Landau was born to a Jewish family, the son of Amelia and Milton Landau.[3] His mother was an activist who fought for woman's suffrage, served as the chair of a chapter of the ACLU, and hosted social worker Jane Addams at her home; his father operated a linen-rental company.[3] He graduated with an M.D. from Washington University, and in 1940 he worked under Allan Kenyon at the University of Chicago.[3] During World War II he served as a doctor in the Pacific Theater.[3]
Personal life
In 1944, he married his secretary Claire Schmuckel; they had two children, Kay Landau Fricke and Susan Landau Axelrod (married to David Axelrod).[3]