Melissa Gilbert Recalls Shielding from 'Creepy Fan Mail' During Little House on the Prairie Fame

Published: June 4, 2025

Melissa Gilbert, who played Laura Ingalls in the popular TV show Little House on the Prairie, recently appeared on the Hey Dude... The 90s Called! podcast, where she opened up about dealing with fame at a young age.

Gilbert, now 61, started playing the beloved character at just 9 years old and remained on the show until 1983. During this time, her parents made a conscious effort to keep her life as normal as possible, amidst her rising stardom.

A Normal Life Amidst Fame

Gilbert recalled that her parents shielded her from the darker side of fame, including "creepy fan mail" from prison inmates. She didn't see any of this mail until she was older, which she believes was a good thing.

Despite her fame, Gilbert's parents still made her do household tasks, like emptying the dishwasher and babysitting her sister, actress Sara Gilbert. "My life was... they tried to - my mom especially - tried to keep it as unaffected by that as possible," she shared.

Dealing with Fan Encounters

Gilbert also recalled a scary incident when she was mobbed by fans while walking with her mom in the height of Little House on the Prairie's popularity. Someone even grabbed a chunk of her hair, which was a traumatic experience" for her.

After this incident, her parents took more precautions to keep her under wraps and out of the public eye.

Read more about Melissa Gilbert's experiences on Little House on the Prairie and her life after the show in our related stories:

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