Checking In on the Cast of ‘Little House on the Prairie’ Today
Little House on the Prairie first aired on NBC over 40 years ago in September 1974 — and the cherished series still feels remarkably pertinent today.
The series is inspired by the book collection of the same name written by Laura Ingalls Wilder. It chronicles the experiences of the Ingalls family in Walnut Grove, Minnesota, and spanned nine seasons.
Beyond its primary cast, Little House also helped kickstart the careers of Jason Bateman, who portrayed James Cooper Ingalls, and reality television star Kyle Richards, who played Alicia Sanderson Edwards.
Sadly, not all members of the original cast are still alive. Michael Landon, known for his role as Charles “Pa” Ingalls, passed away from pancreatic cancer on July 1, 1991, at the age of 54. Richard Bull, who portrayed Nels Olsen throughout the show’s run, died in 2014 at 89, and Kevin Hagen, who played Dr. Hiram “Doc” Baker, succumbed to esophageal cancer in 2004.
The surviving cast members continue to host events across the United States to celebrate the show and its cultural significance. Here’s an update on the cast of Little House on the Prairie:
