How Did Little House On The Prairie Star Michael Landon Die? His Family Still Raises Awareness Today

On July 1, 1991, 54-year-old Michael Landon passed away due to pancreatic cancer, which is one of the most painful diseases to die from. Speaking to Fox News in June 2024, the "Little House on the Prairie" star's daughter, Leslie Landon Matthews, said that he was notorious for not prioritizing his health check-ups as he grew older. While Matthews' mother also tried to get him to break his bad habit, it was to no avail. Ultimately, Landon had no choice but to visit his doctor when he experienced "uncontrollable pain in his stomach" while he was on holiday. He was eventually diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer that had metastasized to his liver. 

In an April 1991 TV interview (via YouTube), Landon shared that his diagnosis hadn't necessarily compelled him to take his family life more seriously because he had always viewed his family as one of the most important aspects of his life. Instead, it had made him "notice" the little things about them. Landon passed away only three months after receiving his diagnosis. Matthews told Fox News that she firmly believed her father would have regretted not keeping up with his yearly health check-ups. 

However, Matthews could also completely understand how her father and other parental figures would be too preoccupied with caring for their family to give their own well-being a second thought. Still, she encouraged them to remember to prioritize their health. In addition to raising awareness through interviews, she also took part in the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network's (PanCAN) largest annual fundraiser. Additionally, his other kids have also stepped up to raise awareness about pancreatic cancer in their own ways.

Many of Michael Landon's children drew attention to pancreatic cancer while discussing their fond memories of him with PanCan in July 2021. Sean Landon used the opportunity to shine a light on how limited research on pancreatic cancer had resulted in limited means of treatment. Sean shared a similar sentiment during a September 2014 chat with PanCan, saying, "He always wanted to help the underdog, which is ironic because I see pancreatic cancer as an underdog disease – it's not as mainstream as other cancers, and it needs much more attention." Michael was indeed right about that. 

A 2025 study in the World Journal of Gastroenterology found that pancreatic cancer had remained a neoplasm with one of the worst prognosis. What makes that information even more significant is the fact that the American Cancer Society estimated that, on average, one in 56 men and one in 60 women would be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in their lifetime. During her July 2021 chat with PanCan, Jennifer Landon pointed out that the survival rate for pancreatic cancer was 4% at the time of her father's diagnosis in 1991. By 2021, that number had risen to 10%, indicating that increased research funding had had its impact. 

To raise more awareness for pancreatic cancer, Jennifer also became an ambassador for PanCan. In an October 2021 chat with PanCan, the "Yellowstone" actor highlighted how pancreatic cancer was one of the cancers that could be detected through genetic testing, revealing that her own test had come back negative. It's also worth remembering that certain blood types have an increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer.