Melissa Ellen Gilbert’s career has taken her from playing Laura Ingalls Wilder in the long-running Little House on the Prairie television series to serving as President of the Screen Actors Guild. Along the way, she has also found time to become an accomplished director and producer, which led to her Emmy Award nomination for Best Children’s Program for Pecos Bill (1998). It may be hard to believe that this impressive actress, producer, and director once played an iconic pioneer girl in the popular TV series Little House on the Prairie , but it’s true! From Television Director to American Actress: The Many Roles of Melissa Ellen Gilbert
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More than a year after her acting career ended in 1991, when she left Little House on the Prairie after its seventh season, Gilbert returned to television as a director for three episodes of The X-Files. She took acting lessons at UCLA and continued her career as an actress with guest roles on television. From Television Director to American Actress: The Many Roles of Melissa Ellen Gilbert
Bio
Melissa Ellen Gilbert (born April 25, 1960) is an American actress, television director, producer, politician and former president of Screen Actors Guild. She began her career as a child actress in the late 1960s and early 1970s, appearing in several television series and commercials before joining ABC Children’s Theatre. In 1974 she landed her first major role as Laura Ingalls Wilder on Little House on the Prairie.
Family
Born in Los Angeles, California, in 1960, actress Melissa Gilbert was raised in Michigan by her mother and father (the latter a politician). Following a stint as a child actor (most notably as Laura Ingalls Wilder on Little House on the Prairie), she graduated from UCLA School of Theater and earned her master’s degree at Yale. She went on to direct episodes of hit shows such as The Wonder Years and Roseanne. A Democrat, she later ran for Congress before serving as president of SAG.
Relationship
While Gilbert’s relationship with Stephen Douthit, whom she met on Dancing With The Stars in 2006 and who is 12 years her junior, has been a constant source of tabloid fodder over the years, fans were surprised when it was announced that they were engaged in October 2016. Although neither has said much about their nuptials plans just yet, it seems safe to assume they will tie-the-knot soon! (Source: Twitter)
Physical info
Born in Los Angeles, California on May 8, 1960
Career
Gilbert is a two-time Emmy Award winner who also has directed several television movies and made-for-television films as well as theatrical films. In 1979, she was elected President of SAG, where she served one term. She ran twice for Governor of California, coming in third in 1994, and earning 36% in 1998’s run for governor.
Awards
In 1977, she won two Emmy Awards for her roles in Little House on the Prairie, as Laura Ingalls and as Grace Snider Ingalls. In 1981, she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best TV actress in Dynasty. In 1984, she won a Golden Globe Award for Best TV actress in Private Benjamin.
Net worth
$10 million : Los Angeles, California : born August 8, 1964. She is an American actress and television director, producer and politician. She began her career as a child actress in the late 1960s and early 1970s, appearing in numerous commercials and guest starring roles on television.
Early life
Born in Los Angeles, California, she is one of four children born to actors Bill and Sally Gil-bert. Her father was Jewish (the son of immigrants from Russia and Poland) and her mother was from a Protestant background; Gilbert was raised without religion.
Career before politics
She began her career as a child actress in television commercials and guest starring roles on television, including one appearance on All in the Family (1971) as Edith Bunker’s cousin. Her first major role was as Laura Ingalls Wilder in Little House on the Prairie (1974–1983), for which she won two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series and shared a Golden Globe Award nomination with her co-stars.
Political work
She left Little House in 1981, when she was cast as herself in The Little House Years, a biographical television film about her time on Little House. In 1982, she wrote her first children’s book, A Girl from Yamhill (1982), and also appeared in episodes of Father Murphy and Crazy Like a Fox. She became involved with SAG again during its strike against major movie studios; when an LA branch office was created for union representation, she was appointed president.
Personal life
Born in Los Angeles, California, she is one of four children born to actors who worked at CBS and NBC. She was raised a Methodist. While a student at David Starr Jordan High School in Beverly Hills, California, she appeared on numerous television shows produced by MGM and 20th Century Fox, including The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries (in which she played Iola Morton) and Marcus Welby M.D.. After graduating from high school in 1973, she attended UCLA for two years as an English major.
Her Long Career
She first appeared on television in commercials before landing guest roles on several popular shows, including Gunsmoke, Marcus Welby, M.D., and The High Chaparral. In 1976, she landed her first leading role as Laura Ingalls Wilder in NBC’s series Little House on the Prairie. Throughout her career, she has received four Emmy Award nominations and five Golden Globe Award nominations for her work in both television and film.
How She Got Into Acting
Her career began at an early age when she appeared in television commercials for products such as Band-Aids, Pert Plus shampoo, and Wendy’s. When she was 12 years old, her mother entered her in a contest on a talk show hosted by Dick Clark. She was one of two winners who were invited to watch the filming of Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore and meet its star, Ellen Burstyn.
Love Life
She became a teen idol starring as Laura Ingalls Wilder in Little House on the Prairie (1974–1983), a role for which she received numerous awards. Over her career, she has received 24 Emmy Award nominations, four Golden Globe Award nominations and three SAG Awards. She also earned a star on Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1986.
Appearance On Celebrity Apprentice
Former president of SAG and celebrity actress Melissa Ellen Gilbert (who won Celebrity Apprentice in 2012) was asked by Donald Trump himself to take part in Season 4. She accepted, knowing she could use her influence as a public figure to bring attention to issues affecting veterans and their families. In Week 2, she chose Team California as they were fighting wildfires with fewer firefighters than ever due to budget cuts.
Other Projects
Her television directorial debut was on an episode of St. Elsewhere. She also directed episodes for shows including Barney Miller, The Facts of Life, and The Golden Girls. She has also directed several movies-of-the-week and made-for-television films, as well as episodes of a number of popular television series, including All in the Family, The Jeffersons, and a 1994 episode (Denial) that addressed gay rights.
Personal Life & Legacy
Gilbert was born January 22, 1956 in Los Angeles, California. She is best known for her role as Laura Ingalls Wilder on Little House on the Prairie (1974–83), a role for which she won two Emmy Awards, one Golden Globe Award and a star on Hollywood Walk of Fame. She also wrote four Little House books based on her experiences filming Little House on the Prairie.
Q. & A.
With Melissa Ellen Gilbert, former president of SAG and actress, Hollywood Walk of Fame inductee, and star in Hallmark Channel’s Love at First Bark. Congratulations on your many achievements. How do you juggle them all? In addition to being a movie star and president of SAG, you have spent much time recently directing TV movies. As someone who has been both an actor and director—how do they compare? I love being an actor because there is so much imagination required.
How old was Melissa Gilbert when she was adopted?
10 months old. Though her parents weren’t looking for a child, they quickly took her in. She was adopted by Richard and Fern Gilbert and added to their family with three older children, who were 14, 12, and 10 at that time.
Where does Melissa Gilbert live now?
Acting is only one part of her many roles in life. After living in California for 30 years, she moved back to Michigan with her husband and sons. In addition to a successful acting career, Gilbert is also a former president of SAG-AFTRA (the voice actor union), mother, grandmother, and community leader. She has worked as a director, producer, and writer.
Did Melissa Sue Anderson and Melissa Gilbert get along?
Women in Hollywood are having a moment, but long before that there was another famous Melissa — TV’s Little House on the Prairie star Melissa Sue Anderson. And though she played Laura Ingalls Wilder’s sister Mary for many years, she actually has a much more tangled relationship with fellow former child actress and future SAG president (and former opponent) Melissa Gilbert than you might think.
How many children did Melissa Gilbert give birth to?
Two children, one named Logan and another named Aubrey. In 1989, she gave birth to her first child with her then-husband Bruce Boxleitner; a son they named Dylan Michael Boxleitner. In 1993, she gave birth to her second child with Bruce; a daughter they named Hayley Elizabeth Boxleitner. In 1994, she gave birth to her third child with Bruce; a son they named Elijah Alexander Boxleitner. In 1995, she gave birth to her fourth child with Bruce; a daughter they named Mackenzie Catherine Boxleitner.
How old is Karen Grassle?
Karen Grassle is 77 years old. Born on March 7, 1941 in Rochester, New York, Karen is an actress best known for her role as Caroline Ingalls on Little House on the Prairie (1974–1983). Grassle’s acting career spans more than 50 years and she has appeared in almost 100 television shows and films. Throughout her career, Karen has been nominated for two Emmy Awards.
Who is actress Melissa Gilbert married to?
Melissa is married to fellow actor Timothy Busfield, who played her TV husband on The Wonder Years. Busfield is 12 years younger than his wife and was best man at their wedding in 1993. Together, they have one child, son William (born April 1998).
When did Melissa Gilbert get married?
Melissa Gilbert and Bruce Boxleitner were married in 1982 after appearing in two popular TV shows together. After their divorce, she starred as Caroline Ingalls on Little House on the Prairie. She was later diagnosed with bipolar disorder and appeared on Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew Pinsky in 2010.
In addition to her roles on television, Gilbert has also been active in politics and community service throughout her career. She ran for Congress twice (in 2000 and 2002) but lost both times. In 2006, she won a seat on the Screen Actors Guild board of directors; during her time there, she served as SAG’s first female president from 2001-2005.
How old is Melissa Gilbert?
She was born on August 14, 1956. Therefore, she is 61 years old. How tall is Melissa Gilbert?: Her height is 5’6′′ or 167 cm.
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