Exploring the Offscreen Drama Behind “The Biggest Little House on the Prairie”
Little House on the Prairie has captured the hearts of fans for generations — but the off-screen antics weren’t always as charming.
Fans were excited to find out that Melissa Gilbert and Melissa Sue Anderson, the actresses who portrayed sisters Laura and Mary Ingalls, had a reunion in December 2025. (The two famously had a rocky relationship during the filming of the iconic series, which aired from September 1974 to March 1983. At one point, Gilbert referred to Anderson as “bossy” on set.)
“I’ve been holding [this] close to my heart for a while now. Reconnecting with a sister. Long, healing conversations,” Gilbert shared on Instagram at the time. “A lot of reminiscing. Plenty of catching up. Lots of laughter and a few tears.”
Gilbert and Anderson weren’t the only cast members who faced turmoil behind the scenes. Keep reading for more details about the most significant off-screen drama from the Little House set.
Karen Grassle Accused Michael Landon Of Sexism
Though Grassle and Landon portrayed a loving couple on-screen, they had discord behind the cameras. In November 2021, The New York Post reported that tensions flared after Grassle requested a raise, only for Landon to suggest she should earn the same as the child actors.
“I felt insulted as his co-star on a successful show,” she stated. “I didn’t want to take advantage, but I anticipated a fair wage.” Grassle also claimed her scenes were minimized following her request, and Landon frequently mocked her appearance during filming.
Karen Grassle Struggled With Alcoholism
Grassle also opened up to The Post about her battle with alcoholism during her time on the show, which she detailed in her memoir Bright Lights, Prairie Dust.
“I spent years trying to manage it,” she admitted. “I wanted to drink like others — just for fun. But it spiraled out of control. I would get terribly drunk, cry, and feel as if everything in my life was wrong.”
Melissa Gilbert Also Abused Substances
Grassle wasn’t the only cast member grappling with substance abuse. According to The List, Gilbert revealed in her memoir Prairie Tale that she struggled with prescription drugs and alcohol before achieving sobriety in 2004.
Melissa Gilbert And Melissa Sue Anderson Didn’t Get Along
Despite portraying sisters on the series, Gilbert and Melissa Sue Anderson were not friends off-screen.
“From the moment we arrived on that set, Melissa Sue Anderson was in charge. She took that role seriously,” Gilbert recalled in a Facebook video from 2024. “She was two years older than me, which, when you’re nine and 11, is significant.”
Gilbert added, “She was tough — both on and off-camera. In one of the first episodes, there’s a scene when Ma comes home with fabric and I reach out to touch it. Melissa hit me so hard that you can see I almost laughed, displaying a full range of emotions.”
However, their relationship transformed when they reunited in December 2025.
“Worlds collide. Blessings abound. Hearts heal and reunite. Magic happens,” Gilbert shared on Instagram on December 27. “After @penpalsplay, my brilliant co-star @veannecox had a surprise in the audience. I’m so glad I didn’t know @blbuckley was there. But I had a surprise of my own.”
Gilbert expressed, “I’ve been keeping [this] close to my heart for a while now. Reconnection with a sister. Long, healing talks. A lot of reminiscing. Plenty of laughter and a few tears.”
She continued, saying she was “thrilled to have Melissa Anderson back in my life,” acknowledging the “significant history” they share that “no one else on earth truly comprehends.”
“Just us Ingalls girls,” she clarified. “The best part is that the past is just that now, and we can move ahead as the sisters/friends we always aspired to be. What a lovely Christmas gift.”
Jason Bateman Was “Hazed” By Older Cast Members
In September 2025, Jason Bateman, who portrayed James Cooper Ingalls, accused his older cast mates of bullying him. During the September 18 episode of Hot Ones, Bateman denied rumors that “the older kids in the cast played a prank” on him by claiming his “character had died.”
“Not true,” he clarified. “What actually happened was they pinned me down, straddled me, and gave me noogies or whatever you call it.”
He went on, “I told the makeup artist to put a large black-and-blue mark on my chest. Then I approached their parents and said, ‘Look what your kids did to me.’ And that worked; I got them in trouble.”
Michael Landon Had An Affair
Despite his character being viewed as the perfect husband and father, Landon didn’t mirror that in real life. Grassle disclosed in Bright Lights, Prairie Lights that the actor engaged in an affair with a much younger woman who worked as a stand-in for Melissa Francis on the show, who played Cassandra Cooper Ingalls.
