Meet the Real-Life Loves of “Little House on the Prairie” (Including One Couple That Met on the Show!)

Michael Landon

Michael Landon not only played a begetter on Little House connected nan Prairie, but was besides a dada to 9 children successful existent life.

Landon was joined 3 times. His first matrimony was to Dodie Levy-Fraser successful 1956, and they had 2 children: Mark and Josh. They divided successful 1962.

Landon past joined Marjorie Lynn Noe successful 1963. The mates had 5 children: Cheryl, Leslie, Michael Jr., Shawna and Christopher. They divided successful 1982.

In 1983, Landon joined Cindy Clerico, a constitution creator on Little House connected nan Prairie, and they had 2 much children: Jennifer and Sean.

Actress Karen Grassle, who played other Michael arsenic Carolina “Ma” Ingalls, recalled successful her book, Bright Lights, Prairie Dust: Reflections connected Life, Loss, and Love from Little House's Ma, that Landon said pinch Clerico “longer than he talked to anyone else.”

They were together until his decease from pancreatic crab successful 1991.

Melissa Gilbert

Melissa Gilbert started acting astatine a young property and was formed arsenic Laura Ingalls Wilder erstwhile she was 9. She starred connected nan show for 10 years, and her capacity earned her a Golden Globe nomination.

Gilbert was joined to Bo Brinkman from 1988 to 1994. The mates welcomed boy Dakota successful 1989.

After their split, she joined Bruce Boxleitner successful 1995 and had her 2nd son, Michael, named aft Landon. However, they divided successful 2011.

In 2013, she joined Timothy Busfield and moved distant from Hollywood to Michigan. They relocated to nan Catskills successful New York a fewer years later. Recently, they celebrated their 12th anniversary. 

Karen Grassle

Karen Grassle, calved connected Feb. 25, 1942, was a successful shape character earlier becoming Caroline, nan matriarch of nan Ingalls family, successful Little House connected nan Prairie.

Grassle near nan show successful 1982, a twelvemonth earlier it ended. She later elaborate her "up and down" narration pinch co-star Landon connected set.

She joined character Leon Russom successful 1966, but they separated successful 1970. She past joined James Alan Radford successful 1982. The mates adopted 2 children earlier their divided successful 1987. 

Grassle tied nan knot for nan 3rd and last clip successful 1991 erstwhile she wed Scott T. Sutherland. They were together until 1997.

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Melissa Sue Anderson

Melissa Sue Anderson played Mary Ingalls on Little House connected nan Prairie for nan first 7 seasons. She later returned for 3 episodes successful play 8.

During her clip connected Little House, she was nominated for an Emmy. Anderson wrote a memoir, The Way I See It: A Look Back astatine My Life connected Little House, released successful 2010. In it, she shared behind-the-scenes stories from her clip arsenic Mary and covered her profession earlier and aft Little House connected nan Prairie.

She joined writer and executive shaper Michael Sloan successful 1990 aft gathering him connected nan group of Alfred Hitchcock Presents. They person 2 children, Piper and Griffin. In 2002, they moved to Montreal, Canada, and became Canadian citizens 5 years later.

Alison Arngrim

Alison Arngrim played Nellie Oleson, a bully and nan main rival of Laura Ingalls. Despite initially auditioning for nan roles arsenic Laura and Mary, Arngrim yet played Nellie for 7 seasons.

Arngrim is besides an author, stand-up comic, podcaster, and cooking show host. Her memoir, Confessions of a Prairie Bitch: How I Survived Nellie Oleson and Learned to Love Being Hated, was released successful 2010.

Arngrim joined Donald Spencer successful 1989, and they were together until 1993. She joined Robert Paul Schoonover later that aforesaid year.

Rachel Lindsay Greenbush

Rachel Lindsay Greenbush portrayed Carrie Ingalls alongside her sister, Sidney Greenbush, connected Little House. The 2 were credited arsenic "Lindsay Sidney Greenbush" successful nan show's opening.

Rachel Lindsay met her husband, Danny Sanchez, connected nan Little House connected nan Prairie set. He lived adjacent and would sneak onto nan group to bent retired pinch nan remainder of nan formed and crew. The brace reconnected 30 years later.

In 2014, they joined nether nan character wherever they met for nan first time, which she elaborate successful a Hallmark Home & Family reunion special.

Sidney Greenbush

As mentioned, Sidney Greenbush portrayed Carrie on Little House with her sister.

Sidney was joined to veterinarian and equine breeder William "Rocky" Foster from 2000 until 2009. However, Foster died by termination days aft she requested a divorce.

If you aliases personification you cognize is considering suicide, please interaction nan National Suicide Prevention Lifeline astatine 1-800-273-TALK (8255), matter "STRENGTH" to nan Crisis Text Line astatine 741-741 aliases spell to suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

Matthew Labyorteaux

Matthew Labyorteaux first appeared connected Little House connected nan Prairie in 1976 arsenic a younger Charles Ingalls successful flashbacks. He later joined nan formed arsenic Albert, nan adopted boy of Charles and Caroline, a characteristic created for nan series. Labyorteaux's relative besides appeared arsenic Laura's friend, Andrew "Andy" Garvey.

Labyorteaux joined his wife, Leslie, successful 2020 and is nan stepfather to her 2 children.

Dean Butler

Dean Butler portrayed nan characteristic Almanzo Wilder, who later joined Laura. Almanzo, lovingly called "Manly" by Laura, besides attracted nan attraction of Nellie Oleson and different young ladies successful Walnut Grove.

Butler created prize features for nan Little House connected nan Prairie DVD collections and narrated a six-part documentary, The Little House Phenomenon.

He besides produced 2 documentaries, Little House connected nan Prairie: The Legacy of Laura Ingalls Wilder and Almanzo Wilder: Life Before Laura.

Butler joined character Katherine Cannon successful 2001. They first met successful nan 1980s erstwhile Cannon auditioned for Landon's series Father Murphy. She is champion known for playing Felice, Donna Martin's mother, connected Beverly Hills, 90210.

Jason Bateman

Jason Bateman joined nan formed of Little House connected nan Prairie astatine property 12. He portrayed James Cooper Ingalls, nan 2nd adopted boy of Caroline and Charles.

Bateman has been joined to Amanda Anka, girl of crooner Paul Anka, since 2001. They person 2 daughters, Francesca Nora and Maple Sylvie.

Kyle Richards

Kyle Richards joined nan formed of Little House connected nan Prairie successful 1975, playing Alicia Edwards, nan adopted girl of Grace and Isaiah Edwards, for conscionable 18 episodes.

Richards was joined to Guraish Aldjufrie from 1988 to 1992. In 1996, she joined Mauricio Umansky, a existent property supplier successful Los Angeles. The brace separated successful 2023.

However, arsenic of May 2025, neither of them has revenge for divorce.

She is simply a mom to four daughters: Farrah, from her matrimony to Aldjufrie, and Alexia, ​Sophia and Portia from her matrimony to Umansky.