He was Jewish, not not practicing.
His son (M.L., Jr.) became a born-again Christian as an adult, after his mom took him to an evangelical church. The movies he makes are great. A biography was made of his life, and it detailed his dad’s affair with a makeup artist on Little House set, which broke up his parents’ marriage.
How many times was this guy married? My college roomate’s cousin was married to him and he cheated on her. Maybe she was wife #1?