Michael Landon's Daughter Hopes Late Dad is Near Her Son whose Tragic Death Still Raises Many Questions

• Michael Landon would have celebrated his 86th birthday with his massive family if he hadn't died at 54.

• Michael's daughter, Shawna, pays tribute on dad's birthday, and it's a special one for her as her son died just months ago.

• Shawna still has many questions about her son's death, and she won't stop until she learns the truth.

Larger-than-life actor Michael Landon could have celebrated his 86th birthday on October 31. Landon was known far and wide for his immersive role in "Little House on the Prairie," "Highway to Heaven," and "Bonanza," which threw him in the spotlight in the 60s, 70s, and 80s.

In 1991, Landon was diagnosed with exocrine adenocarcinoma, an inoperable and terminal cancer. Sadly, he died months later, on July 1, 1991. Thirty-two years after his demise, his family — wife, nine children, and nine grandchildren — still remember and celebrate him.

In commemorating his big day, his daughter Shawna paid an emotional tribute wishing him a happy birthday and hoping he was with his loved ones. She wrote:

"My dad would have been 86 today."

She remembers her dad as a man dedicated to his family and recalls how he could take his kids camping, fishing, and to the beach. She also says her father taught them to be truthful and honest and to become people of integrity.

The tribute to her father also held another significant sentimental value to Shawna. It was her way of expressing her hope that her son Dylan was by her father's side.

How Did Michael Landon Become a Father of Nine Children before Death?

Landon was many things. Besides being a celebrated actor, he was also a family man dedicated to the goodwill of his children. He was a dad to nine children from his three marriages.

He became a first-time dad after marrying his first wife, Dodie Levy Fraser, a legal secretary, in 1956. He adopted Mark, Fraser's son from a previous relationship, and once they settled nicely into marital life, they adopted a second baby, Josh.

[Dylan's] car is also still missing.

Then, shortly before their divorce in 1962, they adopted a third son, Jason, who Fraser would later give up for adoption.

Landon then married his second wife, Marjorie Lynn Noe, an actress. He adopted her daughter Cheryl before they welcomed four children of their own, Leslie, Michael Jr, Shawna, and Christopher. Unfortunately, the marriage failed, and the pair went separate ways in 1982.

That same year, Landon married his third wife, Cindy Clerico, a makeup artist for the "Little House on the Prairie" cast, and together, they had two children, Jennifer and Sean. Sean was only five when his dad passed away.

How Did Michael Landon’s Grandson Dylan Die?

Dylan was one of Landon's nine grandchildren, born to his daughter Shawna and her ex-partner Tim Seltzer, the son of screenwriter David Seltzer.

Unfortunately, Seltzer died when Dylan was four, and Shawna moved on, marrying Chad Lupia in 2006 and welcoming two daughters, Olivia and Sophia.

Sadly, Dylan passed away in August after getting knocked over by a Los Angeles Metro Bus. According to Shawna, the bus driver had hit her son and continued on his way, and only stopped when he got to the next bus stop.

Later, he would claim that he did not realize he had hit someone and thought someone had tried to vandalize the bus. A distraught Shawna told Daily Mail:

"This man didn't even stop to see what happened, nor did he call 911. My son was left to die on the side of the road."

Shawna believes Dylan was on his way to his late grandmother Lynn's house when the accident happened. She says Dylan was incredibly close with his grandmother, and he may have wanted to visit her previous home for memories.

Dylan had been walking toward traffic like he was supposed to, along the bike lane, when the bus headed West struck him.

Shawna says his wallet, with his ID, money, and credit card, was still on him when he was found. However, his cell phone and car keys were, and still are, missing. His car is also still missing.

Months later, Shawna is still searching for answers and says she won't stop until she knows the truth about what happened to her son.