More than 50 years on from the premiere of heart-warming TV drama Little House on the Prairie, a new version is in production for Netflix.
The new adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House books which are based on her life in the American Midwest during the late 1800s, has already been renewed for Season 2 ahead of its premiere on July 9.
While the 2026 series is an adaptation of Ingalls’ stories and not the TV show, the news has got us reminiscing about the cast of the original drama.
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In particular many fans will be thinking about beloved late actor Michael Landon when Aussie Luke Bracey delivers his take on Charles ‘Pa’ Ingalls – the character Landon made famous.
Here is a look at the Little House on the Prairie cast then and now:
Melissa Gilbert as Laura Ingalls Wilder: Then
Laura is essentially the main character of the series and known for being a spirited young girl who wasn’t interested in doing any of the activities expected of a young lady at the time.
The second eldest child in the Ingalls family, Laura quickly became rivals with Nellie Olsen after moving to Walnut Grove.
Laura later marries Almanzo Wilder and their marriage was the focus of a spin-off series Little House: A New Beginning.
Melissa Gilbert: Now
Melissa Gilbert starred in the most Little House on the Prairie episodes and remains a champion of the show.
It’s rumoured that Gilbert and Landon – who was like a father to Gilbert – didn’t speak after the series ended following his affair with Little House on the Prairie‘s makeup artist Cindy Clerico. However they are believed to have reconciled before his death and she named her son Michael after him.
Career-wise Gilbert has worked consistently in TV starring in countless TV movies and guest appearances in TV shows as well as the lead in the series Sweet Justice from 1994 to 1995.
She returned to the Little House world in 2008 and 2009 playing Caroline ‘Ma’ Ingalls in the musical adaptation of the books.
She was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1985 and went on to be president of the Screen Actor’s Guild from 2001 to 2005.
Gilbert was last seen on TV in a guest role in When Calls the Heart after reconnecting with the show’s executive producer Michael Landon Jr at the Little House on the Prairie 50th Anniversary Cast Reunion and Festival.
The 61 year old also co-founded a women’s fashion and décor brand, Modern Prairie.
Karen Grassle as Caroline ‘Ma’ Ingalls: Then
Caroline was childhood sweethearts with Charles and after marrying settled in Walnut Grove.
Kind and loyal, Caroline is protective of her children and always stood up for them with the other townsfolk.Michael Landon as Charles ‘Pa’ Ingalls: Then
Charles was married to Caroline and the father of Mary, Laura and Carrie.
The devoted family man had a soft spoken, gentle nature but was prepared to unleash if anyone threatened or hurt his family.
A hard worker, Charles was determined to keep a roof over his family’s heads and food in their bellies.
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Michael Landon: Died 1991
Michael Landon not only starred in Little House on the Prairie, he also directed and wrote episodes of the show.
After he left the series, which launched a spin-off show, he starred as angel Jonathan Smith in Highway to Heaven from 1984 to 1989.
He followed that up with the TV movie Where Pigeons Go to Die, which he co-wrote, in 1990 and a TV pilot called Us in 1991.
Us was meant to be his next big TV series but was turned into a TV movie after Landon’s death.
Sadly, Landon passed away in 1991 aged 54 just three months after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
The TV icon’s legacy lives on in his nine children, several of whom are also in the film and TV industry.
Son Michael Landon Jr is a director and writer on the popular Hallmark series When Calls the Heart and directed the 1999 biographical drama Michael Landon, the Father I Knew about growing up as the son of the TV star.
Christopher Landon is also a director, producer and writer on the hit horror films Happy Death Day, Happy Death Day 2U and Freaky.
Daughter Jennifer is an actress and played Teeter on the blockbuster drama Yellowstone.
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Karen Grassle: Now
Karen Grassle mainly worked in theatre until she was cast as Caroline ‘Ma’ Ingalls in Little House on the Prairie.
After leaving the show in 1982 she went back to theatre while also still filming roles in various TV shows and films including Wyatt Earp in 1994 and the 2021 film Not to Forget, which raised funds and awareness for Alzheimer’s disease.
In 2025 Grassle opened up about her difficult relationship with Landon while making the show. A salary dispute in season two is believed to have sparked their discord and led Grassle to distance herself from the show when it ended.
“I ran myself into the ground with resentment and anger and hurt feelings and just pure exhaustion,” she said.
Grassle’s memoir Bright Lights, Prairie Dust: Reflections on Life, Loss and Love by House’s Ma was published in 2021. It was this reflective experience that inspired her to start interacting with fans and celebrate her beloved character.
The 84-year-old joined the cast at their 50th anniversary celebration events in 2024.
Melissa Sue Anderson as Mary Ingalls: Then
Mary was the eldest child of Charles and Caroline and known for being gentle, studious and dependable.
At the age of 15 Mary went blind after complications from scarlet fever.
Despite this she went on to fulfil her dream of becoming a teacher. She also married Adam, her teacher from the school she attended after going blind.
Melissa Sue Anderson: Now
After Little House on the Prairie – for which she was nominated for an Emmy award in 1978 – Melissa Sue Anderson continued working in classic TV shows like Murder, She Wrote and The Equalizer.
Her most recent high profile project was an uncredited role playing Stosh’s mother in the Veronica Mars movie in 2014.
The 62-year-old released her memoir The Way I See It: A Look back at My Life on Little House in 2010.
She is married with two children and now living in Canada.
Anderson and Gilbert reunited in late 2025 and mended the awkward relationship they had while filming the show. The pair were described as polite but not friendly on set, and have now put that behind them.
“Reconnection with a sister. Long, healing talks. Lots of reminiscing. Lots of catching up. Lots of laughter and a few tears… I’m so happy to have Melissa Anderson back in my life. We share such an important history that no one else on earth truly understands. Just us Ingalls girls. The best part is, the past is now just that and we can move forward as the sisters/friends we always wanted to be,” Gilbert captioned a post on Instagram.
Lindsay and Sidney Greenbush as Carrie Ingalls: Then
Carrie was the youngest sister in the family and for much of the series was at home with Ma as she was too young to go to school.
Though Carrie aged throughout the series she was given younger storylines so she’d remain the baby of the family.
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Sidney Greenbush and Lindsay Greenbush: Now
Twins Sidney and Lindsay played Carrie from the age of three to 12. They tried to pursue acting but didn’t get many roles outside of the Little House Years TV movie so they moved on.
Sidney is reportedly a sales systems administrator for a builder while Lindsay has a degree in accountancy.
Like their co-stars the 55-year-olds appear at Little House on the Prairie fan events.
Alison Arngrim as Nellie Oleson: Then
Nellie Oleson was the daughter of rich general store owners Nels and Harriet. She was known for her sharp-tongue and being a bully to Laura.
Alison Arngrim: Now
Alison Arngrim continued acting after Little House on the Prairie but has continued to be the biggest champion of the show and her character since it ended.
In 2002 she started performing her one woman show Confessions of Prairie Bitch and in 2010 published her memoir Confessions of a Prairie B—h: How I Survived Nellie Oleson and Learned to Love Being Hated.
Arngrim co-hosted the Little House: Fifty for 50 podcast with co-star Dean Butler (who played Laura’s husband Almanzo) and superfan and actress Pamela Bob.
The 64-year-old also hosts her own podcast The Alison Arngrim Show and is currently touring her one woman show Confessions of a Prairie B—h.
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