For all the acclaim and attention Little House on the Prairie received during its runtime, some mysteries endured for quite some time. From 1976 to 1983, Matthew Labyorteaux played Albert Quinn Ingalls, originally an orphan, who becomes the Ingalls family’s son after he spent years in orphanages and on the streets.
But what happened to Albert, when the original series ended with some loose ends to tie up, and what happened to Labyorteaux himself? Some details are a bit obscure thanks to the actor and character’s unique exit from the series, so here’s everything Little House on the Prairie fans need to know about each.
What happened to Albert?
The way Albert entered the lives of the Ingalls family proved straightforward enough. Present in both the books by the real Laura Ingalls and the show her stories spawned, Albert is a troubled child in Walnut Grove who can only call an orphanage home. Charles and Caroline decide to adopt him, and he becomes an integral part of the Ingalls family.
RELATED: The Real Reason ‘Little House On The Prairie’ Came To An End
Much like other characters, Albert goes through a gripping and emotional arc that sees him undergo much character growth and evolution. Indeed, as the show progresses, Albert allows the series to explore a lot of mature topics, including drug addiction, academic pressure, and loss. His character arcs often focus on redemption, growth, and the power of family.
Following the trajectory of his later life can be tricky – and heartbreaking. His character endures into the 1983 TV movie Little House on the Prairie: A Look Back to Yesterday. There, Albert is diagnosed with cancer but returns to Walnut Grove to live out the rest of his days in the place where he found family that supported him through so much. Because Labyorteaux did not return to 1984’s Little House: The Last Farewell, fans could only work based on this last bit of information from the year before. But Laura Ingalls Wilder provides a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it crumb that does, at least, confirm that Albert fulfilled his lifelong dream of becoming a doctor and maintained his dream career despite his suffering.
Why didn’t Matthew Labyorteaux return to the role of Albert?
Part of everyone’s confusion regarding Albert’s fate, turning crumbs of information like this into little nuggets of treasure, is from Labyorteaux leaving the franchise. His absence also removed the character’s presence from the remaining entries in the series, even into its television film days. It’s a role he retained for half a decade, so why part ways?
Part of it did come down to the character and nature of playing one role over the years. Actors inevitably age, which affects the trajectory of their character. Furthermore, closing this door opened up other promising opportunities and he can be seen in several other programs, including Whiz Kids, Night Court, The Love Boat, and many more.
View this post on Instagram
Also, Albert’s fate kept Labyorteaux away, and further confirms just what happened to him, even if he wasn’t around to get proper closure. “He never officially died in the episode, and I think maybe it’s kind of left up in the air to debate,” mused Labyorteaux, “but it was sort of an unspoken thing that we knew he was going to die.
These days, Labyorteaux has a pretty full filmography that includes popular titles that appeal to multiple generations, including Yu-Gi-Oh! GX and Winx Club. Most recently, he’s done voice work for The Wind Rises and Next Gen in 2018.