Melissa Gilbert                                         (Photo/wiki)

Melissa Ellen Gilbert is an actress, writer, and producer, primarily in movies and television. 

As an adult, she has a very long list of acting, voicework, writing, producing, and directing credits.

Gilbert also served two terms as President of the Screen Actors Guild. On June 9, 2009 her autobiography Prairie Tale: A Memoir was released.

Little House on the Prairie is an American one-hour dramatic television program starring Michael Landon as Charles Ingalls, a farmer who cares very much about his family. It aired on the NBC network from September 11, 1974, to May 10, 1982.

The show was a loose adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s best-selling series of Little House on the Prairie books.  One of the show's child stars, Laurel Ingalls, was portrayed by actress Melissa Gilbert.

Gilbert has continued to work regularly in television.  Gilbert regularly keeps in contact with her friend Alison Arngrim, who played her nemesis Nellie Oleson on Little House on the Prairie. Although their respective characters were enemies for years, in real life, they are close friends.

In 2009, Gilbert plays Caroline "Ma" Ingalls in a musical adaptation of Little House on the Prairie. This world premiere production will be at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

For her contribution to the television industry, Gilbert has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  She is one of the youngest actresses to have been honored with a star.

Melissa Gilbert is author to autobiography Prairie Tale, a memoir.