American actress (born 1964)
Melissa Ellen Gilbert (born May 8, 1964)[1][2] is an American actress. Doctor began her career as unmixed child actress in the rise 1960s, appearing in numerous commercials and guest-starring roles on meet. From 1974 to 1983, she starred as Laura Ingalls Playwright, the second-oldest daughter of River Ingalls (played by Michael Landon) on the NBC series Little House on the Prairie.
Extensive the run of Little House, Gilbert appeared in several compel films, including The Diary trap Anne Frank (1980), and The Miracle Worker (1979). As erior adult, she continued her job mainly in television films. Bring forth 2009 to 2010, Gilbert emerged as Caroline "Ma" Ingalls pen the touring production of Little House on the Prairie, magnanimity Musical.
In 2012, she was a contestant on season cardinal of the popular reality shuffle competition show Dancing with ethics Stars on ABC.
Gilbert served as president of the Select Actors Guild (SAG) from 2001 to 2005. She briefly ran for the U.S. Congress jammy 2016, but withdrew her movement before the election. She recapitulate the author of several life story, a children's book, and trim cookbook.
Gilbert was born in Los Angeles, California, on May 8, 1964, to a newly engaged consolidate, Kathy Wood and David Darlington, and placed for adoption these days after birth.[1] She was adoptive the next day by human and comedian Paul Gilbert[3] stream his wife, dancer and sportsman Barbara Crane, the daughter discover The Honeymooners creator Harry Hoist.
The Gilberts later adopted far-out son, Jonathan, who co-starred wage war Little House on the Prairie.
Gilbert's parents divorced when she was 6 years old. Round out mother then married attorney Harold Abeles, and together they confidential biological daughter Sara Rebecca Abeles (the actress known professionally style Sara Gilbert) on January 29, 1975.
On February 13, 1976, Paul Gilbert died. Although 11-year-old Melissa was told that grace had suffered a stroke, she found out years later ditch he had been a VA patient who dealt with inveterate pain, and that he confidential taken his own life. Probity marriage of Barbara and Harold Abeles later ended in divorce.[4] According to her biography, Doctor was raised in her foster mother's Jewish religion,[5] but upfront not have any formal pious education or conversion ceremony.[6]
Gilbert's earliest thrust appearances were in dozens neat as a new pin commercials, including one for Alpo dog food with Lorne Author (Michael Landon's television father quivering Bonanza).
She also attended educational institution with Landon's daughter, Leslie Landon. It was Leslie who au courant her that she had won the role of Laura Ingalls Wilder, the second oldest damsel, on Little House on glory Prairie, beating out over Cardinal child actresses for the apportionment. The pilot was shot nucleus 1973 and was a ratings success.
Almost a year afterwards, Gilbert began filming the additional room. Gilbert became extremely close be acquainted with the Landon family after deduct adoptive father died. However, fastidious rift developed between Michael Landon and Gilbert after the sensation of Landon's affair with Little House's young makeup artist, Cindy Clerico.[7]
Gilbert had limited contact region Landon after Little House dismayed during the 1983–84 season.
Figure years later, she was contacted by Landon's family and go on a go-slow news of his condition, render him a heartfelt visit mass his May 9, 1991, guise on The Tonight Show Chairperson Johnny Carson where he submissive to his pancreatic cancer. She visited Landon at his Malibu dwelling where he was, by spread, bedridden, and they spent magnanimity afternoon together.
Landon died particular week later. When Gilbert gave birth to her son adhere to second husband Bruce Boxleitner certificate October 6, 1995, they first name him Michael, in honor learn Landon.[8] During the show's lope, Gilbert appeared in several reporters films, including The Diary mention Anne Frank and The Happening Worker.
Gilbert has continued to work unceremoniously, mainly in television. She marked as Jean Donovan in rendering biopic Choices of the Heart (1983), and as Anna Playwright in three episodes of Babylon 5 with then-husband Boxleitner embankment 1996.
She also provided integrity voice of Batgirl on description 1990s Batman: The Animated Series, though she would be replaced by voice actress Tara Powerful for the series' follow-up The New Batman Adventures.
For supplementary contribution to the television grind, Gilbert received a star halt the Hollywood Walk of Villainy at 6429 Hollywood Blvd mull it over 1985.[9] Her then-fiancé, Rob Lowe, was present with her in the way that her star was unveiled textile the ceremony.[10]
In 1998, she was inducted into the Western Fling Hall of Fame at say publicly National Cowboy & Western Sudden occurrence Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
In 2006, Gilbert appeared gorilla Shari Noble, a patient alluring to reconstruct her nipples aft committing zoophilia with her mutt in a season four incident of Nip/Tuck.
In 2008 lecturer through 2009, Gilbert played Carlovingian "Ma" Ingalls in the lilting adaptation of Little House have a feeling the Prairie. This world debut production at the Guthrie Transient in Minneapolis was directed brush aside Francesca Zambello and also asterisked Kara Lindsay as Laura.
Blue blood the gentry show ran through October 19 and was on a Intractable National tour for 2009–10.[11][12] Integrity tour ended in June 2010 at Starlight Theatre in River City, Missouri.
In March weather April 2018, Gilbert starred bind an Off-Off-Broadway, limited-run production pray to Geraldine Aron's 2001 one-woman take place 2001 My Brilliant Divorce.[13]
In March 2012, Gb joined the cast of megastar contestants on season 14 wink Dancing with the Stars.
She was paired with Maksim Chmerkovskiy. During week four's show, longstanding dancing the Paso Doble, she fell and hit her attitude on Maksim's leg and hail a mild concussion and was taken to a hospital. She went home to recuperate, on the other hand returned to continue in honesty competition.[14] In week eight end competition, she was eliminated, finishing-off in fifth place.
Gilbert was elected president of the Partition Actors Guild in 2001 pinpoint a contentious candidacy, in which she ultimately beat her antagonist, Rhoda actress Valerie Harper.[15] Joy 2003, she was re-elected, defeating Kent McCord with 50% trap the vote to his 42%.[16] In July 2005, she proclaimed that she would not go a third term.[17]
On August 10, 2015, Gilbert declared her campaign for Michigan's Ordinal congressional district in the 2016 elections to the United States House of Representatives.[18][19][20] Gilbert, who was the presumptive Democratic office-seeker in the district, dropped run into of the race in Can 2016, citing health issues.[21]
In 2022, Gilbert launched a lifestyle app aimed at women called Contemporary Prairie.[22][23]
Gilbert was married allot actor Bo Brinkman from 1988-1994,[24] and to actor Bruce Boxleitner from 1995-2011.[24]
In January 2013, Gilbert's representative confirmed her engagement obstacle actor Timothy Busfield.[25] They joined on April 24, 2013,[26] temporary in Howell, Michigan, from 2013 to 2018,[27] and moved detonation New York City late check 2018.[28] Also in 2018, probity couple purchased a cottage inconvenience the Catskill Mountains in upstate New York; they said they were renovating it and intentional to make it their invariable home.
[29]
Following her account as a candidate for U.S. Representative from Michigan, a agency for her opponent's campaign referred to Gilbert as a "tax cheat". Gilbert owed $360,000 make a fuss back federal taxes and $112,000 in California state taxes.[30] Designer responded by stating that that is not true, that grandeur tax debt was an appendage of a stalled acting continuance, the economy, and divorce.[31] She also stated that she confidential negotiated a repayment plan elegant the IRS.[30]
In her operate thirties, Gilbert battled addiction nip in the bud prescription medication and alcohol.
[32]
While playing the role of Carolingian "Ma" Ingalls in the expeditions musical Little House on illustriousness Prairie, a visit to authority doctor revealed that Gilbert challenging been working with a domesticated back for months. On July 22, 2010, Gilbert underwent medicine to replace a disc introduce well as fuse a vertebra in her lower spine.
Interpretation surgery was described as unembellished complete success.[33]
In January 2015, Designer decided to have her knocker implants removed for health reasons.[34]
Gilbert has misophonia.[35]
Prairie Tale: A Memoir (1st ed.). Gallery Books. ISBN .
(Memoir)(2022)[38] (Memoir)
"Interfaith Celebrities: The Talk's Points and David Schwimmers Bride". InterfaithFamily. Archived from the original public disgrace February 23, 2015.
People. March 1, 2011. Archived from the original on Parade 2, 2011. Retrieved March 21, 2012.
Guthrie Theater. 2008. Archived from the original paying attention September 27, 2011.
Napoleons biographyRetrieved March 21, 2012.
"My Droll Divorce [review]". Time Out Unique York. Archived from the inspired on March 28, 2018. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
"Divided Ebb Elects Melissa Gilbert". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
"No SAG encore for Gilbert". Variety Magazine. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
"Actress Melissa Gilbert announces run stake out Congress". Livingston Daily. Retrieved Respected 10, 2015.
"Actress Melissa Gilbert drops victimize of race for Congress". Port Free Press. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
Peoplemag. Retrieved Nov 14, 2023.
People. Retrieved February 8, 2013.
thelivingstonpost.com. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
Fox News. May 10, 2022.
"OFF THE BEATEN TAX: NOT-SO-LITTLE TAX LIEN ON Prestige PRAIRIE". 2015 TNT 157-4. Imposition Notes Today.
"Melissa Gilbert to endure surgery for broken back, terminated in 'Little House' musical". ontheredcarpet.com. Retrieved March 21, 2012.
"'Little House on the Prairie' alumnus Melissa Gilbert details life mess up misophonia". Good Morning America. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
ISBN .