- Born
- Birth nameMelissa Ellen Gilbert
- Nicknames
- Missy
- Half-Pint
- Height5′ 3″ (1.60 m)
- Melissa Ellen Gilbert is an American actress, television director, producer, politician, and former president of the Screen Actors Guild. Gilbert began her career as a child actress in the late 1960s, appearing in numerous commercials and guest starring roles on television. From 1974 to 1983, she starred as Laura Ingalls Wilder, the second oldest daughter of Charles Ingalls (played by Michael Landon) on the NBC series Little House on the Prairie. During the run of Little House, Gilbert appeared in several television films, including The Diary of Anne Frank and The Miracle Worker.- IMDb mini biography by: Bonitao
- SpousesTimothy Busfield(April 24, 2013 - present)Bruce Boxleitner(January 1, 1995 - August 25, 2011) (divorced, 1 child)Bo Brinkman(February 21, 1988 - February 14, 1994) (divorced, 1 child)
- Children
- Parents
- RelativesJonathan Gilbert(Sibling)Sara Gilbert(Half Sibling)Harry Crane(Grandparent)
- High-pitched voice
- Delivered the eulogy at the memorial service for her friend and mentor, Patty Duke, on April 16, 2016. Duke was "Annie Sullivan" to Gilbert's "Helen Keller" in the 1979 production of The Miracle Worker (1979). Similarly, in June 2005, Patty Duke gave the eulogy at Anne Bancroft's memorial service. Bancroft was "Annie Sullivan" to Duke's "Helen Keller" in the original The Miracle Worker (1962) in 1962.
- Michael Landon Jr. took her to her high school senior prom (1981).
- Was one of 500 young girls who auditioned for the role of Laura Ingalls Wilder in the TV series Little House on the Prairie (1974) and she was the only one whose screen test was sent to be considered by NBC. It was Michael Landon's daughter Leslie Landon who told Melissa that she had won the role of Laura when the two of them stood in line at their school cafeteria.
- Her acting mentors were the late Michael Landon and the late Patty Duke.
- She appeared in 191 of the 205 episodes of Little House on the Prairie (1974), more than anyone else.
- We take pride in each other - we were meant to be together.
- Thank God I have four sons. The mother/daughter relationship is one of mankind's great mysteries, and for womankind, it can be hellaciously complicated. My mother and I are quintessential examples of the rewards and frustrations, and the joys and infuriations it can yield.
- [About Little House on the Prairie (1974)]: Not a day goes by that I don't think about it and burst into tears. It's like stepping through a looking glass. There's a part of me that's always going to be Laura. I think every girl has a Laura in them.
- It reminds people of what we as humans and Americans are capable of if we do it together. We tend to live in bubbles. ... There is very little real sense of community anymore. This show reminds people of that.
- [on comparing her co-star's, Karen Grassle's, "Caroline Ingalls" character to her own]: Karen's "Ma" always reminded me of Grace Kelly. My Ma's a little more feisty, a little more earthy, I'm a redhead. So is Ma in this show. So there's some fire under those petticoats.
- Little House on the Prairie (1974) - $75,000 per week
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