For children of the 1970s, the characters on “Little House on the Prairie” were our frontier friends, teaching us about the joys and hardships of life on the American frontier. Based on the book series by Laura Ingalls Wilder, the television show starred Michael Landon along with Melissa Gilbert, Victor French, Merlin Olsen, Katherine MacGregor and many more. We remember our favorite denizens of Walnut Grove by paying tribute to the actors who have died in the years since the TV series first aired. Click on the links to learn more about the people behind “Little House on the Prairie.”
TV veteran Michael Landon (1936 – 1991) played patriarch Charles Ingalls, alongside Karen Grassle as Caroline Ingalls, Melissa Sue Anderson as eldest daughter Mary, Melissa Gilbert as Laura, and twins Lindsay and Sidney Greenbush sharing the role of sister Carrie.
Read more about Michael Landon
Landon had just finished a 14-season run as Little Joe on “Bonanza” when he began starring as Pa Ingalls on “Little House on the Prairie.”
Landon was brought in to direct the TV movie pilot and agreed on one condition—that he could also star as Charles Ingalls.
Read more about Michael Landon
Actress Katherine MacGregor (1925 – 2018) played Harriet Oleson, the gossipy neighbor of the Ingalls. She was mean on the show but she was one of the most popular characters on the beloved series.
View Katherine MacGregor’s obituary
Victor French (1934 – 1989), seen here giving Melissa Gilbert a big bear hug, played fan favorite Isaiah Edwards, neighbor and friend of the Ingalls family.
French and Landon first met when French appeared on “Bonanza.” When Landon started working on “Little House,” he brought French along. After “Little House,” French and Landon once again worked together, co-starring on “Highway to Heaven.” French died of lung cancer at 54.
When French left “Little House” to star in his own series, the short-lived “Carter Country,” Merlin Olsen (1940 – 2010) joined the cast as Jonathan Garvey.
As one of the Los Angeles Rams’ “Fearsome Foursome,” Olsen was accustomed to hard work. Co-starring on a TV drama presented its own challenges.
From 1977 to 1981, Olsen was Landon’s on-screen sidekick.
Landon would later cast Olsen in the title role of a new series he created, “Father Murphy.”
Moses Gunn (1929 – 1993) played Joe Kagan on “Little House” from 1977 to 1981. He would go on to costar with Olsen on “Father Murphy.”
Kevin Hagen (1928 – 2005) played kindly Doc Baker on “Little House” for the entirety of the series. Prior to “Little House,” he had many TV guest starring roles, including five on “Bonanza.”
Like Hagen, Dabbs Greer (1917 – 2007) was with “Little House” from beginning to end, playing Reverend Alden.
Richard Bull (1924 – 2014) played put-upon storekeeper Nels Oleson for the entire run of the show.
Olsen was a kind man but under the thumb of his demanding wife, Harriet (Katherine MacGregor), and spoiled children, Nellie (Allison Arngrim) and Willie (Jonathan Gilbert).
Among the show’s stellar guest stars was legendary musician Johnny Cash (1932 – 2003), who played a different sort of Man in Black, con artist Caleb Hodgekiss on an episode titled “The Collection.”
Country music legend June Carter Cash (1929 – 2003) played Caleb’s wife Mattie Hodgekiss, opposite real-life husband Johnny Cash, on the same episode.
Read more about June Carter Cash
Folk singer Burl Ives (1909 – 1995) also had a memorable appearance on the show as a character named Sam Shelby.
Musicians weren’t the only “Little House” guest stars. Acclaimed, Oscar-winning actor Ernest Borgnine (1917 – 2012) played a character named Jonathan in a two-episode arc titled “The Lord Is My Shepherd.”
Read more about Ernest Borgnine
Oscar-winning actress Patricia Neal (1926 – 2010) played a woman who must help her children cope with her impending death from cancer in a two-episode arc titled “Remember Me.”
By all accounts, the cast and crew were like a family, with strong friendships forged behind the scenes.
Like all families, they had their ups and downs. Here Landon as Ingalls and Bull as Olsen mud-wrestle in a scene from the show.
We watched the actors and characters grow up on “Little House.” By the end of the series, Laura and Mary were married mothers.
We have the real Laura Ingalls Wilder (1867 – 1957) to thank for sharing her family stories with us. The TV series was based on her popular, semi-autobiographical children’s books.
Read more about Laura Ingalls Wilder
The real Ma and Pa, Laura’s parents Caroline (1839 – 1924) and Charles (1836 – 1902) Ingalls.
Read more about the Ingalls family
Laura’s daughter Rose Wilder Lane (1886 – 1968) played an instrumental role in the publication and popularity of the “Little House” books.
Read more about Rose Wilder Lane
