Melissa Gilbert

Melissa Gilbert is an Emmy-nominated actress and the daughter of actor Paul Gilbert and Barbara Crane. Melissa spent her childhood in Los Angeles after being adopted by the couple and attended the Hollywood Professional School. She began acting at age 9, landing her first major role as Laura Ingalls Wilder on Little House on the Prairie in 1974.

Melissa became a household name during her time on the show, and the series became a cultural staple. She remained a principal cast member until the 1983 series finale. She continued to build a successful career in television, starring in projects like The Miracle Worker (1979), The Diary of Anne Frank (1980) and Little House: The Last Farewell (1984). Her role as Helen Keller in the 1980 drama The Miracle Worker earned her an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Limited Series. She later landed recurring roles on shows such as Sweet Justice and Secrets and Lies.

Her influence throughout her career allowed her to be elected president of the Screen Actors Guild from 2001 to 2005. She later transitioned to producing and directing, releasing her film Child Stars: Their Story in 2000. She also competed on Dancing with the Stars in 2012.

In 2025, she appeared on the Hallmark period drama When Calls the Heart.

In addition to her acting work, Gilbert has authored a handful of books, releasing her debut memoir Prairie Tale in 2009.

Melissa was linked to actor Rob Lowe in the late ‘70s. She first married actor Bo Brinkman in 1988, and the pair share son Dakota (born in 1989). They split in 1994. She later wed Bruce Boxleitner, and the pair welcomed son Michael in 1995 before their divorce in 2011. She tied the knot with Timothy Busfield in 2013.