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Remembering Michael Landon ....
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Dean Butler
After watching Michael Landon on Bonanza as a kid I was more than a little nervous to meet him for the first time at my final call back audition for Little House on the Prairie in April of 1979. I had been told that I was going to read for him with Little House's wonderful Casting Director, Susan Sukman...now Susan Sukman McCray. The one piece of advice that I got from Susan prior to the meeting was..."whatever you do, don't act"
For a young actor, with precious little experience, being told not to act sort of felt like being asked to go into the room naked. As it turns out that's essentially what all actors are asked to do and the best ones can do it most of the time. When I came into the room Michael was sitting there on the couch with his curly brown hair framing his well tanned, chiseled face. He was wearing Carrera sunglasses, a tight white knit shirt, spray-on blue jeans, and brown ankle high boots. His handshake was firm as he showed his matinee idol smile with a cigarette in his teeth. I remember all this because I thought, "Oh my God...this guy is a big time TELEVISION STAR. He wore it like a trophy. He looked like he was ready to step onto the set of the Tonight Show and riff with Johnny Carson. His presentation was nothing like Pa Ingalls. This guy was much more than he appeared to be on the show. He was relaxed and charming and funny. Always funny. In his eyes you could see that there was always a joke ready to tell and a big laugh just a punch line away. He was simply iconic.
With the "don't act" message ringing in my head I started to read with Susan and I could tell he was really watching me closely. Evaluating a million possibilities a second. It was everything I could do to keep it together when I saw him raise his hands to his eyes and frame me as if he were looking through the camera.
At the end of the read he was very complimentary. It was clear that the interview was over. "Thanks", I said. Not wanting to belabor the moment I got up and moved to the door. He stopped me and said, "By the way, what are you doing around May 13?" The room was suddenly very quiet. After a long moment and a deep breath I told him I would be taking my final exams at University of the Pacific. He smiled genuinely and replied, "I guess we could wait another week...thanks for coming in."
I didn't hear a word for two weeks so I was about to have a nervous breakdown by the time the telephone rang in my fraternity house at UOP with news from my agent of an offer from NBC. It changed my life.
Working with Michael Landon during the next five years was thrilling, funny and humbling. He could make you feel amazing but he could also project cool detachment if he was displeased or disappointed. He was a rock solid leader who worked with a joyous childlike genius. He made everybody better while always maintaining an incredibly high standard for himself as an actor, writer, producer, and director too. How could he be so talented in so many areas? He wore all the biggest hats in a production and wore them with uncanny ease. I could only marvel. The pressure he was under to always make it good was extraordinary. He had the whole show on his shoulders and he wouldn't have it any other way. Every day he was like Michael Jordon or Joe Montana with the game on the line and the clock running out. No matter what happened you just knew Michael would find a way to win. I was privileged to play on his team.
I've never known anyone like him, before or since, and I don't expect I ever will. My times with Michael were timeless moments of creative expression that I will always treasure and never forget.
Dean Butler, as Little House on the Prairie's Almanzo Wilder
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