillo, USA TODAY