Who Is Leslie Landon?
Leslie Landon Matthews was born on October 11, 1962, in Los Angeles, California, USA; her zodiac sign is Libra, and she is of American nationality. She is a former actress best known for her role as Etta Plum in the romantic family series “Little House on the Prairie,” which starred Melissa Gilbert, Michael Landon, and Karen Grassle and is about the Ingalls family living in the American Midwest in the nineteenth century – the series aired from 1974 to 1983, and won 17 awards while being nominated for 42 others, including three Golden Globes.
Childhood, Family, And Education
Leslie Landon (Pinterest)Leslie Landon and her siblings Christopher, Michael Jr., and Shawna Leigh Landon were raised in Los Angeles by their father Michael, an actor, film writer, and director, and their mother Marjorie Lynn Noe, an actress. Leslie also has a half-brother Sean Matthew Landon, a half-sister Jennifer Landon, and a half-brother Josh Landon from her father’s other marriage to Cindy Clerico. She has an adopted brother Mark Landon and a half-sister Cheryl Lynn Landon from her mother’s first marriage.
Leslie developed an interest in acting while in high school when she was a member of the school’s drama club and performed in both school and theater performances. She started at Pepperdine University in 1980 and finished with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology in 1984, followed by a Master of Arts degree in clinical psychology in 1986. Leslie also went to California Graduate Institute, where she earned a Ph.D. in marriage and family counseling.
Career
Leslie made her television debut in 1982 when she was cast as Kate Jones in the episode “The Dream Day” of her father’s western family drama “Father Murphy,” which starred Merlin Olsen, Katherine Cannon, and Timothy Gibbs – the story follows a man who, with the help of a schoolteacher, provides for over 20 orphaned children. The show won five awards and received seven nominations, including a Primetime Emmy.
In 1983, she returned to her role as Etta Plum in the romantic family film “Little House: Look Back to Yesterday,” starring Melissa Gilbert, Dean Butler, and Richard Bull, about a guy who wants to be a doctor but discovers he is terminally ill.
Leslie reprised her role as Etta Plum in the drama western film “Little House: The Last Farewell” in 1984, and she also starred in “Little House: Bless All the Dear Children” the same year.
Her final appearance before retiring from performing was as Cheryl Crane in the 1984 mystery film “Hollywood’s Most Sensational Mysteries.”
Leslie is also a writer, having co-written the book “When Children Grieve: For Adults to Help Children Deal with Death, Divorce, Pet Loss, Moving, and Other Losses” with John W. James, Russell Friedman, and Harper Collins in 2001.
Parts in talk programs, documentaries, and television specials
Leslie appeared in the documentary film “Michael Landon: Memories with Laughter and Love” about her father in 1991, and seven years later, she starred in the episode “Melissa Gilbert” of the biographical documentary series “Intimate Portrait.”
She appeared in a single episode of the documentary series “Biography” in 2001, and two of her final roles were on the news talk show “Weekend Today” on 20 May 2007, and the episode “Little House on the Prairie Reunion” on the discussion show “Home & Family” in 2015.
Health Issues
Leslie was diagnosed with bulimia nervosa not long after she graduated from high school, an eating disorder in which the person eats till they puke, then feels the need to eat again. Leslie battled the disease for several years before finally overcoming it.
Relationship Status
Leslie met her future husband Brian Matthews in the 1980s when they were introduced by a mutual acquaintance at a party for actors and actresses, and they married in 1990 in a private ceremony attended by their closest friends and family.
Brian made his cinematic debut in the slasher “The Burning” in 1981, and he is also recognized for his role as Eric Garrison on the soap opera “The Young and the Restless.”
Leslie and Brian have four children and have kept them out of the spotlight since they were born.
Leslie hasn’t mentioned any other men she may have dated before meeting Brian, and as of October 2020, she is married to Brian and the couple has four children.
Other Interests And Hobbies
Leslie enjoys assisting others, which is why she chose to become a family therapist; she is also a humanitarian who has donated money to and helped at different charitable organizations, most of which work with poor children.
She is also an animal lover who has had various pet dogs and cats, with turtles being her favorite ‘animals.’
Leslie enjoys traveling, and among the cities, she has visited are Miami in Florida, Rome in Italy (Europe), and Paris in France (Europe).
She has favorite actors and actresses, including Jim Carrey, Tom Hanks, and Emma Watson, and her favorite movies include “Bruce Almighty,” “Sleepless in Seattle,” and the “Harry Potter” franchise.
Body Structure And Net Worth
Leslie Landon (Pinterest)Leslie is 57 years old. She has long blonde hair and brown eyes, is 5ft 5ins (1.65m) tall, and weighs about 130lbs (59kgs).
Her net worth is projected to be more than $500,000 as of October 2020.