Landon, who played the father of Gilbert’s character, died July 1, 1991.

Melissa Gilbert honors her late *Little House on the Prairie *costar Michael Landon with throwback photos

Landon, who played the father of Gilbert's character, died July 1, 1991.

By Raechal Shewfelt

Raechal Shewfelt

Raechal Shewfelt is a writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2024. Her work has previously appeared on Yahoo and in American *Journalism Review* and *The Shreveport Times*.

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July 2, 2026 1:19 a.m. ET

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Melissa Gilbert in Monte-Carlo in 2023, and Michael Landon in Universal City, Calif., in 1990. Credit:

Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty; Ron Galella Collection via Getty

- Melissa Gilbert paid tribute to her *Little House on the Prairie* "Pa," Michael Landon, on the 35th anniversary of his death.

- The former child star wrote that Landon had been a "creative powerhouse" that she "loved."

- Gilbert's post comes about six weeks after she returned to Instagram after her husband, actor Timothy Busfield, was accused of child sexual abuse. He has denied the allegations.

All these years later, Melissa Gilbert still remembers her Pa.

The *Little House on the Prairie* alum, who played Laura Ingalls for all nine seasons of the family series that originally from 1974 to 1983, paid tribute to her dad on the show, Michael Landon, on Wednesday, the anniversary of his 1991 death.

Landon, who played Laura's loving, fair, and usually wise father, Charles "Pa" Ingalls, and executive produced, wrote, and directed much the show, died of pancreatic cancer when he was 54.

"Thirty-five years ago today, the world lost a creative powerhouse," Gilbert captioned a series of photos that showed she and Landon together on and off the set. "Michael Landon was one of the most successful actor-writer-director-producers in the history of television. Every show he was a part of ran for years. His TV shows remain a part of many people's lives to this very day."

Landon was also known to audiences for his portrayal of "Little Joe" Cartwright on '60s Western Bonanza. He played angel Jonathan Smith on *Highway to Heaven* in the '80s.

"But more than that Mike was my friend, collaborator and mentor," Gilbert wrote. "I've always felt like the luckiest girl in the world because he chose me to be his 'Halfpint.' Working with him was more than formative. I learned most of what I know about our industry from him. I learned so much more too."

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As Charles, Landon had a special relationship with his precocious daughter Laura, whom he most often called by her nickname.

"He loved his family fiercely," Gilbert wrote. "I would spend the night with @lesliematthews1 and my family would vacation with his every spring break and I would have the chance to watch him shower his kids with love and attention. When I was there, he'd fold me right in."

She continued, "I can't begin to tell you how many times over the last 35 years, I've thought, 'What would Mike do?' I miss him. I miss his giggle. I miss his warmth. Mostly I miss the fact that he is not with us these days to make more of his art for all of us."

Melissa Gilbert and Michael Landon on 'Little House'.

NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

Gilbert, 62, noted that "we sure could use a dose of his perspective on things."

She then sent love to the Landon family,

"Boy, I loved your dad…and I love you all so much," she wrote.

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Gilbert's kind words come about six weeks after she returned to Instagram. She had deactivated her account in January after her husband since 2013, actor Timothy Busfield, was accused of child sex abuse.

Young twin boys that he worked with on Fox's *The Cleaning Lady*, a crime drama that he executive produced, directed, and acted in, alleged that he touched them inappropriately multiple times between November 2022 and spring 2024.

Busfield, a star of TV favorites such as *The West Wing* and *Thirtysomething*, denied the allegations against him and pleaded not guilty in court. His trial is set for May. Gilbert has supported him.

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