See the Beloved ‘Little House on the Prairie’ Cast, Then and Now

Little House on the Prairie remains one of America's most loved television shows. NBC's popular adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder's novels aired between 1974 and 1983. The series followed the lives of the Ingalls family, their daughters, and many adopted children living on a small farm near Walnut Grove, Minnesota, in the 1800s. The show starred Michael Landon and Melissa Gilbert but launched the acting careers of many more. So, join us as we discover what the cast is up to now.

Actress Melissa Gilbert knows a thing or two about growing up in large families full of adopted kids. She was adopted by actor and comedian Paul Gilbert and his actress wife, Barbara Crane, when she was just a day old.

Now approaching her 60s, Melissa has come a long way since playing a young farm girl. She was the president of the Screen Actors Guild, wrote an autobiography called Praire Tale, and even released a prairie-based cookbook! She also appeared on season 14 of Dancing With the Stars in 2012.

Michael Landon was born in 1936 and found fame playing Little Joe Cartwright in another Wild West period TV show, Bonanza, between 1958 and 1973. He also appeared in many other cowboy shows like Tales of Wells Fargo, The Texan, Cheyenne, Wanted Dead or Alive, and The Rifleman.

Just like his LHOTP character, Landon was a proud father. He had nine children, three of whom were adopted. After the series ended, Landon created, wrote, produced, directed, and played the part of Jonathan Smith - an angel sent to Earth to help people in need - in Highway to Heaven.