Melissa
Gilbert - Love and Light
A biography by Robin Raven
On May 8, 1964, Melissa Ellen Gilbert was born in Los Angeles, California.
Adopted when she was only one day old, she was an irrepressible light
of
energy since infancy, getting her start in show business by walking uninvited
on stage and stealing the show from one of her parent's productions with
her singing and acting, blowing kisses at the audience that she wasn't
afraid of, assuming a star position even before her fifth birthday.
Her parents, concerned and cautious, did not want to stop Melissa's
opportunities to share her talent with the world. Her mother let her go
out
on auditions for commercials only, as a bonus for her and her brother,
Jonathan (who would later play nemesis Willy Oleson on Little House on
the
Prairie). The two were allowed to go out on auditions for commercials
as an
extra as long as they behaved and kept their schoolwork up.
That kind of down-to-earth approach to show business seems to have stayed
with Melissa to this day. Her father, who died when she was only eleven,
was
also helpful in her young career. He advised her when she lost a part
on
"Miracle on 34th Street," that something better would come along.
True to
his words of fate, she landed the role of a lifetime of Laura Ingalls
within
two weeks. As it turned out, although she missed that role of a Natalie
Wood
remake, she would later get the much meatier role of Deenie in a remake
of
"Splendor In The Grass," which was Natalie Wood's most loved
movie.
The first time she learned she had gotten the part of Laura Ingalls happened
when she was in her school cafeteria. Leslie Landon (Michael Landon's
daughter) broke the news, and Melissa jumped up screaming in excitement.
She
never let that enthusiasm for her role go. When many child stars become
angry at being trapped inside a stereotype, Melissa embraced the way people
saw her and changed it through good performances, never being locked into
one particular type of role. She has played it all.
As she grew up right along with Laura Ingalls, she maintained a somewhat
normal life, grounded by the support of people on Little House history
by
being the youngest person to get a Hollywood star, being the most successful
television actress of her time, and touching the hearts of millions, a
pattern which continues to this day.
As Little House wound down its run, Laura eased into many other roles,
gaining acclaim as someone who could do material as varied from Laura
as she
could get. She experienced her 'college years' hanging out with the
so-called Brat Pack that included her When she moved to Manhattan to strike
out on her own in the 1980s, she met and fell in love with Bo Brinkman.
They
were married within eight weeks of knowing each other. They had a son,
Dakota, but divorced after only a few years of marriage. The two remain
friends for the sake of their son.
Melissa is now married to Bruce Boxleitner, they have a son named Michael
Garrett (after both Michael Landon and a friend's son that died). They
have
a happy life, and a blended family that is happy and loving. With her
happiest times being the down time with her husband and kids, one can't
help
but admire that Melissa is not lost in the limelight of Hollywood.
Melissa is now in top forum, both personally and professionally. With
irrepressible determination, all of us are looking forward in awe to seeing
which leap she will take next, whether it be acting or directing.
Melissa and Bruce's website is at www.gilbert-boxleitner.com.