Cindy Landonwas born Cindy Kim Clerico, the daughter of Richard Clerico and Marilyn (née Jones). Her father, Richard Clerico Sr. (1925–2014), was born in Helper, Utah. After marrying Marilyn Jones in 1956, they had Cindy as their only child. In an interview, she stated that her life began in the small town of Helper, Utah, where she was born. In 1964, Richard Clerico moved the family to California to be closer to his daughter and wife, which placed Cindy’s later childhood in the Los Angeles area. Information about her formal education has not been publicly documented. She has described loving animals from a young age. She recalled that at age seven, her father won a calf at a rodeo and she begged him not to let anything bad happen to it. By age 14, she had given up eating meat entirely. These details reflect the influence of compassion and animal care during her upbringing.
Cindy Landon began her entertainment career in television production. She worked behind the scenes as a makeup artist and stand-in actress on shows such as Little House on the Prairie. In the late 1970s and 1980s she gained experience on set, including a small acting role in the film Coming Home. By the mid-2000s Landon had shifted into film production roles. In 2006 she co-produced the environmental documentary Whaledreamers, marking her move from makeup artistry into producing.
| Birth Name | Cindy Kim Clerico |
| Birthplace | Helper, Utah |
| Childhood Move | Moved to California in 1964 |
| Early Compassion | Loved animals; vegetarian by 14 |
| Early Career | Makeup artist & stand-in actress |
| Production Start | Co-produced Whaledreamers (2006) |
| Documentary Work | Exec producer: After Kony, Sanctuary, The Game Changers |
| Philanthropy | President of Michael & Cindy Landon Foundation |
| Awards | LCA “Philanthropist of the Year” 2016 |
| Recent Projects | Exec producer: Pig Little Lies, Highway to Heaven reboot (2023) |
| Net Worth | between $10 million to $20 million |
During the 2010s Landon took on executive production duties for several documentary projects. In 2011 she served as an executive producer on After Kony: Staging Hope, a documentary about Ugandan teens using theater to heal from conflict. She later executive produced Sanctuary(2016), a documentary about chimpanzee conservation, and The Game Changers(2018), a nutrition-focused documentary on plant-based diets.
The latter film was co-executive-produced by James Cameron. Beyond film, Landon expanded into entrepreneurship: in 2015 she became an investor in the raw-vegan restaurant Plant Food + Wine in Venice, California. Over time she has also held leadership roles in non-profit organizations (serving as president of the Michael and Cindy Landon Foundation) and has supported causes like the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, though her primary focus remains film production and related ventures.
Landon’s work in film and philanthropy has earned public recognition. In 2016 the animal-protection group Last Chance for Animals honored her with its “Philanthropist of the Year” award in recognition of her longtime support and involvement. That same year Sanctuarypremiered at Paramount Studios, giving the film a high-profile launch.
Landon emphasizes that her projects are driven by impact rather than profit. As she has said, “You don’t do a documentary thinking you’re going to make money. For me, it’s all about creating awareness.” Her documentaries have featured prominent activists and athletes and aim to raise public awareness on topics from animal welfare to healthy living.
In recent years Landon has continued producing documentaries and television projects. In 2023 she served as an executive producer on Pig Little Lies, a pig-rescue documentary series that aired on PBS. Also in 2023, Landon was one of the executive producers on Lifetime’s reboot of Highway to Heaven(representing her late husband’s estate).
In these and other ongoing projects, she remains active in development roles, overseeing production and leveraging her industry experience to bring new film and television content to fruition. Her latest work continues to focus on documentaries that align with her interests in animal advocacy, health, and community storytelling.
As of 2025, Cindy Landon’s net worth is estimated to be between $10 million and $20 million. She inherited a portion of her late husband Michael Landon’s estate (including royalties from his TV career and real estate) and has since drawn on that wealth through investments and her career. Landon works as a film producer on documentaries like After Kony: Staging Hopeand The Game Changersand owns real estate in Malibu, which together contribute to her finances. These figures come from entertainment media estimates and are not confirmed by major financial outlets.