'Little House on the Prairie': Jason Bateman's Character Survived a Bear Trap, a Gunshot, and More

Table Of Content

• Jonathan Gilbert as Willie Oleson
• Take a Tour of ‘Little House on the Prairie’ Author Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Midwest Frontier Home
• Wendi Lou Lee and Brenda Turnbaugh (Baby Grace Ingalls)
• ‘Little House on the Prairie’: Jason Bateman’s Character Survived a Bear Trap, a Gunshot, and More
• Little House On The Prairie Was Jason Bateman’s Acting Debut
• ‘Little House on the Prairie’: Are These the 10 Greatest Episodes Ever?

In the early ’80s, Jason Bateman appeared in the classic TV drama Little House on the Prairie. Going back to the start of Jason Bateman’s career, he kicked off his acting career with the classic series Little House On The Prairie. The show was based on a series of novels by Laura Ingalls Wilder and followed the fortunes of the Ingalls family during the 19th Century. The show starred Michael Landon – who also directed many episodes – and Melissa Gilbert and ultimately ran for nine seasons.

Jonathan Gilbert as Willie Oleson

They find that some of their old classmates are very successful, but wealth doesn’t necessarily equal happiness or a good marriage. And both Caroline and Charles are propositioned by former married classmates. She said the was surprised by "the kindness and stories from fans." Arngrim, 62, has written a best-selling book, "Confessions of a Prairie Bitch" (which is a must-read for "Little House" fans) and has turned the book into a one-woman show. Sidney Greenbush, 53, had not been back to Big Sky Ranch since she left the show.

Jason Bateman and Justine Bateman: All About Their Brother-Sister Relationship - PEOPLE

Jason Bateman and Justine Bateman: All About Their Brother-Sister Relationship.

Posted: Wed, 31 May 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Take a Tour of ‘Little House on the Prairie’ Author Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Midwest Frontier Home

Following Little House, he guest starred on The Love Boat and Night Court. He also starred in two short-lived TV series, The Red Hand Gang and Whiz Kids. In the mid-1990s, he transitioned to voice acting for animated series and video games, including providing the English voice for Jaden Yuki in Yu-Gi-Oh! After their final episode in 1982, Rachel Lindsay appeared in Matt Houston, while Sidney starred in the dramedy Hambone and Hillie. They also collaborated on commercials for Doublemint gum, Mattel and Kentucky Fried Chicken before leaving acting to focus on school. She married writer and executive producer Michael Sloan in 1990 after meeting him on the set of Alfred Hitchcock Presents.

Wendi Lou Lee and Brenda Turnbaugh (Baby Grace Ingalls)

Although Jason is primarily based in California, the New York Post reported the star was eyeing a $9.9 million New York City Tribeca penthouse. A devastating tornado hits Walnut Grove, destroying the Ingalls’ crops and farm. Charles is despondent and decides to move his family back to their old house in Wisconsin. This is technically a two-part episode where there is a drought and Almanzo Wilder (Dean Butler) loses his crop and the land.

In 1987 he scored his film movie role with Teen Wolf Too, where he played the cousin of Michael J. Fox’s character from the original. The follow-up turned out to be a disaster, however, with Jason Bateman later stating it was fun to make but not so much to watch. Transitioning from teen idol to adulthood resulted in something of a fallow period for the actor during the 1990s, marked by a lot of TV movies, before things turned around in a big way in the early 2000s. Starting in 2017, Bateman directed and starred in the dramatic Netflix series Ozark, earning both Golden Globe and Emmy nominations for his role as a family man who gets caught up with a drug cartel. In 2019, he won an Emmy for Outstanding Direction of a Drama Series, among other major award wins throughout the course of the series. After The Hogan Family ended in 1991, Jason had roles on four series — Simon, Chicago Sons, George & Leo, and Some of My Best Friends—none of which lasted longer than one season.

‘Little House on the Prairie’: Jason Bateman’s Character Survived a Bear Trap, a Gunshot, and More

In 1994, he played opposite Katharine Hepburn and Anthony Quinn in the television film This Can’t Be Love. In an interview with Variety Magazine, Jason said of the Little House set, “…the way in which everybody functioned was very familial. It was a warm place, and I remember in the few years that followed, when I would end up on sets that were less functional.” Jason credited Michael Landon’s influence for guiding him to his own future role as a director and producer. Throughout his time on the show, the actor’s character suffered numerous tragedies.

Melissa Gilbert as Laura Ingalls Wilder

He was also nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series in 2005. The series was renewed by Netflix in 2013, with the entire original cast reuniting for its fourth season. Following another hiatus, Season 5 premiered on Netflix in 2018 with a series end in 2019.

"When I came on the pilot, he was extremely kind and sensitive and a good director and really gave me a chance to find my legs because [TV] was a new medium for me," she told PEOPLE. Bateman also spoke of his admiration for the show’s lead, Michael Landon. The actor rose to fame on Bonanza and played Charles Ingalls on Little House on the Prairie.

‘Little House on the Prairie’: Are These the 10 Greatest Episodes Ever?

From season three through season seven it was one of NBC'S highest rated scripted series. By seasons 8 and 9 the ratings were dropping and it was no longer NBC'S highest rated scripted series. In Australia, Region 4, the first releases were released by Magna Pacific (NBC Home Entertainment) on October 22, 2004 (Season 1 Parts 1 & 2) and November 12, 2004 (Season 2 Parts 1 & 2) and re-released early 2008. Via Vision then acquired the rights to the series and began releasing Uncut & Digitally Remastered version on May 6, 2015 and the final season on April 20, 2016. Also released are Complete Season boxset, the first two being non remastered and the latest version being the remastered Deluxe Edition. The pilot, which first aired on March 30, 1974, was based on Laura Ingalls Wilder's third Little House book, Little House on the Prairie.

The episode sees Todd Bridges of future Diff’rent Strokes fame guest star as Solomon Henry, an 11-year-old who is the first member of the family not born into slavery. Solomon tells his mother he wants to learn to read and write and go to school, which his mother (Maidie Norman) and brother (David Downing) explain isn’t realistic. Solomon runs away and ends up hiding on the back of the wagon being ridden by Charles Ingalls (Michael Landon) and Dr.Hiram Baker (Kevin Hagen) to Walnut Grove.

The pilot film inspired a miniseries in 2005 which was also heavily inspired by the novels of the same name. The three movie specials listed below were produced to tie up loose ends to storylines on both the two main series and those opened up in Hello and Goodbye. NBC owns ancillary rights and thus is the worldwide licensor for home entertainment rights as well.

In 2023, she mounted a new production of the play during the SAG-AFTRA strike. After leading a theater company in Santa Fe, New Mexico, she joined the Actors Theatre of Louisville in Kentucky. She also appeared on TV shows like Murder, She Wrote and Hotel and played Mrs. Sutherland in the 1994 movie Wyatt Earp. Melissa Gilbert started acting at a young age and was cast as Laura Ingalls Wilder at 9 years old. She starred on the show for 10 years and her performance earned her a Golden Globe nomination. Even though Little House on the Prairie and a supporting role in Silver Spoons made Jason Bateman a household name at a young age, the actor said he still had to work hard to land more roles.

The Transformation Of Jason Bateman From Childhood To Ozark - Looper

The Transformation Of Jason Bateman From Childhood To Ozark.

Posted: Sat, 05 Feb 2022 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Bonnie Bartlett, 94, might have the longest career of any cast member. David Friedman, 53, played Jason Carter, and stopped acting after childhood. Gilbert, 59, is married to the actor and director Timothy Busfield. These were not casual fans, but those with custom shirts ("In a world of Nellies, be a Laura") and wore bonnets and calico dresses. They carried books, posters, vintage lunch boxes and aprons to get autographed.

Charles and Caroline get carried away and run up a large debt at Oleson’s Mercantile. While the cast celebrated the 50th reunion in Simi Valley in March, there are several more events planned around the country including in Connecticut, Kansas, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee. Two of Michael Landon's children, Leslie Landon Matthews, 61, and Michael Landon, Jr., 59, attended the reunion. Many asked Charlotte Stewart to pose in the replica of the school house where she had played teacher, Miss Beadle. Stewart, 83, brought her tiny 15-year-old dog, who was a hit among fans.

The set of Little House on the Prairie felt like spending time with family in part because of Landon. To the child actors on the show, Landon was known to act like a surrogate father. Matthew Labyorteaux first appeared on Little House on the Prairie in 1976 as a younger Charles Ingalls in flashbacks. He later joined the cast as Albert, the adopted son of Charles and Caroline, a character created for the series. Labyorteaux's brother also appeared as Laura's friend, Andrew "Andy" Garvey.

She described the TV star as a “force” who “filled the room.” However, her fictional dad proved to be the easiest part of Francis’s audition. She had to “cry on cue” in front of Landon and the show’s executives during her tryout. Jason will also be directing the first two episodes with Jude credited as an executive producer. "Forgot he starred on Little House on the Prairie," another fan jested, adding a photo of Michael Landon from the 1974 television series. Ellin always found it interesting when the main characters leave the Grove for a trip to the big city where they are fish-out-of-water and do things like ride elevators.