Latest news with #MelissaGilbert
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
See the Cast of Netflix's 'Little House on the Prairie' Reboot Side-by-Side with the Original Series' Stars
More than 40 years after Little House on the Prairie ended, fans are returning to the American West. In January 2025, Netflix announced that it would be rebooting the Little House on the Prairie series for a new audience — an adaptation that, according to the show's official logline, will be "part hopeful family drama, part epic survival tale and part origin story of the American West." 'I fell deeply in love with these books when I was five years old,' showrunner and executive producer Rebecca Sonnenshine said in a statement, per Variety. 'They inspired me to become a writer and a filmmaker, and I am honored and thrilled to be adapting these stories for a new global audience with Netflix.' The original NBC series — based on Laura Ingalls Wilder's classic books about her childhood in the late 1800s — followed the life of Laura Ingalls, a pioneer girl growing up with her family during America's westward expansion. The show began with their life in Wisconsin and traced their move to Kansas as they faced hardships like crop failures and disease. It ran for nine seasons from 1974 to 1983 and starred Melissa Gilbert as Laura Ingalls, Michael Landon as Charles Ingalls, Karen Grassle as Caroline Ingalls and Melissa Sue Anderson as Mary Ingalls. In May 2025, Netflix announced four cast members who would be starring in the series, including Alice Halsey as Laura Ingalls. With the remake on the way, here's a look at the new Little House on the Prairie cast side-by-side with the actors who formerly played the Ingalls family. Alice Halsey will play Laura Ingalls — the bright, honest, authority-questioning and sometimes disruptive young heroine of Netflix's Little House on the Prairie. "I love all of the Little House books so much, and I'm so excited and grateful to get to bring Laura to life!" Halsey wrote on Instagram in May 2025. "Thank you so much to the Little House creative team for putting your faith in me." Halsey is an up-and-coming actress whose past credits include Lessons in Chemistry, Days of Our Lives, Night Court and Kindergarten: The Musical. Melissa Gilbert previously played Laura Ingalls in NBC's Little House on the Prairie. She went on to star in several TV shows and films, including 23 episodes of the NBC show Sweet Justice and 2017's TV movie Tenure. As for a possible cameo in Netflix's new series, Gilbert told PEOPLE in February 2025 that it's a "conversation to be had another day, or maybe not." She continued, "My knee-jerk reaction is that I think they should create their own whole universe and maybe not try and cross things over too much or cross the streams as it were." Luke Bracey will play Laura Ingalls' Pa, Charles Ingalls, in the upcoming remake of Little House on the Prairie. Bracey, who has been acting since 2009, is best known for 2020's Holidate, in which he starred opposite Emma Roberts. He also appeared in Elvis (2022) as talent manager Jerry Schilling and starred in the 2023 thriller Mercy Road. Michael Landon was the first actor to portray Charles Ingalls. After Little House on the Prairie ended in 1983, he starred in the NBC series Highway to Heaven, which ran for five seasons. He also filmed two TV movies — Where Pigeons Go to Die and Us — before his death from pancreatic cancer in July 1991. Crosby Fitzgerald will play Laura Ingalls' Ma, Caroline Ingalls, in the Netflix remake. Like Halsey, Fitzgerald is also an up-and-coming actress. Her past acting credits include appearances in TV series such as Abbott Elementary, The First Lady and Palm Royale. Actress Karen Grassle originally played Caroline Ingalls. She has acted intermittently since NBC's Little House on the Prairie ended — most notably, starring in the series' TV movie Little House: The Last Farewell in 1984 and the 2021 film Not to Forget. Skywalker Hughes will portray Laura Ingalls' older sister, Mary Ingalls. Fans might recognize the young actress from the Amazon Prime Video show Joe Pickett, in which she played Sheridan Pickett for two seasons, or the 2024 film Ordinary Angels, in which she starred opposite Hilary Swank and Alan Ritchson. Mary Ingalls was previously played by Melissa Sue Anderson, who went on to appear in shows like The Equalizer and voice Snowbird in X-Men: The Animated Series. Read the original article on People
Forbes
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
‘Little House On The Prairie': Where Are Stars Of Classic Series Now?
The cast of the television series 'Little House on the Prairie' with a dog on the set of the show, ... More mid 1970s. Clockwise from left: American actors Melissa Gilbert, Michael Landon (1936 - 1991), Karen Grassle, who holds an unidentified baby, Melissa Sue Anderson, and Lindsay or Sidney Greenbush. (Photo by) More than 50 years after the premiere of 'Little House on the Prairie,' Netflix is rebooting the series. Where are the original cast members from the classic TV show? Little House on the Prairie, of course, is the family drama based on based on famed author Laura Ingalls Wilder's book series about her life growing up in the Midwest. The series Little House on the Prairie — which is based on Wilder's third book of the same name — is set on her family's farm in Walnut Grove, Minn. The series kicked off in March of 1974 with the airing of the pilot episode on NBC and began its official run in September of 1974. In total, the original Little House on the Prairie ran for nine seasons consisting of 204 episodes, from 1974 to 1983. Little House on the Prairie stars Melissa Gilbert as Laura Ingalls and Michael Landon and Karen Grassle as her parents, Charles and Caroline Ingalls, while Melissa Sue Anderson plays the oldest daughter in the Ingalls family, Mary. In addition, twin siblings Sidney Greenbush and Rachel Lindsay Greenbush share the role of the second-youngest daughter, Carrie, and twins Wendi Turnbaugh and Brenda Turnbaugh play the Ingalls' youngest daughter, Grace. Other prominent cast members in Little House on the Prairie include Allison Arngrim as Nellie Oleson, the antagonistic daughter of general store owners Harriet (Katherine MacGregor) and Nels (Richard Bull). Matthew Labyorteaux also starred in the series as Albert Quinn Ingalls, who was adopted by the Ingalls family, as did Dean Butler as Laura Ingalls' future husband, Almonzo Wilder. On Friday, Netflix announced the core cast of the streamer's Little House on the Prairie reboot, with Alice Halsey starring as Laura Ingalls. In addition, Luke Bracey and Crosby Fitzgerald have been cast as Charles and Caroline Ingalls, while Skywalker Hughes will play Mary Ingalls. Here's a look at where some of the core cast members of Little House on the Prairie are now. LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE — "Troublemaker" Episode 17 — Aired 02/25/1976 — Pictured: Melissa ... More Gilbert as Laura Elizabeth Ingalls Wilder — Photo by: NBCU Photo Bank After the Little House on the Prairie series ended in 1983, Melissa Gilbert reunited with several of her castmates for three TV movies: Little House: Look Back to Yesterday in 1983 and Little House: The Last Farewell and Little House: Bless All the Dear Children in 1984. Gilbert also appeared in several guest roles after Little House on the Prairie, including Fairie Tale Theatre (1985), Babylon 5 (1996), The Outer Limits (1998), Touched by an Angel (1998) and Nip/Tuck (2006), and starred in the series Sweet Justice (1994-1995) and had a recurring role in the Secrets & Lies (2015). More recently, Gilbert starred in the TV movie Hometown Christmas (2018) and the feature film When We Last Spoke (2019). This year, Gilbert had a guest role in the series When Calls the Heart. In addition to her screenwork, Gilbert has appeared in several stage productions, including a musical version of Little House on the Prairie. Gilbert played 'Ma' Caroline in the production, which was previewed in 2008 in Minneapolis and toured the U.S. from 2009-2010. In February, Gilbert joined fellow actor Mark Moses for the Off-Broadway production of Still in New York City. Gilbert also served two two-year terms as president of Screen Actors Guild from 2001 to 2005. In 2010, Gilbert published her autobiography Prairie Tale: A Memoir. NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 11: Melissa Gilbert is seen during a segment of "Good Day New York" on ... More February 11, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by) LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE — "Pilot" — Aired 03/30/1974 — Pictured: Karen Grassle as Caroline ... More Quiner Holbrook Ingalls — Photo by: NBCU Photo Bank Following the Little House on the Prairie series, Karen Grassle reprised her role as Caroline Ingalls in Little House: The Last Farewell in 1984. Grassle also appeared in guest roles in the TV series Hotel (1983) and Murder, She Wrote (1987 and 1988), and also starred in such films as Wyatt Earp (1994), Tales of Everyday Magie (2012) and Not to Forget (2021). Like Melissa Gilbert, Grassle has appeared in several stage productions, appearing in plays in Santa Fe, N.M., San Francisco, Fredricksburg, Va., and Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Grassle published her memoir Bright Lights, Prairie Dust: Reflections on Life, Loss, and Love from Little House's Ma in 2021. MONTE-CARLO, MONACO - JUNE 15: Karen Grassle attends the "Little House On The Prairie" Photocall ... More during the 63rd Monte-Carlo Television Festival on June 15, 2024 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Arnold Jerocki/WireImage) LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE — Season 1 — Pictured: Melissa Sue Anderson as Mary Ingalls (Photo by ... More NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images) During her time on Little House on the Prairie, Melissa Sue Anderson also starred in the 1976 television movie The Loneliest Runner, Michael Landon's semi-autobiographical tale written and directed by her fellow Little House star. After Little House on the Prairie, Anderson appeared in several guest roles in such series as Hotel (1984 and 1985), Murder, She Wrote (1984), The Equalizer (1987), X-Men: The Animated Series (1993 and 1994) and Burke's Law (1994). Additionally, Anderson starred in several films, including Far North (1988) and Dead Me Don't Die (1990). Anderson's latest film appearance came in 2018's The Con is On. In 2010, Anderson published her autobiography The Way I See It: A Look Back at My Life on Little House. MONTE-CARLO, MONACO - JUNE 15: Melissa Sue Anderson attends the "Little House On The Prairie" ... More Photocall during the 63rd Monte-Carlo Television Festival on June 15, 2024 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Pascal) Michael Landon (1936-1991), US actor, poses with his arms crossed and resting on his knee with a log ... More cabin the background in a portrait issued as publicity for the US television series, 'Little House on the Prairie', circa 1974. The drama, adapted from the novels by Laura Ingalls Wilder (1867-1957), starred Landon as 'Charles Ingalls'. (Photo by Silver) Less than a decade after wrapping up the Little House on the Prairie series, Michael Landon died of pancreatic cancer on July 1, 1991, at age 54. Prior to Little House on the Prairie, Landon played guest roles on more than two dozen series and starred in a handful of films including the 1957 horror classic I Was a Teenage Werewolf. Landon landed his breakthrough role as 'Little Joe' Cartwright on the legendary series Bonanza, appearing in all 14 seasons and 430 episodes of the TV Western through 1973. In addition to Little House on the Prairie, Landon also starred in the television films Little House: Look Back to Yesterday in 1983 and Little House: The Last Farewell and Little House: Bless All the Dear Children in 1984. Following Little House on the Prairie, Landon starred as Jonathan Smith in the hit TV fantasy series Highway to Heaven for five seasons from 1984-89. The series also starred the late Victor French, who starred as Isaiah Edwards in a recurring role on Little House on the Prairie from 1974-1983. In addition to writing and directing his semi-autobiographical TV movie The Loneliest Runner in 1976, Landon directed 89 episodes of Little House on the Prairie and 94 episodes of Highway to Heaven. Landon's last screen appearance came in the 1991 TV movie Us, which he also wrote and directed. American actor Michael Landon (1936 - 1991), Hollywood, California, circa 1990. (Photo by ...) LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE — Pictured: Alison Arngrim as Nellie Oleson (Photo by NBCU Photo ... More Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images) Following her work on Little House on the Prairie, Allison Arngrim starred in such TV projects as I Married Wyatt Earp (1983) and the feature films The Last Place on Earth (2002) and Make the Yuletide Gay (2007). In 2018, Arngrin appeared in the comedic short film Livin' on a Praire, as a counselor dealing with a woman obsessed with the Little House on a Prairie TV series. In 2010, Arngrin published an autobiography about playing the spiteful Little House on the Prairie character called, Confessions of a Prairie Bitch: How I Survived Nellie Oleson and Learned to Love Being Hated. MONTE-CARLO, MONACO - JUNE 14: Alison Arngrim attends the Opening Ceremony during the 63rd ... More Monte-Carlo Television Festival on June 14, 2024 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Arnold Jerocki/WireImage) LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE — "Men Will Be Boys" Episode 10 — Aired 11/13/78 — Pictured: (l-r) ... More Matthew Laborteaux as Albert Quinn Ingalls. Photo by: Ted Shepherd/NBCU Photo Bank Matthew Labyorteaux joined Little House on the Prairie during Season 3 in 1976 and appeared in 88 episodes through the show's final season in 1983. After Little House on the Prairie, Labyorteaux appeared in the TV movie Little House: Look Back to Yesterday in 1983 and starred in the adventure series Whiz Kids from 1983-84). Matthew Labyorteaux's brother, Patrick Labyorteaux, also had a recurring role on Little House on the Prairie, appearing in 44 episodes throughout the show's run as Andrew 'Andy' Garvey. Matthew Labyorteaux also appeared in several guest roles after Little House on the Prairie, including such series as Simon & Simon (1983), Highway to Heaven (1985), Amazing Stories (1985), Hotel (1988) and Night Court (1989). In addition, Labyorteaux had voice roles for Pokemon the Movie: Destiny Deoxys (2004) and GI: Sigma 6 (2005-06) and a regular voice role in the series Yu-Gi-Oh! GX (2004-08). Labyorteaux has also done voices for Yu-Gi-Oh! and Star Wars: The Old Republic video games. US actor Matthew Labyorteaux poses during a photocall for the series "Little house on the prairie" ... More as part of the 63nd Monte-Carlo Television Festival in the Principality of Monaco on June 15, 2024. June 14 to 18, major studios, broadcast networks, digital platforms and renowned talent gather together to promote their programs to the press and public and compete for the prestigious Golden Nymph Awards. (Photo by Valery HACHE / AFP) (Photo by VALERY HACHE/AFP via Getty Images) LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE — Season 9 — Pictured: (l-r) Dean Butler as Almanzo James Wilder, ... More Melissa Gilbert as Laura Elizabeth Ingalls Wilder (Photo by Herb Ball/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images) Dean Butler joined Little House on the Prairie in Season 6 in 1979 to play Almanzo Wilder, the future husband of Laura Ingalls. After Little House on the Prairie, Butler reprised Almanzo for the TV movies Little House: Look Back to Yesterday in 1983 and Little House: The Last Farewell and Little House: Bless All the Dear Children in 1984. In addition, Butler appeared in guest roles in such series as Fantasy Island (1983 and 1984), Who's the Boss? (1984), Hotel (1985 and 1986) and starred in the comedy series The New Gidget (1986-88) opposite Caryn Richman (both pictured below in 2021). Also, Butler had a recurring role on Buffy the Vampire Slayer from 1997-2002. Butler has also worked on documentary content on Little House on the Prairie, including 2015's Little House on the Prairie: The Legacy of Laura Ingalls Wilder, which he directed and narrated. In 2024, Butler published his memoir Prairie Man: My Little House Life & Beyond. LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 28: Dean Butler (L) and Caryn Richman attend the 2021 Festival Of ... More Arts Benefit Night Concert And Pageant on August 28, 2021 in Laguna Beach, California. (Photo by)
USA Today
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Melissa Gilbert shares new child actress set to star as Laura in Netflix's 'Little House'
Melissa Gilbert shares new child actress set to star as Laura in Netflix's 'Little House' Show Caption Hide Caption Shannen Doherty credits Michael Landon with spurring acting career "Little House on the Prairie" star Shannen Doherty has credited her late co-star Michael Landon with honing her passion for acting. Bang Showbiz Netflix's reboot of the "Little House on the Prairie" has found its new little Laura. Melissa Gilbert, who starred as the original Laura Ingalls, took to Instagram on May 2 to help the streaming service share the casting news of the new show's first cast member Alice Halsey. Gilbert starred in the original version of the popular NBC show, which premiered in 1974 and still boasts a cult following in present day. The program, based on the books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, inspired a generation of women and celebrated its 50th anniversary last year with dozens of fan events across America. "And…here she is. Wising them and @thealicehalsey all the luck in the world!!" Gilbert captioned the heartfelt post. "Netflix's new Little House on the Prairie series has found its Laura Ingalls! We are so thrilled to announce that Alice Halsey will be playing the iconic role of Laura Ingalls. Please give her a warm welcome to the Little House family!" How 'Little House on the Prairie' star Melissa Gilbert shaped a generation of women Gilbert added in her caption that "The 'Little House' books endure to this day because so many people see themselves in Laura. She is a disruptor. Honest to a fault. Questions authority. And she's our window into this adventure." Halsey is an alum of the Golden Globe-nominated miniseries "Lessons in Chemistry," starring Brie Larson, and the long-running NBC soap opera "Days of Our Lives," which now airs on streaming service Peacock. Gilbert spoke to USA TODAY about how "Little House" changed a generation of young people, in an interview published in April 2024. "The thing that moves me the most is when people tell me the stories of how 'Little House on the Prairie' impacted their lives, what their childhoods were like, and why it was so important to them," Gilbert told USA TODAY. "A lot of people have said – and I'm sure will continue to say to me – 'Look, you were my escape from a bad childhood.' … We taught a lot of lessons and provided a lot of escapist entertainment." Netflix 'Little House' will feature fresh take on beloved franchise Earlier this year, Netflix announced that it would produce its own version of "Little House" based on Ingalls Wilder's beloved books. "The new 'Little House on the Prairie' is part family drama, part epic survival tale, and part origin story of the American West. The series will offer a kaleidoscopic view of the struggles and triumphs of those who shaped the frontier," a press release read about Netflix's fresh take on the tried-and-true program. Contributing: Laura Trujillo
USA Today
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Melissa Gilbert, 60, ditches makeup and embraces aging – and other women are following suit
Melissa Gilbert, 60, ditches makeup and embraces aging – and other women are following suit 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. In a day when celebrities' social feeds are filtered and curated, color coordinated and perfect, Melissa Gilbert's presence is different. Find her in pajamas on a Friday night in one photo. In another, which she's captioned 'Mature Women's Day,' she isn't wearing makeup, and says she earned 'earned every line on my face.' Is she the most real woman on the internet? Perhaps. And that is just the point. At 60, she has no patience for anything but being herself. So she shares her life - sometimes polished in matching dresses with one of her grandaughters, or more casual in jeans and a T-shirt makeup free on a self-care Sunday. And she wants other women, particularly those 50 and older to feel the same way – to embrace themselves as they are. 'Visibility matters, especially as we age,' Gilbert says in a call from New York City where she had just wrapped the play "Still" off Broadway. "And we need a place to be ourselves. I'm too old to pretend to be anyone else." Gilbert launched Modern Prairie three years ago with Nicole Haase. Modern Prairie sells housewares and patchwork jeans, offers quilting classes and cooking lessons. But the main hope, Gilbert says, is to create community through its app. "It's a wonderful way to nurture friendship which is so important especially as we age," says the former 'Little House on the Prairie' star. "We wanted to create a space where women could be completely and totally honest and and share what is going on with their lives and their bodies and not have that kind of cruel commentary you often see online be the norm." Melissa Gilbert on why she ditched Botox, embraced aging She and Haase understand that friendships become even more important to women as they grow older, and that studies show people are healthier when they are more connected. They recently launched a 'Get in the Picture' campaign to encourage moms to stop standing behind the camera and get in photos. "If I show my daughter that I'm getting in the picture. It shows her to get in the picture," Haase, Modern Prairie's CEO, says. "It says you are worth it. You are valuable. Melissa is embracing aging and giving other women permission to do that, too." It's what Julia Randolph needed. After raising two kids, taking care of her 91-year-old mother, and long COVID, she felt as if she had lost herself. Through the app, she felt seen. Randolph, 59, was featured in a recent Instagram post for Modern Prairie. "I never used to be in photos," she says. "I picked myself apart. I was always behind the camera. I barely have 10 pictures of the kids and me together. I hated the way I looked." Now she feels better about herself, and has lost 80 pounds. She credits that to the new community she found. Melissa Gilbert shaped a generation How the "Little House on the Prairie" star influenced women 'The big thing about it is we all try to love each other, try to support each other. We're not women from high school. We're in our 40s and over and we're different. We congratulate each other, we're happy for each other," says Randolph. "It's been a blessing to have people." It's something that drew in Cheryl Perry, a chef and cookbook author. "I'm a 60 year old chef working with women who are my age and we highlight older womens' strength," says Perry, who teaches monthly cooking classes for Modern Prairie. "What's interesting in our political climate, you think it would be more, people expressing their political opinions. None of that is there at all. It's relief. You are taking people for what they present."
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Melissa Gilbert Remembers Late ‘Little House' Co-Star Jack Lilley: ‘One of My Favorite People'
Melissa Gilbert paid tribute to her 'Little House on the Prairie' co-star Jack Lilley in the wake of his death this week. The actor and stunt coordinator was 91. In a post on her Instagram account, Gilbert – who played Laura Ingalls Wilder in the show – called Lilley one of her 'favorite people on the planet.' Lilley appeared in over thirty episodes of the show between 1974 and 1983 while also serving as the stunt coordinator. 'He taught me how to ride a horse when I was just a wee little thing,' she wrote. '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 also recalled in her lengthy tribute that her and Lilley ran into each other in 2002 unexpectedly while she was working on a western pilot for ABC. The two fell right back into a rhythm with each other. 'My first day on set was surreal, getting my hair and makeup done, getting dressed, laced into my corset, boots etc. Such a strange déjà vu,' she said. '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.' Lilley died on Wednesday at 91-years-old. His family posted the news on Instagram but chose not to reveal the cause of death. Along with his time on 'Little House on the Prairie,' he also appeared in 'Blazing Saddles.' 'The man who started it all. Figuratively and literally,' the family's post read. 'The card shark, the horse trader, the wrangler, the man with a story for everything, he always knew someone who could help if he couldn't, known to many as friend, storyteller, joker, and a heck of a horseman.' The post Melissa Gilbert Remembers Late 'Little House' Co-Star Jack Lilley: 'One of My Favorite People' appeared first on TheWrap.
