Little House on the Prairie: where they are now

Earlier this year, my daughter Annie read the Little House on the Prairie series of books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. She enjoyed them as much as I did when I was a young girl.

-

Given how much we like the books, I was delighted to see that Netflix carries the entire TV series on DVD. We've slowly made our way through the pilot and the first season, thoroughly enjoying the shows. Even Mike commented that the networks just don't make wholesome family programming like that anymore.

-

Of course, watching the show got me wondering, "Where are they now?" What happened to those familiar faces that graced our living rooms each week in the '70s? I went Googling and here's what I found:

Michael Landon: "Charles Ingalls"

Famous long before Little House as Little Joe Cartwright on Bonanza, Michael Landon not only starred in LHOTP, but was the executive producer, writer and director.

-

After the series ended in 1982, he went on to produce other notable series such as Father Murphy and Highway to Heaven, both starring former LHOTP cast members. Around the time the show ended, he went through a well-publicized and bitter divorce. He died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 54 in 1991.
-
Karen Grasser : "Caroline Ingalls"
Karen Grasser's potrayal of "Ma" is the epitome of the tough-but-gentle woman. I always thought she was beautiful, and if you see her in "contemporary" clothes and hair (to the right) you see she really was a hottie! She is a graduate of UC-Berkeley and attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA) in London, eventually becoming director of its voice department.

-

She is still lovely today at age 66, and spends her time performing on stage and screen. My son, Aaron, told me earlier, "I think Ma Ingalls is on a shower commercial." I was skeptical, but sure enough, I learned she is the "face" of Premier Bathrooms!

-

Melissa Sue Gilbert: "Laura Ingalls"

Melissa Gilbert was exceptionally close to Michael Landon, who became a substitute father figure to her after her own father died when she was 11 years old. Michael Landon, Jr. took her to high school prom. Years later, she married the actor Bruce Boxleitner and they named their son after Michael Landon.

-

Today, at age 44, she is starring in the stage/musical version of LHOTP, playing Caroline Ingalls. She has also served as the president of the Screen Actors Guild.

-

Melissa Gilbert famously altered her nose years ago, but it's clear from the two Large Breasts on the Prairie in this photo that she's had additional work done!

-

Melissa Sue Anderson: "Mary Ingalls"

Described by many to be as quiet and mild-mannered as her Little House alter ego, Emmy Award-winner Melissa Sue Anderson dated celebrities such as Lorenzo Lamas and Frank Sinatra, Jr. before marrying and starting a family. She and her family became Canadian citizens and she continues to act periodically. She is 48.

-

Alison Arngrim: "Nellie Olesen"

Nellie Olesen was the girl you loved to hate! Today, at age 46, she is married and hosts a one-woman show and related website called Confessions of a Prairie Bitch. She is also an active lobbyist for children's issues and revealed to Larry King in 2004 that she is an incest survivor. A stand-up comedian, she remains in regular contact with her close friend, Melissa Gilbert.

-

Victor French: "Isaiah Edwards"

Victor French began his long association with Michael Landon back in the Gunsmoke days, when he made 13 guest appearances on the show. After playing the warm-but-crusty Mr. Edwards on LHOTP, he went on to star in Landon's program Highway to Heaven.

-

A long-time smoker, he died of lung cancer in 1989 at age 54. Following the death of his close friend, Landon abruptly ended HTH. Landon died two years later.

-

I hope you've enjoyed this wagon ride down memory lane! Which family shows did you enjoy as a child? ☼