Melissa Gilbert and Michael Landon developed a tight-knit bond as they acted alongside each other on “Little House on the Prairie.” In 2014, Gilbert and other “Little House” cast members were interviewed by Entertainment Weekly about their memories from the long-running drama. During the chat, Gilbert spoke about how she and her family members became good friends with Landon and his loved ones amid saddening circumstances. “Our relationship was very close, and it grew even deeper when my father passed away [in 1976],” Gilbert said. “Our families got close. We went on vacation to Hawaii together every Easter. His son Mike Jr. was my prom date.”
Read Related Also: Robert De Niro's Girlfriend Tiffany Chen Fires Back At Criticism Of Their Romance (Mind Your Own Biz!)
Per The Washington Post, Landon tragically died in 1991 at the age of 54, which resulted from “inoperable cancer of the liver and pancreas.” In July 2022, Gilbert penned a blog post for the Pancreatic Caner Action Network in which she detailed her grief while facing the 31st anniversary of Landon’s death. “Today I am missing my mentor, my acting partner, my favorite director, father figure, friend, and boss. Today I am missing my Pa,” she wrote. “Today I am missing Michael Landon. So much so, I can feel it in my chest, in my heart. I am aching for him.” Over the years, Gilbert has remained close with other actors who were on the beloved show.
