Melissa Gilbert’s life story reads like a captivating Hollywood script, filled with unexpected twists and turns. As the beloved star of the iconic television series “Little House on the Prairie,” Gilbert’s journey to fame and success was anything but straightforward. Born in 1964 in Los Angeles, she was adopted just 24 hours after her birth by a couple who would shape the course of her life in ways she never could have imagined.
Paul Gilbert, their daughter, and Barbara Crane at the 4th Annual People’s Choice Awards on February 20, 1978 | Source: Getty Images
Melissa Gilbert’s adoptive parents, Barbara Crane and Paul Gilbert, were a colorful and talented pair. Paul was a stand-up comic, actor, and dancer who had found work as an aerialist in a family circus in Buenos Aires.
Barbara, on the other hand, was an actress whose own career had been cut short. When the couple divorced when Melissa was just six years old, it marked the beginning of a tumultuous chapter in the young girl’s life.
As Melissa grew older, she began to uncover the mysteries surrounding her biological parents. According to the information she was given, her birth mother was a prima ballerina named Kathy Wood, and her father was a Rhodes Scholar named David Darlington.
However, as Melissa would later learn, this was not the whole truth. In reality, her biological mother was a dancer, but not a prima ballerina, and her father was a sign painter and stock car racer.
Melissa’s adoptive father, Paul Gilbert, passed away in 1976 when she was just 11 years old. At the time, she was told that he had died due to a stroke. However, it wasn’t until she was 45 that Melissa discovered the heartbreaking truth – her father had taken his own life. This revelation was a profound shock, as Melissa had always believed her father to be the “most incredibly talented, vivacious, funny, loving, fair person” she had ever known.
As Melissa grappled with the complexities of her adoption and the loss of her beloved father, she continued to forge her own path. She went on to marry Timothy Busfield in 2013, and together they have eight grandchildren. In her memoir, “Back to the Prairie,” Melissa openly shares her personal struggles and triumphs, offering a candid and courageous exploration of family, love, and the power of resilience.
Melissa Gilbert’s story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. From her unexpected beginnings in the circus world to her rise to stardom on “Little House on the Prairie,” her life has been a tapestry of both joy and sorrow. Through it all, Melissa has emerged as a fiercely strong and compassionate individual, using her experiences to inspire and uplift others. Her memoir, “Back to the Prairie,” stands as a powerful testament to the enduring strength of the human spirit.
