Alison Arngrim and Melissa Gilbert might have played mortal enemies on Little House on the Prairie, but that couldn’t have been any further from the truth in real life. The actresses came back together for the show’s 50th Anniversary Cast Reunion and Festival in Simi Valley, California, on Saturday, March 23, and Arngrim spoke to People about their relationship on and off-screen. “Here’s Melissa Gilbert and I playing mortal enemies, beating each other senseless all week,” Arngrim said. “And then on the weekends, we’d go to each other’s house for a slumber party and we were hanging out.” Gilbert played the lead, Laura Ingalls, in the beloved series, while Arngrim starred as schoolyard bully, Nellie Oleson. On-screen, the pair often clashed in arguments and even physical fights. But when the cameras weren’t rolling, Arngrim said she and Gilbert were “like sisters” and even choreographed their fight scenes together.
- 3/25/2024
- TV Insider
Jason Aldean’s debut single, 2005’s “Hicktown,” arrived on country radio like a kick in the teeth, blending hard rock with country music and lyrics that unabashedly celebrated a certain type of rural life: “You can see the neighbor’s butt crack nailing on his shingles/and his woman’s smokin’ Pall Mall’s, watchin’ Laura Ingalls,” he sang.
“Hicktown” was an overnight success, a Top 10 hit on Billboard’s Hot Country chart and a crossover pop hit on the Hot 100. And the singles that followed were also mostly radio smashes,...
“Hicktown” was an overnight success, a Top 10 hit on Billboard’s Hot Country chart and a crossover pop hit on the Hot 100. And the singles that followed were also mostly radio smashes,...
- 7/19/2023
- by Kory Grow and Althea Legaspi
- Rollingstone.com
During the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, the entertainment industry completely shut down. But as time progressed and we learned more about how the virus operates, Covid specialists were brought onto projects to help keep filming safe. Around this time, Little House on the Prairie alum Melissa Gilbert got the opportunity to audition for a television series filming in Canada, but she ultimately decided to turn it down. Here’s why.
Melissa Gilbert didn’t want to be away from husband Timothy Busfield
The producers of the television show wanted to bring Gilbert in for an audition, but if she got the role, she’d have to film in Canada for several months.
“I wouldn’t be allowed to visit home at all because of quarantine rules,” she wrote in her 2022 memoir, Back to the Prairie. “Tim would soon be filming his show For Life in New York City and...
Melissa Gilbert didn’t want to be away from husband Timothy Busfield
The producers of the television show wanted to bring Gilbert in for an audition, but if she got the role, she’d have to film in Canada for several months.
“I wouldn’t be allowed to visit home at all because of quarantine rules,” she wrote in her 2022 memoir, Back to the Prairie. “Tim would soon be filming his show For Life in New York City and...
- 7/9/2023
- by Kelsey Goeres
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Not too long before the Covid-19 pandemic, Little House on the Prairie alum Melissa Gilbert and her husband thirtysomething actor Timothy Busfield bought a little cabin in the Catskills. When March 2020 came, the home acted as a safe haven for the couple. Along with playing wiffle ball and raising chickens, gardening is something Gilbert got really into. Of her bountiful harvest, her cucumbers-turned-pickles were among her favorites.
The types of cucumbers Gilbert planted
Gilbert’s garden was overflowing with goodies throughout the course of the Covid-19 pandemic. But the first vegetables to be ready for picking were the cucumbers.
“I had planted a mix of English and Boston pickling cucumbers, the latter especially for making sour pickles,” she wrote in her 2022 memoir, Back to the Prairie. “They were short and firm, their skin much thinner than their longer, more traditional English cousins. I brought in a ton of them. They...
The types of cucumbers Gilbert planted
Gilbert’s garden was overflowing with goodies throughout the course of the Covid-19 pandemic. But the first vegetables to be ready for picking were the cucumbers.
“I had planted a mix of English and Boston pickling cucumbers, the latter especially for making sour pickles,” she wrote in her 2022 memoir, Back to the Prairie. “They were short and firm, their skin much thinner than their longer, more traditional English cousins. I brought in a ton of them. They...
- 7/8/2023
- by Kelsey Goeres
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Little House on the Prairie alum Melissa Gilbert and husband thirtysomething actor Timothy Busfield rode out the Covid-19 pandemic in a small cabin in the Catskills (where they still live today). When Busfield got his first acting job following March 2020, the couple faced their first Covid scare. Here’s what happened.
Back to work with Covid safety protocols
Busfield had been cast in For Life before the pandemic. It was one of the first shows to begin production again amid the virus. Gilbert wrote about her husband’s return to work in her 2022 memoir, Back to the Prairie.
“Tim had been on several Zooms regarding safety protocols and received numerous emails updating procedures,” she wrote. “Everybody got tested. Their temperatures were taken. The crew was masked and shielded. Each set was sterilized overnight and then sealed. If the seal was broken before production the next day, they were going to...
Back to work with Covid safety protocols
Busfield had been cast in For Life before the pandemic. It was one of the first shows to begin production again amid the virus. Gilbert wrote about her husband’s return to work in her 2022 memoir, Back to the Prairie.
“Tim had been on several Zooms regarding safety protocols and received numerous emails updating procedures,” she wrote. “Everybody got tested. Their temperatures were taken. The crew was masked and shielded. Each set was sterilized overnight and then sealed. If the seal was broken before production the next day, they were going to...
- 7/7/2023
- by Kelsey Goeres
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Melissa Gilbert and Timothy Busfield have been married for 10 years. Today, the actors live a peaceful life together in the Catskills. But, as with every relationship, the couple has experienced a few “speed bumps” in their union along the way.
Four months of couples therapy helped Melissa Gilbert and Timothy Busfield through a rough patch
In Gilbert’s 2022 memoir, Back to the Prairie, the former Laura Ingalls actor writes that she and Busfield were “a perfect match.” But there was one point in their marriage where “some old stuff” started to come up for the couple. This occurred shortly after they made the move to New York from Michigan.
“It reared its ugly head, which we recognized immediately and dealt with by seeing a wonderful marriage counselor, whose office was about fifteen blocks from our apartment,” wrote Gilbert. “We saw her once a week for three or four months, and...
Four months of couples therapy helped Melissa Gilbert and Timothy Busfield through a rough patch
In Gilbert’s 2022 memoir, Back to the Prairie, the former Laura Ingalls actor writes that she and Busfield were “a perfect match.” But there was one point in their marriage where “some old stuff” started to come up for the couple. This occurred shortly after they made the move to New York from Michigan.
“It reared its ugly head, which we recognized immediately and dealt with by seeing a wonderful marriage counselor, whose office was about fifteen blocks from our apartment,” wrote Gilbert. “We saw her once a week for three or four months, and...
- 6/12/2023
- by Kelsey Goeres
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Melissa Gilbert had to handle her fair share of animals as Laura Ingalls on Little House on the Prairie. But, apparently, it’s something she does in her real life as well. In her 2022 memoir, Back to the Prairie, the actor goes into her relationship with animals, including one story she shared about saving a bird from her cat with killer instincts.
Melissa Gilbert | Albert L. Ortega/WireImage Melissa Gilbert’s cat Charlie Chaplin
Gilbert got her tuxedo cat, Charlie Chaplin, when she lived in Los Angeles. In the city of angels, Charlie was a sweet little guy. But as soon as Gilbert moved to Michigan with husband Timothy Busfield, a new side of Charlie presented itself.
“Once he was in the Midwest, he changed from Charlie Chaplin to Charlie Manson,” wrote Gilbert. “We would come home and find his prey laid out for our approval in the living room.
Melissa Gilbert | Albert L. Ortega/WireImage Melissa Gilbert’s cat Charlie Chaplin
Gilbert got her tuxedo cat, Charlie Chaplin, when she lived in Los Angeles. In the city of angels, Charlie was a sweet little guy. But as soon as Gilbert moved to Michigan with husband Timothy Busfield, a new side of Charlie presented itself.
“Once he was in the Midwest, he changed from Charlie Chaplin to Charlie Manson,” wrote Gilbert. “We would come home and find his prey laid out for our approval in the living room.
- 6/10/2023
- by Kelsey Goeres
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Melissa Gilbert and husband Timothy Busfield bought a fixer-upper cabin in the Catskills in 2019. One day, as they were getting settled in and doing some work on their new home, a man they’d never seen before pulled up in a truck. It was the couple’s new neighbor, and he was not what they’d expected.
Melissa Gilbert | Albert L. Ortega/WireImage A stranger pulled up to Melissa Gilbert and Timothy Busfield’s new home
One December day, as Gilbert was doing some work in the kitchen, she heard a truck pull up in front of the house. She wasn’t expecting anyone so she looked out the window to inspect who it was.
“The truck was decorated with all sorts of doodads, metal figurines, and signs, including one that read If You Loot, We Shoot,” Gilbert wrote in her memoir, Back to the Prairie. “It also had a...
Melissa Gilbert | Albert L. Ortega/WireImage A stranger pulled up to Melissa Gilbert and Timothy Busfield’s new home
One December day, as Gilbert was doing some work in the kitchen, she heard a truck pull up in front of the house. She wasn’t expecting anyone so she looked out the window to inspect who it was.
“The truck was decorated with all sorts of doodads, metal figurines, and signs, including one that read If You Loot, We Shoot,” Gilbert wrote in her memoir, Back to the Prairie. “It also had a...
- 6/4/2023
- by Kelsey Goeres
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Little House on the Prairie alum Melissa Gilbert has been married three times. If you asked her at the time of each marriage, she’d probably say each one was for love. But she found herself in love and with “limited funds” in her third marriage with Timothy Busfield.
Melissa Gilbert on her contemporaries ‘for whom money was no object’ Melissa Gilbert | George Pimentel/WireImage for Turner
After Gilbert and Busfield got married in 2013, they lived together in a modest home in Michigan, Busfield’s home state. In 2019, they bought a rundown “cabbage” (Gilbert’s word for the home combining cottage and cabin) in the Catskills to fix up. Especially after their respective divorces from their previous partners, Gilbert and Busfield found themselves needing to be extra smart with their money. The former Laura Ingalls actor couldn’t help but notice a stark difference in herself and some of her peers in the industry.
Melissa Gilbert on her contemporaries ‘for whom money was no object’ Melissa Gilbert | George Pimentel/WireImage for Turner
After Gilbert and Busfield got married in 2013, they lived together in a modest home in Michigan, Busfield’s home state. In 2019, they bought a rundown “cabbage” (Gilbert’s word for the home combining cottage and cabin) in the Catskills to fix up. Especially after their respective divorces from their previous partners, Gilbert and Busfield found themselves needing to be extra smart with their money. The former Laura Ingalls actor couldn’t help but notice a stark difference in herself and some of her peers in the industry.
- 6/3/2023
- by Kelsey Goeres
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Little House on the Prairie star Melissa Gilbert married Timothy Busfield of Thirtysomething fame back in 2013. For both actors, it was their third marriage. In the Laura Ingalls actor’s latest memoir, Back to the Prairie, she writes about how Busfield is different from her past partners.
Melissa Gilbert and Timothy Busfield | David Livingston/Getty Images Busfield supports Gilbert
Even after the couple’s honeymoon phase, Gilbert “reveled in the respect” her third husband showed her. She knew from the beginning that their love was different from her past relationships. But it seems Busfield was different, too.
“Before Tim, I always felt like I had to make my own abilities and accomplishments smaller to allow the men I was with to feel confident, bigger, macho, and in control,” wrote Gilbert. “Tim was different. Instead of feeling threatened by a strong, outspoken, capable woman, he encouraged me to meet each day fearlessly.
Melissa Gilbert and Timothy Busfield | David Livingston/Getty Images Busfield supports Gilbert
Even after the couple’s honeymoon phase, Gilbert “reveled in the respect” her third husband showed her. She knew from the beginning that their love was different from her past relationships. But it seems Busfield was different, too.
“Before Tim, I always felt like I had to make my own abilities and accomplishments smaller to allow the men I was with to feel confident, bigger, macho, and in control,” wrote Gilbert. “Tim was different. Instead of feeling threatened by a strong, outspoken, capable woman, he encouraged me to meet each day fearlessly.
- 6/2/2023
- by Kelsey Goeres
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Melissa Gilbert ran for Congress in Michigan’s Eighth District in 2016. She ended up dropping out due to health issues, but she got far enough into the race to have her opponent’s team hit her with a smear campaign. Her Republican opponent, incumbent Mike Bishop, put out a statement calling Gilbert an IRS tax cheat. Here’s what the Little House on the Prairie alum says about the statement all these years later.
Melissa Gilbert | Roy Rochlin/Getty Images Melissa Gilbert’s response to ‘IRS tax cheat’ claim
In her 2022 memoir, Back to the Prairie, Gilbert wrote that Bishop’s policies “were at the opposite end of the spectrum from my beliefs.”
As soon as the former Laura Ingalls actor announced that she’d officially be running for Congress in Michigan’s Eighth District, her opponent went on the attack.
“His spokesperson put out a statement calling me an...
Melissa Gilbert | Roy Rochlin/Getty Images Melissa Gilbert’s response to ‘IRS tax cheat’ claim
In her 2022 memoir, Back to the Prairie, Gilbert wrote that Bishop’s policies “were at the opposite end of the spectrum from my beliefs.”
As soon as the former Laura Ingalls actor announced that she’d officially be running for Congress in Michigan’s Eighth District, her opponent went on the attack.
“His spokesperson put out a statement calling me an...
- 5/29/2023
- by Kelsey Goeres
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Melissa Gilbert ran for Congress in 2016, but had to drop out part way through the race due to health concerns. In her 2022 memoir, Back to the Prairie, the actor looked back at her devastating decision to call the race per her doctor’s orders. Here’s what happened, in the Laura Ingalls actor’s words.
Melissa Gilbert | Albert L. Ortega/WireImage The health issue that led to Melissa Gilbert calling her run for Congress
Throughout the entirety of Gilbert’s campaign, she was in “tremendous pain” due to a herniated disc pressing on nerves in her neck. And each day, it got worse.
“At first, I kept the problem from everyone but Tim [Busfield, her husband],” she wrote. “Then, it was impossible to hide it. It turned my manageable migraines into crippling events, and I suffered from terrible spasms in my neck, numbness in my right hand, and excruciating pain every time I turned my head.
Melissa Gilbert | Albert L. Ortega/WireImage The health issue that led to Melissa Gilbert calling her run for Congress
Throughout the entirety of Gilbert’s campaign, she was in “tremendous pain” due to a herniated disc pressing on nerves in her neck. And each day, it got worse.
“At first, I kept the problem from everyone but Tim [Busfield, her husband],” she wrote. “Then, it was impossible to hide it. It turned my manageable migraines into crippling events, and I suffered from terrible spasms in my neck, numbness in my right hand, and excruciating pain every time I turned my head.
- 5/27/2023
- by Kelsey Goeres
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Melissa Gilbert and Timothy Busfield got married in 2013. This was both of the actors’ third marriages. They entered the union with some baggage but excited to begin a new, healthy chapter. Part of that chapter included downsizing and getting rid of a bunch of stuff, including Little House on the Prairie memorabilia.
Melissa Gilbert and Timothy Busfield | David Livingston/Getty Images Melissa Gilbert moved out of Los Angeles
When Gilbert and Busfield first started dating, the Thirtysomething actor lived in Michigan. Gilbert started spending some time there and eventually moved to her new partner’s home state. From there, they moved to New York for work. Eventually, they landed in the Catskills, where they have a small cabin on many acres of land. It’s where they call home today.
“We were living in New York City and wanted a second home where we could escape into peace, quiet, and nature,...
Melissa Gilbert and Timothy Busfield | David Livingston/Getty Images Melissa Gilbert moved out of Los Angeles
When Gilbert and Busfield first started dating, the Thirtysomething actor lived in Michigan. Gilbert started spending some time there and eventually moved to her new partner’s home state. From there, they moved to New York for work. Eventually, they landed in the Catskills, where they have a small cabin on many acres of land. It’s where they call home today.
“We were living in New York City and wanted a second home where we could escape into peace, quiet, and nature,...
- 5/24/2023
- by Kelsey Goeres
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Melissa Gilbert and Timothy Busfield have been married for 10 years. They got married in Montecito in a tiny ceremony with no guests. Busfield wore a blue suit, and Gilbert wore a red dress. Here’s a look back at the couple’s special day.
Melissa Gilbert | Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images Melissa Gilbert’s red wedding dress
Gilbert and Busfield knew they wanted an intimate, no-fuss wedding with just the two of them. So the main task for the Little House on the Prairie alum to do before the “big” day was to pick the perfect dress that encapsulated the occasion. She had some trouble finding something she liked.
“I looked for months,” she wrote in her 2022 memoir, Back to the Prairie. “I tried white, but for my third wedding it seemed ironic. I tried baby pink and powder blue, but they seemed immature. Black...
Melissa Gilbert | Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images Melissa Gilbert’s red wedding dress
Gilbert and Busfield knew they wanted an intimate, no-fuss wedding with just the two of them. So the main task for the Little House on the Prairie alum to do before the “big” day was to pick the perfect dress that encapsulated the occasion. She had some trouble finding something she liked.
“I looked for months,” she wrote in her 2022 memoir, Back to the Prairie. “I tried white, but for my third wedding it seemed ironic. I tried baby pink and powder blue, but they seemed immature. Black...
- 5/20/2023
- by Kelsey Goeres
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Melissa Gilbert and Timothy Busfield got married in 2013. It was the third marriage for both actors, and they both had children from previous relationships. Blending families can be tricky. The case of Gilbert and Busfield was no exception. The Little House on the Prairie alum initially believed the task would be easier than it ended up being. “Easy” was not how it all went down.
Melissa Gilbert and Timothy Busfield’s previous marriages and kids
Gilbert married her first husband, Bo Brinkman, in 1988. It was a tumultuous union colored by infidelity and high drama. The couple had one child together —Dakota—and divorced in 1994. The Laura Ingalls actor’s second husband was Bruce Boxleitner. They married in 1995 and divorced in 2011. Together, Gilbert and Boxleitner had one child—Michael.
Busfield had also been married two previous times when he met Gilbert—to Radha Delamarter from 1981 to 1986 and Jenny Merwin from 1988 to 2007. From those marriages,...
Melissa Gilbert and Timothy Busfield’s previous marriages and kids
Gilbert married her first husband, Bo Brinkman, in 1988. It was a tumultuous union colored by infidelity and high drama. The couple had one child together —Dakota—and divorced in 1994. The Laura Ingalls actor’s second husband was Bruce Boxleitner. They married in 1995 and divorced in 2011. Together, Gilbert and Boxleitner had one child—Michael.
Busfield had also been married two previous times when he met Gilbert—to Radha Delamarter from 1981 to 1986 and Jenny Merwin from 1988 to 2007. From those marriages,...
- 5/16/2023
- by Kelsey Goeres
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Melissa Gilbert and Timothy Busfield got married in 2013. The proposal took place in Michigan at Busfield’s family friend’s cabin. It was simple, quiet, and just the two of them. After Busfield asked, Gilbert’s one request was that he do it again the next day.
Timothy Busfield and Melissa Gilbert | Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic Melissa Gilbert lived in LA and Timothy Busfield lived in Michigan when they started dating
Gilbert and Busfield started dating shortly after officially meeting one night at a bar. For both actors, who’d recently divorced their second spouses, it was a connection that felt right immediately. The only problem was that they lived in different states. Gilbert lived in Los Angeles and though Busfield often was in LA for work, he lived in Michigan. He’d moved there after a rough divorce from second wife Jenny Merwin.
Luckily, when Gilbert and Busfield started dating,...
Timothy Busfield and Melissa Gilbert | Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic Melissa Gilbert lived in LA and Timothy Busfield lived in Michigan when they started dating
Gilbert and Busfield started dating shortly after officially meeting one night at a bar. For both actors, who’d recently divorced their second spouses, it was a connection that felt right immediately. The only problem was that they lived in different states. Gilbert lived in Los Angeles and though Busfield often was in LA for work, he lived in Michigan. He’d moved there after a rough divorce from second wife Jenny Merwin.
Luckily, when Gilbert and Busfield started dating,...
- 5/15/2023
- by Kelsey Goeres
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Melissa Gilbert and Timothy Busfield technically met in 1991 at the Emmys. Busfield won Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his work on thirtysomething and Gilbert gave a tribute to her former co-star Michael Landon, who’d died that year. But they really met in 2012 when they were the only two people in a bar. Here’s how the couple got together and what Busfield did as he was leaving that made Gilbert’s heart melt.
Timothy Busfield and Melissa Gilbert | Bruce Glikas/Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic Melissa Gilbert ran into Timothy Busfield when she wasn’t looking for love
Gilbert didn’t wait long to hop back into the dating pool after her divorce from second husband Bruce Boxleitner. But after some self reflection, she decided to concentrate on herself and take a break from dating.
One night, she had plans to go out dancing with some friends. She and one of her friends,...
Timothy Busfield and Melissa Gilbert | Bruce Glikas/Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic Melissa Gilbert ran into Timothy Busfield when she wasn’t looking for love
Gilbert didn’t wait long to hop back into the dating pool after her divorce from second husband Bruce Boxleitner. But after some self reflection, she decided to concentrate on herself and take a break from dating.
One night, she had plans to go out dancing with some friends. She and one of her friends,...
- 5/14/2023
- by Kelsey Goeres
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Little House on the Prairie star Melissa Gilbert competed on Dancing With The Stars in March 2012 as part of the Season 14 cast. Her partner was Maksim Chmerkovskiy, whom she still ‘gets along with “adores” to this day. But she has complicated feelings about the show itself. The Laura Ingalls actor was on DWTS during a time when she was on the cusp of learning who the real Melissa Gilbert is. And, as it turns out, DWTS doesn’t agree with the real Melissa Gilbert.
Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Melissa Gilbert | Adam Taylor / Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images Melissa Gilbert felt like she had to do ‘Dancing With The Stars’ to prove that her back had healed
Gilbert broke her back when she was playing Laura Ingalls’ mother in the touring musical of Little House on the Prairie back in 2009. But she didn’t learn she’d broken her back...
Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Melissa Gilbert | Adam Taylor / Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images Melissa Gilbert felt like she had to do ‘Dancing With The Stars’ to prove that her back had healed
Gilbert broke her back when she was playing Laura Ingalls’ mother in the touring musical of Little House on the Prairie back in 2009. But she didn’t learn she’d broken her back...
- 5/9/2023
- by Kelsey Goeres
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
After Little House on the Prairie star Melissa Gilbert divorced her second husband, Bruce Boxleitner, she quickly started dating someone who, in hindsight, wasn’t good for her. He seemed to have all the bad qualities of every boyfriend she’d ever had, all wrapped up in one person.
Melissa Gilbert | Kevin Winter/Getty Images Melissa Gilbert ‘raced into [a] new relationship’ after her divorce from Bruce Boxleitner
After Gilbert and Boxleitner divorced, the Laura Ingalls actor was eager to make up for lost time when it came to dating. At the same time, she was coming to terms with being an actress in Los Angeles in her forties. So she got the Botox, she colored her hair, she bought a convertible, and started dating a “slightly younger but wildly inappropriate French dude.”
“Feeling like I had been tamped down and muzzled for far too long, I raced into my new relationship status,...
Melissa Gilbert | Kevin Winter/Getty Images Melissa Gilbert ‘raced into [a] new relationship’ after her divorce from Bruce Boxleitner
After Gilbert and Boxleitner divorced, the Laura Ingalls actor was eager to make up for lost time when it came to dating. At the same time, she was coming to terms with being an actress in Los Angeles in her forties. So she got the Botox, she colored her hair, she bought a convertible, and started dating a “slightly younger but wildly inappropriate French dude.”
“Feeling like I had been tamped down and muzzled for far too long, I raced into my new relationship status,...
- 5/9/2023
- by Kelsey Goeres
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Melissa Gilbert turns 59 today on Monday May 8, 2023. Best known for playing Laura Ingalls in Little House on the Prairie in the ‘70s and early ‘80s, Gilbert’s life looks a lot different these days. She’s hung up her Hollywood heels for a pair of boots she can get dirty in the chicken coop. Her birthday this year fits in perfectly with her new life. “This is heaven,” she said of the day.
Melissa Gilbert | Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images Melissa Gilbert moved to the Catskills with husband Timothy Busfield in 2019
Gilbert and her husband Thirtysomething actor Timothy Busfield bought a 14-acre property with a rundown cottage in the Catskills in 2019. The couple was craving open space and an escape from city living. When they bought the home, it was moldy, bug-infested, and filled with musty furniture. But that didn’t scare off Gilbert and Busfield, who became DIY pros throughout...
Melissa Gilbert | Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images Melissa Gilbert moved to the Catskills with husband Timothy Busfield in 2019
Gilbert and her husband Thirtysomething actor Timothy Busfield bought a 14-acre property with a rundown cottage in the Catskills in 2019. The couple was craving open space and an escape from city living. When they bought the home, it was moldy, bug-infested, and filled with musty furniture. But that didn’t scare off Gilbert and Busfield, who became DIY pros throughout...
- 5/8/2023
- by Kelsey Goeres
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
When Little House on the Prairie actor Melissa Gilbert and husband Thirtysomething actor Timothy Busfield bought a small home in the Catskills, it wasn’t much to look at. From the outside it appeared dilapidated, from the inside it smelled of must. But what was interesting about the cabin was that the previous owners had seemingly up and left all of their previous belongings — from cereal in the cupboards to shampoo in the shower. Still, that didn’t scare off Gilbert and Busfield. They bought the “little house” and made it into their own special haven.
Timothy Busfield and Melissa Gilbert | Bruce Glikas/Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic Melissa Gilbert and Timothy Busfield’s first impression of the home
The first impression of the little cabin in the mountains was mixed. The couple’s realtor was visibly unsure.
“Huh, this is the house you like?” she asked, according to Gilbert in her 2022 book,...
Timothy Busfield and Melissa Gilbert | Bruce Glikas/Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic Melissa Gilbert and Timothy Busfield’s first impression of the home
The first impression of the little cabin in the mountains was mixed. The couple’s realtor was visibly unsure.
“Huh, this is the house you like?” she asked, according to Gilbert in her 2022 book,...
- 5/7/2023
- by Kelsey Goeres
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Little House on the Prairie alum Melissa Gilbert and husband Thirtysomething actor Timothy Busfield bought a cabin in the Catskills in 2019. Since then, Gilbert and Busfield have dedicated themselves to a slower, more natural lifestyle. They raise chickens, grow vegetables, and enjoy the quiet of the mountains. But why did they make such a drastic change?
Timothy Busfield and Melissa Gilbert | Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images Initially, Melissa Gilbert and Timothy Busfield wanted a second home
Though the “little house” in the Catskills is now the couple’s main place of residence, it started out as a vacation home for them to escape to when they wanted to leave the hustle and bustle of the city.
“We were living in New York City and wanted a second home where we could escape into peace, quiet, and nature,” Gilbert wrote in her 2022 book Back to the Prairie. “We wanted space to think...
Timothy Busfield and Melissa Gilbert | Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images Initially, Melissa Gilbert and Timothy Busfield wanted a second home
Though the “little house” in the Catskills is now the couple’s main place of residence, it started out as a vacation home for them to escape to when they wanted to leave the hustle and bustle of the city.
“We were living in New York City and wanted a second home where we could escape into peace, quiet, and nature,” Gilbert wrote in her 2022 book Back to the Prairie. “We wanted space to think...
- 5/6/2023
- by Kelsey Goeres
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
In 1998, the groundbreaking HBO series Sex and the City changed the face of TV as four successful women candidly discussed relationships, careers, dating, children, and of course, sex. Set against the backdrop of New York City, the women made a fashion statement in every episode, dazzling viewers with beautiful clothes and iconic Manolo Blahnik and Jimmy Choos shoes.
Sarah Jessica Parker led the cast as Carrie Bradshaw, a New York City columnist who openly explored her sexuality with her avid readers. She was joined by Kim Cattrall (Samantha), Kristin Davis (Charlotte), and Cynthia Nixon (Miranda) in the long-running, successful series.
Parker, who had an impressive list of film and television credits before accepting the role on Sex and the City, was thrilled to find out that Nixon, who she had known for years, would be joining her in the innovative new series.
Sarah Jessica Parker and Cynthia Nixon have known...
Sarah Jessica Parker led the cast as Carrie Bradshaw, a New York City columnist who openly explored her sexuality with her avid readers. She was joined by Kim Cattrall (Samantha), Kristin Davis (Charlotte), and Cynthia Nixon (Miranda) in the long-running, successful series.
Parker, who had an impressive list of film and television credits before accepting the role on Sex and the City, was thrilled to find out that Nixon, who she had known for years, would be joining her in the innovative new series.
Sarah Jessica Parker and Cynthia Nixon have known...
- 5/5/2023
- by Rita DeMichiel
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Melissa Gilbert and Timothy Busfield just celebrated their ten-year wedding anniversary. They got married in 2013 in a private ceremony at San Ysidro Ranch in Santa Barbara. Today, they live in a cabin in New York’s Catskill Mountains where they raise chickens and grow their own food in the garden. Between 2013 and now, Busfield has watched his wife morph into someone new. Someone he calls “a natural beauty” and “the amazing person she knew she was.”
Timothy Busfield and Melissa Gilbert | Lars Niki/Getty Images for Bam How Melissa Gilbert and Timothy Busfield met
The Emmy Award-winning actor met Gilbert at a bar shortly after his second divorce.
“That was my drill, at eight o’clock, there was a bar right across from Universal Studios that would open at eight and nobody would ever be in there. And then at 10 o’clock it would turn into a club,” he told...
Timothy Busfield and Melissa Gilbert | Lars Niki/Getty Images for Bam How Melissa Gilbert and Timothy Busfield met
The Emmy Award-winning actor met Gilbert at a bar shortly after his second divorce.
“That was my drill, at eight o’clock, there was a bar right across from Universal Studios that would open at eight and nobody would ever be in there. And then at 10 o’clock it would turn into a club,” he told...
- 4/29/2023
- by Kelsey Goeres
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Melissa Gilbert began her acting career as Laura Ingalls on Little House on the Prairie. She went on to star in a number of other series and films. But what is the Little House alum up to today? Well, she’s the co-founder of a lifestyle brand called Modern Prairie, and she’s living a slow, natural life away from the hustle and bustle of Hollywood.
Timothy Busfield and Melissa Gilbert | Lars Niki/Getty Images for Bam Melissa Gilbert’s lifestyle brand, Modern Prairie
According to the Modern Prairie website, the brand is “centered around the modern, mature women and their needs, focusing on empowering them to regain their confidence through aging. As we age it can feel like a struggle to be seen and heard which can result in us feeling isolated or that we don’t belong. At Modern Prairie, we want to change that by creating a...
Timothy Busfield and Melissa Gilbert | Lars Niki/Getty Images for Bam Melissa Gilbert’s lifestyle brand, Modern Prairie
According to the Modern Prairie website, the brand is “centered around the modern, mature women and their needs, focusing on empowering them to regain their confidence through aging. As we age it can feel like a struggle to be seen and heard which can result in us feeling isolated or that we don’t belong. At Modern Prairie, we want to change that by creating a...
- 4/22/2023
- by Kelsey Goeres
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
‘Little House on the Prairie’: Alison Arngrim Required a Stunt Person During a Certain Type of Scene
Nellie Oleson was much prissier than her early character foil, Laura Ingalls, on Little House on the Prairie. But she still knew her way around a horse barn. Alison Arngrim the actor, however, did not. In fact, Arngrim had a distinct fear of horses that required her to use a stunt girl anytime Nellie was supposed to be riding a horse.
Alison Arngrim as Nellie Oleson, Melissa Gilbert as Laura Ingalls Wilder | NBCU Photo Bank Alison Arngrim was scared of horses
Little House on the Prairie is a tough show to be on with a fear of horses. According to Arngrim, she’s “very much a city girl.”
“I still can’t ride a horse,” she told Fox. “I was hopeless with the animals and I avoided them… I was terrified of horses actually. Whenever you saw me on a horse, the rest was a stunt girl. If we’re...
Alison Arngrim as Nellie Oleson, Melissa Gilbert as Laura Ingalls Wilder | NBCU Photo Bank Alison Arngrim was scared of horses
Little House on the Prairie is a tough show to be on with a fear of horses. According to Arngrim, she’s “very much a city girl.”
“I still can’t ride a horse,” she told Fox. “I was hopeless with the animals and I avoided them… I was terrified of horses actually. Whenever you saw me on a horse, the rest was a stunt girl. If we’re...
- 4/18/2023
- by Kelsey Goeres
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Little House on the Prairie star Alison Arngrim played Nellie Oleson from 1974 until 1982. TV audiences loved tuning in each week and watching her character’s sassy exchanges with Laura Ingalls (played by actor Melissa Gilbert). What is Arngrim doing now? Here’s everything we know.
Why Alison Arngrim left ‘Little House on the Prairie’ Alison Arngrim | Tristar Media/Getty Images Related
‘Little House on the Prairie’ Star Melissa Gilbert Sticks to a Budget: ‘I Was Reckless in My Spending Habits’
Arngrim enjoyed working on Little House on the Prairie. However, she was ready to leave the show as the seventh season approached. In her book, Confessions of a Prairie B****, she says her character’s storylines became less interesting. Arngrim’s character, Nellie, was a mean girl, but she became mellow after marrying on-screen husband Percival Dalton (played by the late Steve Tracy). Arngrim wasn’t happy with the way things were going.
Why Alison Arngrim left ‘Little House on the Prairie’ Alison Arngrim | Tristar Media/Getty Images Related
‘Little House on the Prairie’ Star Melissa Gilbert Sticks to a Budget: ‘I Was Reckless in My Spending Habits’
Arngrim enjoyed working on Little House on the Prairie. However, she was ready to leave the show as the seventh season approached. In her book, Confessions of a Prairie B****, she says her character’s storylines became less interesting. Arngrim’s character, Nellie, was a mean girl, but she became mellow after marrying on-screen husband Percival Dalton (played by the late Steve Tracy). Arngrim wasn’t happy with the way things were going.
- 3/5/2023
- by Sheiresa Ngo
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Melissa Gilbert is best known for playing Laura Ingalls on Little House on the Prairie. Gilbert admits she didn’t manage her money well during the height of her career. Now, she follows a budget and pays close attention to her finances. Here’s what Gilbert said about her financial life after Little House.
Melissa Gilbert moved from California to New York’s Catskills Melissa Gilbert | Monica Schipper/Getty Images Related
‘Little House on the Prairie’: What Is Dean Butler’s Net Worth?
Gilbert desired a slower pace. She and her husband, Timothy Busfield, decided to move from California to upstate New York. Moving away from Hollywood gave the couple an opportunity to start over. They could save money and enjoy the peace and quiet they craved. Busfield discusses their journey in Gilbert’s book, Back to the Prairie.
“After Melissa and I found each other, we found that...
Melissa Gilbert moved from California to New York’s Catskills Melissa Gilbert | Monica Schipper/Getty Images Related
‘Little House on the Prairie’: What Is Dean Butler’s Net Worth?
Gilbert desired a slower pace. She and her husband, Timothy Busfield, decided to move from California to upstate New York. Moving away from Hollywood gave the couple an opportunity to start over. They could save money and enjoy the peace and quiet they craved. Busfield discusses their journey in Gilbert’s book, Back to the Prairie.
“After Melissa and I found each other, we found that...
- 3/2/2023
- by Sheiresa Ngo
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Dean Butler is best known for playing Almanzo Wilder on Little House on the Prairie. Here’s a look at Butler’s net worth and career.
Dean Butler’s movies and TV shows Melissa Gilbert and Dean Butler | NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images Related
‘Little House on the Prairie:’ 4 Reasons We Love the Show
One of Butler’s early acting roles was in the 1978 movie Forever. He first appeared on Little House on the Prairie in a 1979 episode titled “Back to School Part 1.” He remained on the show until it ended in 1984.
Butler continued to act after the show ended. In 1984, he guest-starred on Who’s the Boss in an episode titled “Mona Gets Pinned.” In 1990, Butler appeared in an episode of Murder, She Wrote titled “The Fixer-Upper.” From 1997 to 2002, he appeared on Buffy the Vampire Slayer alongside actor Sarah Michelle Gellar. Butler played the role of Hank Summers for five episodes.
Dean Butler’s movies and TV shows Melissa Gilbert and Dean Butler | NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images Related
‘Little House on the Prairie:’ 4 Reasons We Love the Show
One of Butler’s early acting roles was in the 1978 movie Forever. He first appeared on Little House on the Prairie in a 1979 episode titled “Back to School Part 1.” He remained on the show until it ended in 1984.
Butler continued to act after the show ended. In 1984, he guest-starred on Who’s the Boss in an episode titled “Mona Gets Pinned.” In 1990, Butler appeared in an episode of Murder, She Wrote titled “The Fixer-Upper.” From 1997 to 2002, he appeared on Buffy the Vampire Slayer alongside actor Sarah Michelle Gellar. Butler played the role of Hank Summers for five episodes.
- 2/27/2023
- by Sheiresa Ngo
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Little House on the Prairie first aired back in 1974, but it’s still a hit among many TV viewers. Here are four reasons we love the show.
1. The whole family can watch ‘Little House on the Prairie’ Melissa Sue Anderson and Melissa Gilbert | NBCU Photo Bank
If you’re looking for a show the whole family can watch, look no further than Little House on the Prairie. It’s a wholesome program with interesting plotlines. You won’t have to worry about covering your little one’s eyes or staying on high alert for foul language.
Melissa Francis (she played Cassandra Ingalls) says Michael Landon taught her about the importance of hard work and being responsible. She tells the Today show’s Hoda Kotb and Kathy Lee Gifford she’s grateful for the lessons she learned.
“So many of the values I have and the things that shaped my life,...
1. The whole family can watch ‘Little House on the Prairie’ Melissa Sue Anderson and Melissa Gilbert | NBCU Photo Bank
If you’re looking for a show the whole family can watch, look no further than Little House on the Prairie. It’s a wholesome program with interesting plotlines. You won’t have to worry about covering your little one’s eyes or staying on high alert for foul language.
Melissa Francis (she played Cassandra Ingalls) says Michael Landon taught her about the importance of hard work and being responsible. She tells the Today show’s Hoda Kotb and Kathy Lee Gifford she’s grateful for the lessons she learned.
“So many of the values I have and the things that shaped my life,...
- 2/26/2023
- by Sheiresa Ngo
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Little House on the Prairie cast seemed to be the picture-perfect family onscreen. However, there were reportedly a few clashes behind the scenes. Things weren’t always as they seemed on the hit TV series. Here are four behind-the-scenes feuds that took place on the Little House set.
1. Michael Landon and Karen Grassle Karen Grassle and Michael Landon | NBCU Photo Bank
Karen Grassle (she played Caroline Ingalls) had a disagreement with the late Michael Landon (he played Charles Ingalls). When it was time to renew her contract, she wanted to get paid more. The show was a success, and she felt she should be compensated accordingly. However, in her book Bright Lights, Prairie Dust, Grassle says things didn’t go smoothly.
According to Grassle, Landon and some of the cast and crew became cold toward her during the contract negotiations. Although Grassle and Landon had a strained relationship, they made amends.
1. Michael Landon and Karen Grassle Karen Grassle and Michael Landon | NBCU Photo Bank
Karen Grassle (she played Caroline Ingalls) had a disagreement with the late Michael Landon (he played Charles Ingalls). When it was time to renew her contract, she wanted to get paid more. The show was a success, and she felt she should be compensated accordingly. However, in her book Bright Lights, Prairie Dust, Grassle says things didn’t go smoothly.
According to Grassle, Landon and some of the cast and crew became cold toward her during the contract negotiations. Although Grassle and Landon had a strained relationship, they made amends.
- 2/21/2023
- by Sheiresa Ngo
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
NEW YORK - Patrick Swayze and Melissa Gilbert will star as Pa and Ma in an April workshop presentation of Prairie, a musical version of Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House on the Prairie.
Gilbert played middle daughter Laura Ingalls in the long-running NBC television series from 1974-83. She was recently president of the Screen Actors Guild.
Beth Henley, who won a Pulitzer for Crimes of the Heart, wrote the book, Donna DiNovelli wrote the lyrics and Oscar winner Rachel Portman (Emma) composed the music. Francesca Zambello will direct.
The workshop will run April 16-17 in New York and be closed to the public. The producers are hoping for a national tour in spring 2008 before it lands in New York.
Gilbert played middle daughter Laura Ingalls in the long-running NBC television series from 1974-83. She was recently president of the Screen Actors Guild.
Beth Henley, who won a Pulitzer for Crimes of the Heart, wrote the book, Donna DiNovelli wrote the lyrics and Oscar winner Rachel Portman (Emma) composed the music. Francesca Zambello will direct.
The workshop will run April 16-17 in New York and be closed to the public. The producers are hoping for a national tour in spring 2008 before it lands in New York.
- 3/17/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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