It's been more than 40 years since the beloved TV series "Little House on the Prairie" debuted on NBC. The show ran from 1974 to 1984, and it retains a huge fan base to this day. Here's what the residents of Walnut Grove are up to today.
It's been more than 40 years since the beloved TV series "Little House on the Prairie" debuted on NBC. The show ran from 1974 to 1984, and it retains a huge fan base to this day. Here's what the residents of Walnut Grove are up to today.
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Melissa Gilbert, the actress who played the feisty, kindhearted Laura Ingalls from ages 9-19, still knows how to drive a stagecoach. It's a skill she mastered during the series. In recent years, Gilbert competed on "Dancing with the Stars" and authored a children's book. Gilbert, 51, married actor Timothy Busfield, and the couple resides in rural Michigan. She is currently <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/10/politics/melissa-gilbert-house-on-the-prairie-congress/">running for a seat in Congress.</a>
Melissa Gilbert, the actress who played the feisty, kindhearted Laura Ingalls from ages 9-19, still knows how to drive a stagecoach. It's a skill she mastered during the series. In recent years, Gilbert competed on "Dancing with the Stars" and authored a children's book. Gilbert, 51, married actor Timothy Busfield, and the couple resides in rural Michigan. She is currently running for a seat in Congress.
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Michael Landon played the role of "Pa" with so much swagger that it's hard to believe the real Charles Ingalls actually <a href="http://thehistorychicks.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/charles.jpg" target="_blank" target="_blank">looked like this.</a> Born Eugene Maurice Orowitz in 1936, Landon changed his name when he became an actor. He starred in the film "I Was a Teenage Werewolf" and the TV show "Bonanza" prior to "Little House," on which he was also an executive producer, director and writer. Landon died of cancer in 1991 at age 54. Fun fact: Landon made the decision to blow up the town of Walnut Grove in the series finale because he didn't want the set recycled into a trashy movie set.
Michael Landon played the role of "Pa" with so much swagger that it's hard to believe the real Charles Ingalls actually looked like this. Born Eugene Maurice Orowitz in 1936, Landon changed his name when he became an actor. He starred in the film "I Was a Teenage Werewolf" and the TV show "Bonanza" prior to "Little House," on which he was also an executive producer, director and writer. Landon died of cancer in 1991 at age 54. Fun fact: Landon made the decision to blow up the town of Walnut Grove in the series finale because he didn't want the set recycled into a trashy movie set.
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Karen Grassle, now 73, played family matriarch Caroline "Ma" Ingalls. At a "Little House" cast reunion on "The Today Show" a few years ago, Grassle teared up, noting that she hadn't seen her three TV daughters since Landon's 1991 funeral.
Karen Grassle, now 73, played family matriarch Caroline "Ma" Ingalls. At a "Little House" cast reunion on "The Today Show" a few years ago, Grassle teared up, noting that she hadn't seen her three TV daughters since Landon's 1991 funeral.
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Melissa Sue Anderson's character, Mary Ingalls, arguably suffered the most hardship of all the "Little House" characters. (Not an easy feat, considering the series tagline easily could have been:"Get Doc Baker!") Poor Mary was stricken blind at a young age and later lost her baby in a fire. Today, Anderson, 53, lives in Montreal with her husband, son and daughter.
Melissa Sue Anderson's character, Mary Ingalls, arguably suffered the most hardship of all the "Little House" characters. (Not an easy feat, considering the series tagline easily could have been:"Get Doc Baker!") Poor Mary was stricken blind at a young age and later lost her baby in a fire. Today, Anderson, 53, lives in Montreal with her husband, son and daughter.
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Twin sisters Lindsay and Sidney Greenbush were 4 years old when they began sharing the role of Carrie Ingalls. (Lindsay is the one pictured here.) The twins, now 45, retired from acting as preteens.
Twin sisters Lindsay and Sidney Greenbush were 4 years old when they began sharing the role of Carrie Ingalls. (Lindsay is the one pictured here.) The twins, now 45, retired from acting as preteens.
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Although Alison Arngrim's "Little House" character, nasty Nellie Oleson, was constantly at odds with Gilbert's character, Laura, the two women are best friends in real life. Arngrim, 54, turned her Nellie anecdotes into a stand-up routine and released her memoir, "Confessions of a Prairie Bitch: How I Survived Nellie Oleson and Learned to Love Being Hated," in 2010. She works closely with child advocacy causes, and she also became an AIDS activist after "Little House" co-star Steve Tracy died of complications from AIDS in 1986.
Although Alison Arngrim's "Little House" character, nasty Nellie Oleson, was constantly at odds with Gilbert's character, Laura, the two women are best friends in real life. Arngrim, 54, turned her Nellie anecdotes into a stand-up routine and released her memoir, "Confessions of a Prairie Bitch: How I Survived Nellie Oleson and Learned to Love Being Hated," in 2010. She works closely with child advocacy causes, and she also became an AIDS activist after "Little House" co-star Steve Tracy died of complications from AIDS in 1986.
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Jonathan Gilbert, Melissa Gilbert's brother, played Willie Oleson, Nellie's trouble-making brother. Gilbert left acting after "Little House" and later earned his MBA in finance. According to Melissa Gilbert, Jonathan, 47, is a stockbroker in New York City.
Jonathan Gilbert, Melissa Gilbert's brother, played Willie Oleson, Nellie's trouble-making brother. Gilbert left acting after "Little House" and later earned his MBA in finance. According to Melissa Gilbert, Jonathan, 47, is a stockbroker in New York City.
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Richard Bull played Nels Oleson -- proprietor of Oleson's Mercantile and long-suffering husband of Harriet Oleson. He died in February 2014 at the age of 89.
Richard Bull played Nels Oleson -- proprietor of Oleson's Mercantile and long-suffering husband of Harriet Oleson. He died in February 2014 at the age of 89.
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Dean Butler played Almanzo Wilder, the man who won Laura's heart. She called him "Manly"; he called her "Beth." Butler, 59, serves as the narrator on the "Little House" documentaries featured in the 40th anniversary <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Little-House-on-the-Prairie/204314509591108" target="_blank" target="_blank">Blu-ray releases.</a> Butler is married to actress Katherine Cannon, who played Donna Martin's overly critical mother on "Beverly Hills 90210."
Dean Butler played Almanzo Wilder, the man who won Laura's heart. She called him "Manly"; he called her "Beth." Butler, 59, serves as the narrator on the "Little House" documentaries featured in the 40th anniversary Blu-ray releases. Butler is married to actress Katherine Cannon, who played Donna Martin's overly critical mother on "Beverly Hills 90210."
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Linwood Boomer played Mary Ingalls' schoolteacher-turned-love interest (and later, husband) Adam Kendall. Boomer went on to create the TV series "Malcolm in the Middle." Boomer, who as a child was in his school's gifted program, was the inspiration for the Malcolm character. Boomer, 60, was also a consulting producer on "The Mindy Project."
Linwood Boomer played Mary Ingalls' schoolteacher-turned-love interest (and later, husband) Adam Kendall. Boomer went on to create the TV series "Malcolm in the Middle." Boomer, who as a child was in his school's gifted program, was the inspiration for the Malcolm character. Boomer, 60, was also a consulting producer on "The Mindy Project."
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Matthew Labyorteaux played adopted son Albert Ingalls. Today, Labyorteaux, 49, does voice acting for commercials, video games and animated series.
Matthew Labyorteaux played adopted son Albert Ingalls. Today, Labyorteaux, 49, does voice acting for commercials, video games and animated series.
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Charlotte Stewart, who played impossibly lovely schoolmarm Miss Beadle, is also famous for her work with director David Lynch in the 1977 film "Eraserhead" and the TV series "Twin Peaks." Stewart, 74, is now retired and residing in Napa, California.
Charlotte Stewart, who played impossibly lovely schoolmarm Miss Beadle, is also famous for her work with director David Lynch in the 1977 film "Eraserhead" and the TV series "Twin Peaks." Stewart, 74, is now retired and residing in Napa, California.
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