Melissa Gilbert Makes Amends With 'Little House on the Prairie' Costar After Decades-Long Rift
- - Melissa Gilbert Makes Amends With 'Little House on the Prairie' Costar After Decades-Long Rift
Michelle SteinDecember 28, 2025 at 5:40 AM
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NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
Melissa Gilbert announced that she made amends with her Little House on the Prairie costar, Melissa Sue Anderson, after a decades-long rift.
On Saturday, Dec. 27, Gilbert, 61, took to Instagram with a photo of herself and Anderson, 63. The former child actresses played sisters, Laura Ingalls Wilder and Mary Ingalls, respectively, in the beloved historical drama series.
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Through the years, Gilbert has been open about the fact that she and Anderson butted heads behind the scenes. The duo recently reunited after putting their differences behind them. And Gilbert is now ready to share the news with the world.
"Worlds collide. Blessings abound. Hearts heal and reunite. Magic happens," the When Calls the Heart actress began her update.
Gilbert explained that after a Dec. 26 performance of the off-Broadway play, Pen Pals—in which she stars with Veanne Cox—Cox surprised her with the fact that Tony-winning singer and actress Betty Buckley had been in the audience.
"Boy am I glad I didn’t know in advance that the remarkable @blbuckley was there," she wrote. "But I had a secret of my own. One I’ve been keeping close to my heart for a while now. Reconnection with a sister. Long, healing talks. Lots of reminiscing. Lots of catching up. Lots of laughter and a few tears."
That's when Gilber revealed, "I’m so happy to have Melissa Anderson back in my life. We share such an important history that no one else on earth truly understands. Just us Ingalls girls. The best part is, the past is now just that and we can move forward as the sisters/friends we always wanted to be. What a wonderful Christmas gift."
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Related: Melissa Gilbert Honors Late Little House on the Prairie Costar: ‘My Childhood BFF’
In the comments, Gilbert's follower rejoiced over her and Anderson's reconciliation after all these years. (Little House on the Prairie aired for nine seasons from 1973 to 1984.)
One Instagram user declared, "It warms my heart to see you with Melissa. Wonderful holiday magic! ❤️."
Another follower exclaimed, "This is absolutely wonderful news… Love to hear it!!! May your reconciliation flourish… Stay blessed."
Someone else pointed out, "This is absolutely wonderful news… Love to hear it!!! May your reconciliation flourish… Stay blessed."
A different Instagram user shared, "It’s never too late. Good for you both ♥️."
Meanwhile, yet another LHOTP fan commented, "Always Half Pint and Mary to me.♥️♥️."
While answering a fan question during a 2014 appearance on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen, Gilbert opened up about her relationship with Anderson.
"I'm going to phrase this in the gentlest way I can by saying that Melissa Sue Anderson and I, were just not too awfully close, ever. Even for a moment," she began in response to Alison Arngrim's comments about working with Anderson. "She was a hateful, horrid, mean, terrible, difficult... She hated me. She hit me. She knocked me off the wagon...literally elbowed me off the covered wagon."
Thankfully, the actresses behind Mary and Laura have managed to patch things up 40 years later!
Next: Melissa Gilbert Rallies Fight Against Cancer That Killed Little House on the Prairie Costar
This story was originally published by Parade on Dec 27, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
