The new adaptation of “Little House on the Prairie” on Netflix has reignited interest in the classic 1974 series. Let’s catch up with some of the original cast members.
Melissa Gilbert
Melissa Gilbert, who played Laura Ingalls, started her role at 9 years old. She stayed on for all nine seasons until 1983. Gilbert also appeared in TV movies like “The Miracle Worker” and “The Diary of Anne Frank.” After “Little House,” she voiced Barbara Gordon in “Batman: The Animated Series” from 1992 to 1994 and appeared in shows such as “7th Heaven” and “Nip/Tuck.” Recently, she said she wouldn’t return to Hallmark’s “When Calls the Heart” due to budget issues.
Gilbert’s husband, Timothy Busfield, was recently indicted on charges of criminal sexual contact with a minor, which he denies. Gilbert continues to support him, expressing her trust in him.
Michael Landon
Michael Landon played Charles Ingalls and also directed many episodes. Known from “Bonanza,” he continued his career in TV movies and starred as Jonathan Smith in “Highway to Heaven.” Landon passed away at 54 from pancreatic cancer. He was a mentor to Gilbert, who remembers his humor fondly.
Karen Grassle
Karen Grassle portrayed Caroline Ingalls, a role she landed after theater and Broadway work. She acted until 2021 and had a rocky relationship with Landon due to pay disputes. Despite initial tension, they reconciled before his death. Grassle is proud of her “strong” character, Caroline Ingalls.
Melissa Sue Anderson
Melissa Sue Anderson, who played Mary Ingalls, was the only cast member nominated for an Emmy. Following “Little House,” she appeared on shows like “Hotel” and “Murder She Wrote.” Anderson wrote a memoir titled “The Way I See It: A Look Back at My Life on Little House.” She often had on-set disagreements with Gilbert, but they eventually reconciled.
Rachel Lindsay and Sidney Greenbush
Rachel Lindsay and Sidney Greenbush shared the role of Carrie Ingalls from age three. The sisters left acting in 1983 to focus on education. Sidney recently wrote a children’s book, “Seven Sisters: The Lantern of Humanity.”
Alison Arngrim
Alison Arngrim played Nellie Oleson and has been vocal about her enjoyable off-set friendship with Gilbert. Arngrim authored “Confessions of A Prairie Bitch: How I Survived Nellie Oleson and Learned to Love Being Hated” and received the Young Artist Former Child Star Lifetime Achievement Award.
Katherine MacGregor
Known as Harriet Oleson, Katherine MacGregor brought the character to life before passing in 2018. Gilbert described her as loving and nurturing despite her on-screen persona. MacGregor’s acting career included Broadway and various TV roles before she retired in the early 2000s.
Richard Bull
Richard Bull portrayed Nels Oleson. He had a long career, including roles in “Perry Mason” and “Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea.” He passed in 2014 at age 89.
Dean Butler
Dean Butler played Almanzo Wilder and worked on shows like “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” after “Little House.” Now a TV producer, Butler praised the new Netflix adaptation for its fresh take on the classic story.