Michael Landon
Michael Landon, who played Laura's father, Charles Ingalls, on Little House on the Prairie, began acting in the 1950s with appearances on shows like Cheyenne, Suspicion, and The Rifleman. He also starred in the film I Was a Teenage Werewolf.
Landon directed many episodes of Little House on the Prairie and also served as a writer and producer on the series.
Before Little House, he was best known for playing Little Joe Cartwright on the long-running Western Bonanza.
After Little House ended, Landon continued acting in television movies and starred as the angel Jonathan Smith on Highway to Heaven, which aired from 1984 to 1989.
He also reprised his role as Charles Ingalls in four Little House television movies.
Landon died in 1991 at the age of 54, just months after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
In a 2024 interview with Fox News Digital, Gilbert described Landon as a "mentor and father figure." She said she visited her TV dad just one week before he died.
"There were always funny moments with Michael," she recalled. "Even as sick as he was, he still maintained his incredible sense of humor."
Gilbert frequently shares memories of Landon on Instagram. In a recent post, she wrote, "I've always felt like the luckiest girl in the world because he chose me to be his 'Halfpint.' Working with him was more than formative. I learned most of what I know about our industry from him."
