Trivia

Lander was a fellow student with Michael McKean at Carnegie Mellon University and their partnership grew after graduation as part of the comedy group The Credibility Gap with comedian Harry Shearer in Los Angeles. Lander and McKean's breakthrough came in 1976 when they were jointly cast as the Lenny and Squiggy characters on Laverne & Shirley (1976).

Published the book "Fall Down Laughing," about dealing with Multiple Sclerosis.

Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in May 1984, but kept his illness a secret from the public for 15 years.

Hired by former Angels GM Bill Bavasi as a scout for Seattle Mariners. (April 2004)

(1997-) Baseball scout for the Anaheim Angels.

Release of his book, "Falling Down, Laughing: How Squiggy Caught Multiple Sclerosis and Didn't Tell Nobody". (2000)

Baseball fanatic and student of the game, he helped the young Bill James with his first Baseball Abstract in 1977.

He was the son of Stella (Goldman) and Saul Landau, who were both schoolteachers. His father was a Polish Jewish immigrant. His mother was born in New York, to Russian Jewish parents.

Was the original choice to play "Malak" in Conan the Destroyer (1984).

Father, with Kathy Fields, of daughter Natalie Lander.

Upon his death, he was cremated and his ashes returned to his family.

Son-in-law of Edith Fellows and Freddie Fields.

Has an older brother Richard.

Stepson-in-law of Corinna Tsopei.

Is not to be confused with the British actor David Lander (1921-1996).