Lorne Greene was born in Ottawa Ontario, Canada on February 12, 1915. He starred as Ben Cartwright in “Bonanza” which ran for 14 seasons. Afterwards Greene remained busy in television, starring in three short lived series as well as the miniseries “Roots.” At the time of his death, he was looking forward to playing Ben Cartwright once again in “Bonanza: The Next Generation,” however, Greene, who was in failing health, Lorne died on September 11, 1987, about a month before shooting was to start.
Michael Landon was born Eugene Maurice Orowitz on October 31, 1936 in Forest Hills, New York. Michael thrived on the set of "Bonanza", forming close personal relationships with his co-stars Dan Blocker and Lorne Greene. After Bonanza was cancelled after 14 years, Michael used his acting, writing, and directing skills to produce, write, direct, as well as star in Little House on the Prairie, and later, Highway to Heaven. His last project was a successful pilot for a television show called Us. The world lost one of it's greatest talents on July 1, 1991. Only three months after it's initial diagnosis Michael Landon died of pancreatic cancer.