SUBSCRIBE Ad ENTERTAINMENT TV Little House on the Prairie’s Melissa Gilbert Says Michael Landon Was a ‘Father Figure’: ‘We Were Very Close’ (Exclusive)

Gilbert tells PEOPLE that when her father died when she was 11, Landon “sort of stepped in and kind of watched over me in a much more paternal way”

By JP Mangalindan and Kimberlee Speakman Published on March 23, 2024 12:29PM EDT

On Friday, Gilbert, 59, spoke with PEOPLE during the Little House on the Prairie 50th Anniversary Cast Reunion and Festival and revealed that the late actor — who played her father in the long-running series — also took on a similar role for

“Michael Landon was like a father figure to many of us, obviously, and a very, very important influence in my life,” Gilbert, who famously snagged the role of Laura Ingalls at 9-years-old, exclusively tells PEOPLE.

“My own father passed away when I was 11,” she continues. “And I had been working with Michael for two years at that point, and he really sort of stepped in and kind of watched over me in a much more paternal way.”

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Little House on the Prairie’s Melissa Gilbert Says Michael Landon Was a ‘Father Figure’: ‘We Were Very Close’ (Exclusive)
Gilbert tells PEOPLE that when her father died when she was 11, Landon “sort of stepped in and kind of watched over me in a much more paternal way”

By JP Mangalindan and Kimberlee Speakman Published on March 23, 2024 12:29PM EDT
Melissa Gilbert, Michael Landon
PHOTO: PASCAL LE SEGRETAIN/GETTY; FRANK CARROLL/NBCU PHOTO BANK/NBCUNIVERSAL VIA GETTY
Melissa Gilbert is opening up about her special bond with Little House on the Prairie costar Michael Landon.

On Friday, Gilbert, 59, spoke with PEOPLE during the Little House on the Prairie 50th Anniversary Cast Reunion and Festival and revealed that the late actor — who played her father in the long-running series — also took on a similar role for the cast.

“Michael Landon was like a father figure to many of us, obviously, and a very, very important influence in my life,” Gilbert, who famously snagged the role of Laura Ingalls at 9-years-old, exclusively tells PEOPLE.

“My own father passed away when I was 11,” she continues. “And I had been working with Michael for two years at that point, and he really sort of stepped in and kind of watched over me in a much more paternal way.”

Melissa Gilbert, Michael Landon, Little House on the Prairie
Pictured: (l-r) Melissa Gilbert as Laura Elizabeth Ingalls, Michael Landon as Charles Philip Ingalls. NBCU PHOTO BANK/NBCUNIVERSAL VIA GETTY
Little House on the Prairie’s Melissa Gilbert, Karen Grassle and Alison Arngrim Reunite Ahead of 50th Anniversary

“Even though he was paternal instantly and we were very, very close,” she added, also noting that they had “vacationed together” and their families “hung out together on New Year’s Eve.”

The Tenure actress shared that Landon — who played patriarch Charles Ingalls and also took on other roles on the show — also went above and beyond for the Little House on the Prairie cast and recalled a specific tradition he had to get the cast “amazing” gifts.

“Every year for NBC, he would announce the Rose Parade and instead of taking a payment for that, he would use that money to buy the cast and crew Christmas presents every year,” she recalls.