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Melissa Gilbert is reflecting on the lasting impression left by Michael Landon, 34 years after his death.
On Tuesday, July 1, Gilbert reposted a photo carousel on Instagram showing various moments in Landon’s life — including one on the set of Little House on the Prairie, in which both actors starred.
“Wow. 34. Hard to believe,” Gilbert, 61, captioned the photo, adding that she was “thinking of and sending all my love” to Landon’s nine children: Mark, Josh, Cheryl, Leslie, Michael Jr., Shawna, Christopher, Jennifer and Sean.
The original post about Landon came from the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, which noted that Tuesday marked “34 years since the passing of beloved actor, writer and director Michael Landon.”
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“He was the first public figure to announce that he was diagnosed with #pancreaticcancer, and in doing so, brought much awareness to the disease,” the foundation wrote. “But he wasn’t just a Hollywood icon — he was a father, a storyteller, a dreamer. And on the anniversary of his passing, his family shares with us how they keep his legacy alive.”
The post included several quotes from his children, such as one from Shawna, which read: “I instill some of his strong beliefs in my children – to work hard, be a good human being and live each day to the fullest.”
“I love to create stories that honor my dad’s legacy, emphasizing the importance of family and community,” added Michael Landon Jr.
“My Dad was very loving and affectionate; he had an amazing sense of humor and laughter was always a priority in our home. He dedicated time to better the lives of others and was never too busy to help those in need,” said Leslie Landon Matthews.
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Landon — who played patriarch Charles Ingalls on the show, and acted as the show’s producer, even directing many of the episodes — died on July 1, 1991, three months after publicly announcing his diagnosis with pancreatic cancer.
During a 2024 interview to commemorate Little House on the Prairie’s 50th anniversary, Gilbert spoke with PEOPLE about her experiences working on beloved show with Landon and the special friendship they shared.
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“Michael was the quarterback, right? So he set the tone of what we were doing,” Gilbert said, adding a personal memory: “I was the only cast member who regularly socialized with him and his family.”
“We all vacationed together during spring break to Hawaii — the same hotel every year,” she continued. “Mike’s kids went to the same school I went to. I slept over at their house all the time. They slept over at my house.”
