Melissa Gilbert shared details of some of her unforgettable moments with director and producer Michael Landon before he passed away. Melissa played the role of Laura Ingalls in the Little House on the Prairie, where Michael starred as her on-screen father. Little House on the Prairie premiered in September 1974 when the actress was nine.
The emotional bond between Melissa and Michael developed during the production of the popular show from 1974 to 1983 and continued even after the series had ended. She noted that Michael often went the extra mile to put a smile on the faces of the cast, and he provided strong emotional support for her when her biological father passed away when she was eleven.
Melissa Gilbert shares childhood memories with Michael Landon
Recalling the generosity Michael Landon apparently could display for his peers, Melissa Gilbert shared that he would sacrifice his own pay to give everyone gifts. “Every year for NBC, he would announce the Rose Parade and instead of taking a payment for that, he would use that money to buy the cast and crew Christmas presents,” she recounted. “So he sacrificed his New Year’s Eves, basically, to be at the Rose Parade at 3 a.m. so that he could give us all really amazing Christmas presents.”
In an interview with PEOPLE, Melissa described the memories of Michael that had stayed with her from childhood. She shared that his generosity extended far beyond the screen as he was a father figure to her in real life. She particularly cherished holidays and vacations with Michael and his family in Hawaii. However, Michael’s kindness was not limited to Melissa, he also had the initiative of presenting gifts to the cast and crew during Christmas.
Melissa had “so much to say” about the iconic actor. She recalled Michael’s efforts to always make her cheerful on set. And when the shocking news of his pancreatic cancer reached Melissa, she never hesitated to pay him a visit at the hospital with her little son. Despite Michael’s struggle with the illness, Melissa noted that he still knew how to make her laugh and was enjoying life at his best.
Melissa Gilbert is dedicated to preserving Michael Landon’s legacy
Michael’s courage and hope of quick recovery was uplifting. However, the actor passed away at 54, some months after sharing news of his health issues with the public. The pain of losing another person who played an important role and served as a father moved Melissa. But she was thankful to her family and friends who stood by her during the period of grieving, which enabled her to provide relief to Michael’s family as well.
Currently, Melissa has a brand that funds research for pancreatic cancer. She also helps request funds from the government to support research and raise awareness about the disease. The 60-year-old is dedicating her quest for cancer research to her late on-screen father and another dear friend she lost to the same disease. She shared that her aim is to ensure that others do not suffer from it.