Michael Langdon is the creative pseudonym of the American actor, screenwriter and director Eugene Maurice Orovitz, known in the 60s and 80s of the last century. He is known to the Russian audience for his roles in the series of the era "Little House on the Prairies" and "Bonanza".
Childhood and youth
Eugene was born in a suburb of Queens, in the Forest Hills area of New York, in the Orovitz acting family on the last day of 1936. In the early biography of the actor, there are many serious tests. Peggy's mother O'Neill, a former comedian, was an unbalanced person, constantly trying to commit suicide, and her father, Eli Orovitz, the theater director, was always busy with work and paid little time to her son. Family troubles seriously affected the fate of Eugene Maurice.
The future idol of millions of Americans was the son of a Jew, and this also spoiled his life. Christian parents, who were the majority in the city, forbade their daughters to communicate with Eugene, high school students insulted him for his Jewish origin. Madness of the mother was not a secret for the neighbors and served as a reason for further insults.
After receiving school education, Eugene entered the University of Southern California in the sports department. He dreamed of the world of sports, while still at school setting a national record in javelin throwing. But the mockery of the "Jewish bastard" continued, flaming up once, after the "teammates" caught him and cut him off bald, he neglected the safety rules, was seriously injured and was forced to abandon his childhood dream.
It was necessary to choose a different future, and acting traditions were strong in the family. In 1954, he went with his father to Los Angeles. Eli Orovitz believed that acquaintances would allow him to arrange a son in show business, but as a result they were not allowed on the threshold. This humiliating moment was a turning point for Eugene, who decided to overcome everything and become a movie actor. Fortunately, one of the directors of Hollywood saw his samples and invited him to study at the Warner Bros. acting classes.
Career
The beginning of creativity and popularity for Eugene, who took the pseudonym Michael Langdon (or Landon) for himself, choosing him from the telephone directory, became the full-length fantasy drama "I Were a Teen Werewolf", released in 1957, where the guy played a major role. Then followed several works in the series. The romantic heroes played by the young curly handsome man fell in love with the public, and Eugene had a solid army of fans. In the creative piggy bank of the famous Michael Landon, 44 roles in films and television series as an actor. In the project "Bonanza", where he played one of the roles, first tried himself as a director, and then, in 1974, Michael made a full-length debut. It was a sports drama It's Good to Be Alive.
In 1976, he made a film on the history of his childhood - the family drama "The Loneliest Runner" (The Loneliest Runner). Michael Langdon acted as a director in fourteen works, became a producer of 13 films and wrote the script for eleven films. Michael has become so popular that there are 38 projects in which he played himself!
