Melissa Gilbert rose to fame nearly 40 years ago while starring Little house on the prairiecontinuing in the headlines ever since.
Gilbert played Laura Ingalls Wilder as a teenager in the series, which centered around a family building a life in the Midwest in the late 1800s. The show aired its last episode in 1983.
Gilbert went on to marry Timothy Busfield in 2013. More than a decade later, Us Weekly confirmed that Busfield handed over to the police in New Mexico after twin child actors alleged that the director touched them inappropriately.
Busfield faces two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse. Busfield has denied the allegations. Gilbert, on the other hand, is next to her husband.
“During this period, she is focused on supporting and caring for her very large family as they navigate this time,” Gilbert’s rep said. we in January 2026. “Melissa is standing by and supporting her husband and will address the public at the appropriate time.”
Scroll down to learn about Gilbert’s life now:
Melissa Gilbert left Los Angeles in 2013
Melissa Gilbert left Los Angeles in 2013 and moved to Michigan for five years. He went on to tell People that he felt he had to leave Hollywood “to get old.”
“When you live in Los Angeles, it’s like living in the mall when you work in the mall,” he said in a September 2024 interview with people. “It puts a lot of pressure on staying thin and staying young and it really makes it hard to be comfortable in your own skin, because of the aging process.”
She continued, “I had to get out of there (LA), because I felt like I wasn’t being authentically myself. In the five years I was at Michigan, all of that stopped… I stopped everything and focused on being as healthy physically and emotionally as I could. And I think that goes to show, ‘Yeah, I’m getting older, but it’s not a curse.’
In 2018, Gilbert and Busfield moved to New York City and eventually bought a house upstate. The couple refers to the house as “la col”, a mix of “cabin” and “cottage”, for The New York Times.
Melissa Gilbert Has Continued Acting After ‘Little House on the Prairie’
Melissa Gilbert made a guest appearance on Hallmark’s When the Heart Calls in 2025, while still performing on stage. He starred in off-Broadway plays such as stillwhich was inaugurated in 2025.
She has also published a handful of books, including her 2009 debut memoir Tale of the Prairie
Melissa Gilbert ran for Congress and co-founded a lifestyle brand
After leaving Hollywood, Melissa Gilbert ran for Congress in Michigan’s 8th district in 2016. She had to withdraw from the race due to a back injury.
He went on to co-found the lifestyle brand Modern Prairie with Nicole Haasea former Williams Sonoma executive, in 2022. Gilbert explained to people that the brand is for the “experienced modern woman” who has gone through “huge transitions.”
“We’re all going through incredible things, whether it’s physiological, hormonal changes that happen, we’re losing our spouses and partners or we have children that leave the nest,” said 2024. “I think the strength that we have after surviving this long is remarkable.”
Melissa Gilbert focuses on motherhood and being a grandmother
Melissa Gilbert has two children, Dakota Brinkman and Michael Boxleitner, from her marriages to the director Good Brinkman and actor Bruce Boxleitner. Gilbert has shared that she is intentional about choosing roles that bring her closer to her children and grandchildren.
“Anything that gets me somewhere that gets me closer to one of my kids’ homes is good for me,” she said. people in 2025. “I don’t feel any added responsibility in choosing roles because I have grandchildren. I think I’m more determined to continue to bring to light stories that affect the way people interact with each other.”
Melissa Gilbert has deleted her social media accounts
Melissa Gilbert deleted his social media account in 2026 amid allegations against Busfield. His account on Instagram and Threads said the page was unavailable.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact them National sexual assault hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Helpline for children at 1-800-422-4453.