Melissa Sue Anderson, born September 26, 1962, in Berkeley, California, USA, is an actress best known for portraying Mary Ingalls in the classic television series “Little House on the Prairie” between the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Although her exact net worth is unknown, it is estimated to be around $1.5 million as of late 2018 due to her successful career in film and television. Her wealth will likely increase as she pursues her dreams in media and performance.
Melissa, who grew up in Berkeley, made a name for herself early on by appearing in several commercials before landing the role of Mary Ingalls, which catapulted her to stardom.
During this time, she received two Young Artist Awards, one for Best Young Actress Starring In A Television Series and the other for Outstanding Young Performer In A Television Comedy or Drama Series.
After Little House wrapped production at the end of the 1980s, she went on to star in films such as Happy Birthday To Me and True Courage before taking a nearly two-decade break from acting.
Melissa has recently returned to acting, appearing in films such as The Cat Came Back and Impact Event. She has also appeared onstage in productions such as Dinner With Friends, for which she received a Best Female Performance nomination at the Uptown Players Dallas Pride Performing Arts Awards in 2014. She has also written a memoir, “The Way I See It: A Look Back At My Life On Little House,” which was an instant bestseller upon its release.
Melissa Sue was born in a family near San Francisco Bay, the younger of two children. Her parents’ marriage ended when she was thirteen, and she was raised primarily by her Roman Catholic mother. While Melissa was taking dance lessons, her teacher recognized her talent and encouraged her parents to find her an agent.
As a result, Melissa began appearing in commercials for companies such as Mattel and Sears. She also appeared as a guest star on television shows such as “Bewitched” and acted in an episode of “Shaft” the same year. Melissa then landed a long-term role in “Little House on the Prairie,” a show about a farming family in the 1870s and 1880s.
Melissa grew up onscreen with the show’s beloved characters for eight years as part of her role, portraying herself as one of them during that time. Melissa made valuable connections in Hollywood due to these experiences, which enabled her to pursue more acting opportunities later on.
Melissa Sue received an Emmy nomination the following year for her performance in the terrifying film “Happy Birthday to Me,” shortly after leaving “Little House on the Prairie” at the end of its seventh season. She then started appearing in movies like “The Equalizer,” “Murder, She Wrote,” and “CHiPs.”
She then dabbled in production as an associate producer on a television adaptation of Michael Landon’s final film, “Where Pigeons Go to Die,” in 1990. She was inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame in 1998 and later starred in the flop sitcom “Partners” in 1999.
Melissa’s acting career progressed, so she only appeared onscreen infrequently. Her final television appearance was in the 2006 miniseries “10.5 Apocalypse,” in which she played First Lady Megan Hollister.
Melissa also appeared in a number of short films, including a minor cameo as Stosh’s mother in 2014’s “Veronica Mars.” In addition, she published her autobiography, “The Way I See It: A Look Back at My Life on Little House,” which included detailed behind-the-scenes stories about cast members, visitors, and crew members during her time filming “Little House on the Prairie.”
The Gilbert family moved to Montreal in 2002 and became Canadian citizens five years later, on July 1. Mellissa Gilbert, best known for her role as Laura Ingalls in the television series “Little House on the Prairie,” has shifted her focus away from acting and is now primarily focused on caring for her family, stepping away from the spotlight.
During an interview, she revealed that playing a blind character on “Little House on the Prairie” during the fourth season was one of the most challenging roles she has ever played.
Mellissa, her husband, and their children moved to Montreal more than 16 years ago. On Canada Day 2007, they were granted Canadian citizenship after fulfilling all of the requirements for naturalization.
According to sources close to Mellissa, she has since put her acting career on hold to focus on being a full-time parent and homemaker for her family. Her most difficult performance challenge was portraying a character who loses sight in one of the episodes during the fourth season of “Little House on the Prairie,” which proved to be one of her most challenging yet rewarding roles as an actress.
Mellissa’s philanthropic work and incredible dedication to being a fantastic mother are admired by fans worldwide; please share if you’d like to pay your respects!
