It’s been nearly five decades since ‘Little House on the Prairie’ originally broadcast. Take a look back in time to discover how these famous stars look then and now.

Almost five decades since ‘Little House on the Prairie” first aired, most of its iconic stars have taken a bow

from the entertainment industry in pursuit of a more peaceful life. Take a trip down memory lane and see how these iconic stars look now.

It’s been almost 50 years since the well-loved ‘Little House on the Prairie’ TV series first hit screens. It ran for ten years from 1974 to 1984 and has one of the most loyal fan bases to date.

Some of the cast members preferred to stay hidden and lead quiet lives, while others chose to remain in the public eye for years after the show ended.

The cast members no longer resemble one another as they once did after many years have passed. Here is the current appearance of the beloved ‘Little House on the Prairie’ cast.

As Nellie Oleson, Alison Arngrim

Laura Ingalls’ adversary, Nellie Oleson, was portrayed by Alison Arngrim. Melissa Gilbert. Despite

the fact that they were often at odds on the show, they were best friends in real life and have remained close ever since.

Arngrim later developed into a stand-up comedian and even turned her stories from playing Nellie Oleson into a performance.

She also utilized her celebrity to publish a memoir in 2010, in which she discussed how, after playing an antagonist for many roles, she came to appreciate ‘being loathed.’

Arngrim is a proud stepmother who leads a private life with her family despite her notoriety. She also participates in advocacy work, focusing in particular on AIDS awareness and child welfare.

2. Melissa Sue Anderson as Mary Ingalls

Persona of Melissa Sue Anderson On the show, Mary Ingalls experienced a great deal of suffering and heartache. She lost her child in a house fire later in life after becoming blind at an early age.

In contrast to her persona, Anderson has a happy family. She is the proud mother of a son and a daughter and has been married for thirty years.

To enjoy a life apart from Hollywood, she and her husband and two daughters went to Montreal in Canada.

The decision to relocate was made in part to free her girls from the pressure to pursue acting careers similar to her own.

3. Radames Pera portrays John Sanderson

Grace and Isaiah Edwards’ adopted son John Sanderson was portrayed by Radames Pera. In the series, he was a gifted poet and author who was formerly connected to Mary Ingalls.

Pera’s final acting role in real life was in 1987. Soon after, he launched his own company and moved around a lot until deciding to settle in France in 2017 with his wife and daughter.

4. Dean Butler as Almanzo Wilder

Almanzo Wilder, played by Dean Butler, was Eliza Wilder’s brother and Laura Ingall’s love interest.

Butler provided the narration for the ‘Little House’ documentaries, which were included in the 40th anniversary Blu-ray releases, years after the program had finished.

The actor afterwards became a TV producer, specializing in entertainment, sports, and documentaries.

Katherine Cannon, widely known for playing Donna Martin’s overly critical mother on ’Beverly Hills 90210,’ is married to Butler.

5. Melissa Gilbert as Laura Ingalls

Melissa Gilbert, who portrayed Laura Ingalls on the show from the time she was nine years old until the time she was 19 years old,

went on to have a prosperous career in the entertainment business. She wrote an autobiography and a children’s book in addition to acting, becoming an author.

Years were spent by Gilbder performing, writing, and attending red carpet events. She was accustomed to being dressed up because she has worked in the profession since she was a little girl.

Despite this, Gilbert, who preferred to put her family first above her profession, had little trouble transitioning from beautiful celebrity to straightforward homemaker.

She is satisfied with the life she and actor Timothy Busfield have created, which now largely centres around their granddaughter Romy.

She even snapped a selfie while sporting two gummy teeth to demonstrate her willingness to be ridiculously goofy in order to amuse young Romy.

6. The Greenbush twins, Lindsay and Sidney, as Carrie Ingalls

Carrie Ingalls was a part that Sidney Greenbush and Lindsay Greenbush split. When they first started playing the part, they were only four years old.

Despite having other performing credits in addition to ‘Little House on the Prairie,’ they stopped acting when they were pre-teens and went on to lead regular lives.

Lindsay married Daniel Sanchez in 2014, while Sidney was married to horse breeder William ‘Rocky’ Foster until his death in 2009.

Lindsay and Daniel first met on the Simi Valley ‘Little House’ set when she was a young child and he was a teenager from the neighborhood.

When the exterior shots for the show were being filmed at Big Sky Ranch, Michael Landon gave Daniel permission to observe the action.

When Lindsay and Daniel reconnected after a long separation, they made the decision to wed there, where they initially met.

7. Karen Grassle as Caroline ‘Ma’ Ingalls

In the end, Grassle earned the title ‘ma’ both on and off-screen because she had Lily Radford as a daughter after portraying a mother in the popular series.

She began juggling being a movie star and a Broadway star over the years because theater was her first love.

In addition to appearing in films, Grassle also pursued her love of the theater. She created Santa Fe’s Resource Theater Group

in New Mexico, serving as artistic director. She also collaborated with the Kentucky-based Actors Theatre of Louisville.

8. Shannen Doherty as Jenny Wilder

Shannen Doherty first gained recognition for her performance in ‘Little House’ but then went on to act in ‘90210’ and ‘Charmed.’

In 2015, she had a stage 4 breast cancer diagnosis; she recovered, then relapsed. Kurt Iswarienko, her husband, wept by her side the entire time and begged her not to leave him.

Doherty credits her spouse for providing her strength. She continues to fight cancer and will do so for the rest of her life.

Despite everything, she has chosen to live life to the fullest and is optimistic about her situation.

9. Matthew Labyorteaux as Albert Ingalls

Albert, the Ingalls’ adopted son, was portrayed by Matthew Labyorteaux. He continued working in the industry after the show,

although in a very different capacity as a voice actor for video games, commercials, and animated shows.

Labyorteaux related to his ‘Little House on the Prairie’ character because he was adopted when he was a little child.

He was born with a hole in his heart, was later found to have autism, and finally waited until the age of five to begin speaking. The actor and his wife lead a contented life in spite of this.

10. Wendi and Brenda Turnbaugh

Grace Ingalls, the eldest child of Charles and Caroline Ingalls, was portrayed by both Wendi and Brenda Turnbaugh.

Both young actors pursued occupations outside of the entertainment industry. They both have two children and are married.

11. Allison Bolson as Nancy Oleson

The persona of Allison Bolson Nancy Oleson was the daughter of the town’s businessmen. She kept working in the industry and pursued careers as a singer-songwriter and actress.

12. Alicia Sanderson Edwards is portrayed by Kyle Richards.

Alicia Sanderson Edwards, the adoptive child of Grace and Isaiah Edwards, was portrayed by Kyle Richards.

She has continued to work in the field; most recently, she was seen on ‘The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.’

13. Jason Bateman as James Cooper Ingalls

‘Little House on the Prairie’ gave Jason Bateman his major acting break. The young star went on to have a successful career as a Hollywood actor, even taking home a Golden Globe for one of his roles.

14. Jonathan Gilbert as Willie Oleson

Jonathan Gilbert, a brother of Melissa Gilbert, played Willie, Nellie Oleson’s troublemaking brother.

He left the business after his appearance on ‘Little House.’ He later obtained an MBA in finance and is currently employed in New York City as a stockbroker.

15. Linwood Boomer as Adam Kendall

Adam Kendall, the husband of Mary Ingalls played by Melissa Sue Anderson, was portrayed by Linwood Boomer. He appeared on the show blind, like Mary.

After appearing in the renowned TV show, he made the decision to stay in the background, producing a number of TV movies and TV shows up to 2013.

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