Melissa Ellen Gilbert was born May 8, 1964, in Los Angeles, California. Gilbert and her younger brother, Jonathan Gilbert, were adopted by Paul Gilbert and wife Barbara Crane. When Gilbert was only eight years old, her adoptive parents divorced, and three short years later Paul Gilbert died. Crane remarried to Harold Abeles with whom she had a daughter, Sara Abeles. When Abeles became an actress just like her big sister, she adopted the surname of Gilbert and became known professionally as Sara Gilbert.
Gilbert wanted to act from an extremely young age. With the help of her parents, Gilbert secured her first role when she was only eight. Playing Spratt’s child on one-episode of Gunsmoke, opposite Mariette Hartley, Katherine Helmond, and Jon Locke, Gilbert was on her way. She quickly earned another one-episode appearance, this time for the popular series Emergency!
Far from an established actress, it was around this time Gilbert learned of an open casting call for the role of Laura Ingalls on a new television series titled Little House on the Prairie. Gilbert, along with five hundred other hopeful girls, auditioned for the role. Allegedly, Gilbert’s was the only screen test sent to NBC for consideration. Displaying professionalism beyond her ten years, Gilbert won the role.
She would go on to star in this highly successful show until its last episode in 1984 with costars Michael Landon and Lindsay Greenbush. For Gilbert’s work on the show, she was honored with many accolades. She won the Young Artists Award two consecutive years (1983 and 1984), was nominated for a Golden Globe in 1981, and earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This officially made her the youngest person to receive the honor.
During the show’s run, she found success through other programs as well, including the 1979 TV film The Miracle Worker, with costar Patty Duke. For her portrayal of Helen Keller, Gilbert earned an Emmy nomination. She also won the lead in The Diary of Anne Frank, opposite Doris Roberts, and the remake of Splendor in the Grass, with Cyril O Reilly, Ned Beatty, Eva Marie Saint, and Michelle Pfeiffer.
Still a young woman at the show’s conclusion, Gilbert found herself with so many successes and an entire career still potentially ahead of her. Never quite breaking out of the television niche she created for herself, Gilbert’s professional life after Little House on the Prairie was dominated by more made-for-TV films. Examples include Choices, with George C Scott and Jacqueline Bisset, as well as Without Her Consent, opposite Bebe Neuwirth.
Other notable projects include a three-episode appearance on Babylon 5 and providing her voice talents to the animated series Batman, along with Mark Hamil, Ed Asner, Ed Begley Jr, and Treat Williams. Gilbert recently appeared on one-episode of the drama series Nip/Tuck. She also completed filming for the new romance Safe Harbour.
Gilbert is also known in the acting community for her presidency of the Screen Actors Guild from 2001 to 2005.
In her personal life, Gilbert has been married twice. Her first husband was actor and producer Bo Brinkman, whom she married in 1988. The couple had one son before divorcing in 1992. She remarried in 1995 to actor Bruce Boxleitner. They are currently together and have one son.
YUDDY
