Barry Watson Talks Heaven Spirituality and Cancer Battle

Former 'Highway to Heaven' Star Credits a Healthy Diet and Prayer For His Recovery

"I've seen the other side, and it's beautiful," says Watson.

NEW YORK (AP) — Like many children of the late '70s and '80s, Barry Watson grew up watching Michael Landon's TV shows, "Little House on the Prairie" and "Highway to Heaven." He even auditioned for a role on "Prairie" when he was just 10 years old.

"I remember thinking, 'This is it. This is my big break,'" Watson recalls. "But I didn't get the part, and I was so disappointed." Little did he know that 10 years later he would land a starring role on "Highway to Heaven," playing Landon's son, Jonathan Smith.

"It was a dream come true," Watson says. "I got to work with Michael Landon, who was one of my heroes. And I got to play a character who was kind, compassionate, and always helping others. It was a great experience."

After "Highway to Heaven" ended in 1989, Watson went on to star in a number of other TV shows and movies. But in 2002, he was diagnosed with stage 2 melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer. Watson underwent surgery to remove the cancer, but he was told that there was a 50% chance it would return.

"I was scared," Watson admits. "I didn't know if I was going to die. But I decided to fight. I started eating healthy, and I started praying. I also started reading books about spirituality, and I began to realize that there is more to life than just this physical world."