Melissa Gilbert is drawing renewed attention from fans of “Little House on the Prairie” after she paid tribute to her on-screen father, Michael Landon, on what would have been his 90th birthday, Parade reported.
Gilbert, who played Laura Ingalls Wilder, shared photos from the set of the long-running series along with a written message to Landon, who played Charles “Pa” Ingalls.
Key Highlights
- Gilbert marked Landon’s 90th birthday on Oct. 31, 2026, with photos and a written tribute, per Parade.
- She played Laura Ingalls Wilder; Landon played her father, Charles “Pa” Ingalls.
- Landon died in 1991 at age 54, according to Parade.
- Fans responded in the comments with praise for the tribute.
What Gilbert Shared
Parade reported that Gilbert posted on Instagram on Oct. 31, 2026, with photos from the filming of the show. Her caption began, “Ninety years. I wonder what you would think of that.”
She also wrote that Landon “taught me to be brave,” according to Parade, and signed off with his nickname for her character, “Half-Pint.”
HELLO! Magazine described the post as several rarely seen photos of the two, including one of them laughing. It reported that she wrote that he “took my hand and changed my life forever.” The outlet also said she described herself as a wife, mother and grandmother now, adding that the “little girl with the braids has silver in her hair now.”
HELLO! did not name the platform. Parade identified it as Instagram. Western News Daily could not view the original post, so the quoted wording comes from those two outlets.
Landon’s Role on the Show
Parade said the series ran for nine seasons, through 1983. Landon was also one of its executive producers, writers and directors, the outlet noted.
HELLO! reported that Landon starred through the first eight seasons, left at the end of season eight and made several appearances in season nine, the show’s final season. It said he also became a father figure to Gilbert off screen.
Parade said Landon died in 1991 at age 54, eight years after the series ended. The outlet did not give his birth date, though the “90th birthday” framing in both reports points to Oct. 31, 1936.
HELLO! also noted that Gilbert was adopted as a newborn by actors Barbara Cowan and Paul Gilbert.
A Behind-the-Scenes Memory
Parade also recalled a February 2025 interview on “The Edify Show,” in which Gilbert described Landon’s on-set pranks. She said he would have her catch frogs that he put in his mouth to startle people on set, and she quoted him as saying, “Half-Pint, get me one.”
That anecdote comes from Gilbert’s own account as reported by Parade. Western News Daily has not independently confirmed it.
How Fans Responded
Parade reported that fans filled the comments with praise for the tribute. One commenter from England said they still watch reruns of the show.
Western News Daily has not verified any specific search-volume or trending figures for Gilbert, so this report relies on the coverage of the tribute itself.
What Is Confirmed and What Is Not
Both outlets confirm that Gilbert paid tribute to Landon on what would have been his 90th birthday. The exact quotations differ between the two reports, which may reflect different parts of the same caption. Readers should rely on Gilbert’s original post for the full text.
Neither report indicated a new project or announcement tied to the tribute. Western News Daily will update this article if Gilbert or her representatives share more.
For more entertainment remembrances, see Western News Daily’s report on the death of Susan Saint James.