Dodie Levy Fraser was the first wife of Michael Landon, a famous American actor and filmmaker.
She was married to him for six years, from 1956 to 1962, before they divorced.
She died in 1994, three years after her ex-husband passed away from pancreatic cancer.
In this article, we will explore the life and death of Dodie Levy Fraser and her relationship with Michael Landon.
Early life and marriage
Dodie Levy Fraser was born on March 16, 1933, in New York City, New York
She was the daughter of Victoria “Dora” Samarel Levy and Nissim Levy
Dodie had two older siblings, Mary Levy Rugraffe and Solomon Isaac “Solly” Levy.
She was of Caucasian ethnicity and American nationality
Dodie Levy Fraser met Michael Landon in 1956 when he was a rising actor in Hollywood.
They got married on March 11, 1956, in a low-key wedding ceremony1.
They adopted a son, Josh Fraser Landon, as an infant in 1960
Dodie Levy Fraser also had a son, Mark Landon, from her previous marriage to an unknown man4.
Divorce and aftermath
Dodie Levy Fraser and Michael Landon’s marriage began to crumble in the early 1960s, as Landon became more successful and busy with his career.
He starred as Little Joe Cartwright in the popular western series Bonanza (1959-1973)5, which made him a household name.
He also started an affair with his second wife, Marjorie Lynn Noe, while he was still married to Dodie Levy Fraser6.
Landon filed for divorce from Dodie Levy Fraser in March 1962, and their divorce was finalized in December of the same year.
He married Marjorie Lynn Noe on January 12, 19636.
They had four children together: Leslie Ann Landon, Michael Landon Jr., Shawna Leigh Landon, and Christopher Beau Landon.
They divorced in 1982, after 19 years of marriage6.
Dodie Levy Fraser remarried twice after her divorce from Michael Landon.
Her second husband was Dr. Peter Lake, and her third husband was unknown.
She lived a private life away from the spotlight and did not have any more children.
Death and legacy
Dodie Levy Fraser died on July 5, 1994, at the age of 61, in Palm Springs, Riverside County, California.
Her cause of death was natural.
She was buried at Home of Peace Memorial Park Cemetery in East Los Angeles.
Michael Landon died on July 1, 1991, at the age of 54, in Malibu, California.
He had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in April of that year.
He was married to his third wife, Cindy Clerico, since 1983.
They had two children together: Jennifer Rachel Landon and Sean Matthew Landon.
Dodie Levy Fraser is remembered as the first wife of Michael Landon
one of the most beloved actors and filmmakers in American television history.
He is known for his roles as:
- Little Joe Cartwright in Bonanza (1959-1973),
- Charles Ingalls in Little House on the Prairie (1974-1983)
- Jonathan Smith in Highway to Heaven (1984-1989)5.
He also wrote, produced, directed, and executive-produced many of his projects.
Conclusion
Dodie Levy Fraser was a woman who married a rising star and became a mother to two sons.
She divorced Michael Landon after six years of marriage and remarried twice
Dodie died in 1994, three years after her ex-husband passed away from cancer.
She was the first love of Michael Landon,
who went on to become one of the most successful and beloved actors and filmmakers in American television history.
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