Melissa Gilbert Walked Away From Hollywood For A Startling Reason
Becoming famous as a child actor gives you a head start, but such early exposure to fame can also be a double-edged sword. Some stars even feel the need to quit acting altogether, and that was the case with Melissa Gilbert. Rising to fame in NBC’s Little House on the Prairie, she eventually adopted a more low-profile career. Then in the late 2010s, she disappeared from public life entirely. But while the reasons behind her choices don’t tell the most cheerful story, they might just surprise you…
The rise of a child star
Gilbert was an inspiration to many. This was all thanks to her role as Laura Ingalls Wilder in Little House on the Prairie, alongside the legendary Michael Landon, who played Laura’s father Charles. The historical Western drama, set on a 19th-century farm in Minnesota, lasted from 1974 to 1983 with a total of 204 episodes. And Gilbert stayed for the show’s entire run.
There was more to little Laura
But although she’s mostly associated with being Laura, Gilbert had quite the prolific career as a child actor, one that ran in tandem with her role in the legendary show. The exposure the part gave her opened the door to many other gigs, including television films, TV shows, and other endeavors. At age 20, when the show was over, the actress was already on her way to further success.
How it all began
Still, Gilbert’s career began early, even before Little House on the Prairie. And it’s fair to say her personal life was in some ways as full of drama as her acting career. Born in 1963 to a couple who gave her up for adoption, the future star was taken in by her new family one day after her birth. As fate would have it her adoptive parents, Barbara Crane and Paul Gilbert, were both actors.
In the family
So although not born into a family of actors, she was rapidly adopted into one. And this turn of events meant Gilbert started on her acting journey very early on in life. Even before the famous TV drama show, she had a few minor appearances. This included the comedy film The Reluctant Astronaut, and TV shows such as Gunsmoke, Tenafly, and others.
