The pair remained married until Landon’s death in 1991. Eventually, the scandal would cause the end of Landon’s marriage, and he would go on to marry Clerico in 1983. A married man who had children with his wife Lynn Noe, Landon began having an affair with a crew member named Cindy Clerico. Landon also formed some close relationships with the cast and crew members - some might say a little too close. He was known for being proud of his physique and frequently went shirtless on the set. Landon was certainly central to the show’s success both in front of the camera and behind the scenes. RELATED: ‘Little House on the Prairie’: Melissa Gilbert Bought a Prop Off eBay She Could Have Easily Stolen From Set The cast of "Little House on the Prairie" had a reunion! /TaVdzcZhiY- HuffPost October 8, 2015 It certainly helped steer the show to popularity and provided a huge platform for the actors who served as stars of the show. Whether Landon’s creative rigidness was a problem or not is a matter up for interpretation. Landon was apparently very controlling and “could be mean at times,” according to Melissa Sue Anderson, who played the oldest Ingalls daughter, Mary. Cast and crew members have come forward with stories about Mike Landon - who portrayed patriarch Charles Ingalls and served as director for many episodes. It turns out that things behind the scenes were not as squeaky clean as the image portrayed in front of the cameras. Loosely based on the life of author Laura Ingalls Wilder, the show follows the simple farm life of a family making their way through the world in the quaint setting of Plum Creek.
The show is remembered today for its wholesomeness and family-friendly lessons that were wrapped into the plot of each episode. Set in the 19th century American Midwest, Little House on the Prairie first aired in 1974, and it was a long-running hit that enjoyed nine seasons before wrapping up in 1983. On set with Laura Ingalls: The making of TV's 'Little House on the Prairie'.