Latest news with #JackLilley
USA Today
22-03-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Jack Lilley, 'Little House on the Prairie' star and stuntman, dies at 91
Jack Lilley, 'Little House on the Prairie' star and stuntman, dies at 91 Show Caption Hide Caption Melissa Gilbert remembers 'Little House on the Prairie' as it turns 50 The wholesome Ingalls family has charmed generations of young women through its star, Melissa Gilbert. "Little House on the Prairie" star Jack Lilley has died at 91. According to respective Instagram posts from his show co-star Melissa Gilbert and son Clint Lilley, Lilley died Wednesday after a storied career as a Hollywood stuntman and actor, who played various roles on the beloved '70s historical drama, including a townsman and stagecoach driver. "Jack went to be with his bride, Irene, tonight. He just couldn't bear another second without her. You left one heck of a mark on this world, Papa. Your laugh and spark in your eyes when you saw the ones you loved will stay with us forever," Lilley's son Clay Lilley posted on Instagram on Wednesday. "Thank you to all of our family and friends for reaching out. We will let you know about a service to celebrate the life of Jack Lilley," he continued. The famed stuntman moved to Los Angeles from Texas as a child when his father rented horses to movie studios, according to an article from The Santa Clarity Valley Signal published in 2022. Lilley followed in his father's footsteps doing stunts, too, and his son Clay now runs the Movin' On Livestock motion picture horse rental business from New Mexico extending the family business. He has credits in more than 280 films, according to the paper. Later, he moved to California's Santa Clarita Valley with wife Irene, and the pair had two sons: Clint and Cash. "It's been heaven living here all these years, and my husband could keep all his horses and still go to work close by, so we just stayed here while the rest of Santa Clarita changed," Irene Lilley told the Signal for her 90th birthday. "I never thought I would live to 90. I still do all the things like cook, take care of my husband and I could drive, but I don't since I had an operation on my leg." Lilley appeared as a stuntman or actor in projects such as "Sudden Impact" in 1983, "Young Guns" in 1988, 2001's "Planet of the Apes" and 2005's "The Legend of Zorro." Gilbert took to Instagram to share that "the 'Little House family has lost one of our own," adding that Lilley was "one of my favorite people on the planet." "He taught me how to ride a horse when I was just a wee little thing. He was so patient with me. He never said no when I would bound up to him squealing, 'Can we go ride? Please, please, please?'" Gilbert wrote. She added: "Jack always felt like home to me. He lived quite a life. I am so lucky that he was my friend. All my love and prayers go out to his family and especially Clint (Burkey) Lilley. @stuntbagdrag. Oh flights of angels sing thee to thy rest."
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
R.I.P. Jack Lilley: ‘Little House On The Prairie' Actor Dead At 91
Little House on the Prairie alum Jack Lilley died this week. He was 91. Per the New York Post, the news was shared on Instagram by his granddaughter, Savannah Dawn Lilley, on Thursday, who wrote that he 'went to be with his bride, Irene, tonight.' 'You left one heck of a mark on this world, Papa,' she penned, in part. 'Your laugh and spark in your eyes when you saw the ones you loved will stay.' Lilley, who portrayed several parts on the Western drama, was also mourned by his former co-star Melissa Gilbert on Friday, who took to Instagram to express that 'the Little House family has lost one of our own.' Gilbert, who played Laura Ingalls Wilder in the 1970s series and who recently clapped back at Megyn Kelly for her comments about the upcoming Netflix reboot, said Lilley was 'one of [her] favorite people on the planet' in her lengthy tribute, recalling how he was the one to teach her how to ride a horse. 'Jack always felt like home to me. He lived quite a life. I am so lucky that he was my friend,' a portion of her post read. Lilley also appeared in the Little House TV movie spinoffs Little House: Look Back to Yesterday (1983) , Little House: The Last Farewell and Little House: Bless All the Dear Children (1984). In his TV work, Lilley appeared on a slew of series including Wagon Train, Zorro, Death Valley Days, Rawhide, The Virginian, The Big Valley, Bonanza, and Gunsmoke. As an actor and stuntman, he also worked on films such as Blazing Saddles (1974), Young Guns (1988), Planet of the Apes (2001), and The Legend of Zorro (2005), per IMDb.
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Veteran Hollywood stuntman and ‘Little House on the Prairie' actor Jack Lilley dead aged 91
Veteran Hollywood stuntman and actor Jack Lilley – best known for his work on 'Little House on the Prairie' – has died aged 91. Melissa Gilbert, 60, who played Laura Ingalls Wilder on the beloved television series, shared the news of his passing on Instagram. She said: 'The Little House family has lost one of our own. Jack Lilley has passed away,' The actress also hailed Jack as 'one of my favourite people on the planet'. Melissa went on to pay tribute to Lilley's impact on her life, recalling he taught her how to ride a horse when she was young. She said: 'He was so patient with me. He never said no when I would bound up to him squealing, 'Can we go ride? Please, please, please?'' Jack, who had a career spanning more than seven decades, was a skilled horseman and worked as a stagecoach driver on 'Little House on the Prairie'. He also doubled for actor Victor French and played various background roles, including wagon drivers and town residents. Beyond the series, he appeared in classic westerns such as Gunsmoke, Lawman, Dallas and Fantasy Island. Born in 1932, Jack's career began in 1956 with a role as a cowhand in Gun for a Coward. Over the years, he made numerous television appearances, including in 'The Big Valley, Bonanza' – on which he played various roles in 13 episodes between 1961 and 1972 – as well as 'The High Chaparral', which saw him portray a ranch hand in 15 episodes. He also had an uncredited role in Mel Brooks' 1974 comedy 'Blazing Saddles'. Jack continued to work in television and film well into the 1990s and 2000s, appearing in 'The Magnificent Seven', 'Hard Promises', and 'Washington Square'. He reunited with his former co-star Melissa in 2002 for the ABC pilot 'Then Came Jones', a western starring Sean Patrick Flanery. She recalled about arriving on set to see Jack again: 'Before I could even focus, I heard a familiar voice holler, 'Hey Halfpint, you old rat-a**!'' 'In that instant, I knew I was home,' she said. Michael Landon, who starred as Charles Ingalls on 'Little House on the Prairie', was also fond of Jack and cast him in his 1985 series 'Highway to Heaven'. Jack's final screen role came in 2022's 'No Name and Dynamite Davenport'.
The Independent
21-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Little House on the Prairie and Blazing Saddles alum Jack Lilley dies at 91
Jack Lilley, an esteemed stuntman who appeared in Little House on the Prairie and Blazing Saddles, has died. He was 91. His death was announced in a lengthy post on Instagram by Little House on the Prairie star Melissa Gilbert. Gilbert wrote: 'The little house family has lost one of our own. Jack Lilley has passed away. He was 91 years old. He also happened to be one of my favorite people on the planet. 'He taught me how to ride a horse when I was just a wee little thing. He was so patient with me. He never said no when I would bound up to him squealing, 'Can we go ride? Please, please, please?' 'Aside from being Victor French's photo double, he was featured prominently in many different roles on Little House. You can also see his absolute brilliance in the film Blazing Saddles. 'In 2002 (ish) I had the great pleasure of acting in a western pilot for ABC, produced by Chris Brancato and Bert Salke, starring my pal, Sean Patrick Flanery, called Then Came Jones. (Mary Elizabeth Winstead, in her very first role, played my daughter)It was a joy to shoot and I was so bummed when it didn't get picked up. 'It was all very synchronistic. Our first read though was at Paramount Studios, where we had shot Little House the first four years. It was also on Halloween, which is Michael Landon's birthday. That day, I also found out we would be shooting at Big Sky Ranch, where we had shot little house. 'My first day on set was surreal , getting my hair and makeup done, getting dressed, laced into my corset, boots etc. Such a strange deja vu. Then I walked to the set itself and before I could even focus I heard a familiar voice holler, 'Hey Halfpint, you old rat-ass!!!' It was Jack. He was our wrangler for that pilot and by his side was Denny Allen, who had been our wrangler on Little House. In that instant, I knew I was home. Jack always felt like home to me. He lived quite a life. I am so lucky that he was my friend. 'All my love and prayers go out to his family and especially Clint (Burkey) Lilley. Oh flights of angels sing thee to thy rest. Love always, Your Halfpint.' Lilley is survived by his two sons, Clint and Cash. His late wife Irene Lilley died in May 2024.
