Melissa Gilbert: A Life In The Spotlight

What You Need to Know About Melissa Gilbert's Net Worth and Salary

Alright, let's dive right in. Melissa Gilbert, the iconic actress who brought Laura Ingalls Wilder to life on TV, has a net worth of $500 thousand. That figure, by the way, includes the combined earnings with her husband since 2013, actor Timothy Busfield. But here's the deal—Melissa's journey hasn’t always been smooth sailing. In recent years, she's faced some serious financial and personal challenges, including tax issues that cropped up because of a cooling acting career and a costly divorce. We'll get into all that later, but for now, let’s talk about her incredible career and how it all began.

It all started in the late '60s when Melissa stepped into the world of acting as a child star. Her big break came in 1974 when she landed the role of Laura Ingalls Wilder on NBC's historical drama series, "Little House on the Prairie." That show wasn’t just a hit—it became a cultural phenomenon. Fast forward to 2016, and Melissa decided to try her hand at politics, running as a Democratic candidate for Congress in Michigan's 8th congressional district. But life has its twists and turns, and Melissa eventually stepped back from that race due to health concerns.

After "Little House," Melissa kept the momentum going with appearances in TV movies and feature films like "Sylvester," "Blood Vows: The Story of a Mafia Wife," and "Killer Instinct." She also lent her voice to Barbara Gordon/Batgirl in "Batman: The Animated Series" and played a key role on "Sweet Justice." Even though she didn’t win, Melissa earned an Emmy nomination for her role in "The Miracle Worker" and a Golden Globe nod for her work on "Little House on the Prairie." She even took home two Young Artist Awards for her performances on that beloved show.

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Oh, and did I mention? Melissa served as president of the Screen Actors Guild from 2001 to 2005. But like anyone, she’s had her struggles. In her 2009 memoir, "Prairie Tale," Melissa opens up about her battles with alcohol and drug abuse. It's a testament to her strength and resilience.

Tax Troubles

Now, let’s talk about those tax issues. In June 2015, it came to light that Melissa owed a whopping $360,000 in federal income taxes. This wasn’t her first rodeo with the IRS; back in 2013, she reportedly owed $112,000. Melissa worked out a payment plan with the IRS to address the issue, but it was no small feat. In a statement, she explained the challenges she faced:

"Like so many people across the nation, the recession hit me hard. That, plus a divorce and a decline in acting opportunities over the years, created a perfect storm of financial difficulty for me." – Melissa Gilbert

Real Estate Ventures

Let’s shift gears and talk about Melissa’s real estate adventures. In 2014, she listed her Tarzana home in Los Angeles for $1.195 million. But her heart seems to be in the Catskills. In 2019, Melissa and Timothy purchased a 14-acre property in New York's Catskill Mountains, just a stone's throw from Woodstock. That’s where they currently call home.

Early Days

Melissa Gilbert was born on May 8, 1964, in Los Angeles, California. Her life story is as dramatic as any TV plotline. Born to David and Kathy, Melissa was adopted the day after her birth by actor Paul Gilbert and actress Barbara Crane. Unfortunately, her adoptive parents divorced when she was just eight years old. Her mom remarried Harold Abeles, and they had a daughter named Sara. Melissa also has a brother, Jonathan, who was adopted by her parents. Tragically, her adoptive father took his own life when Melissa was 11. Her mom and stepdad later split, adding another layer of complexity to her early life.

Childhood Acting Career

Melissa’s career began in the late '60s when she started appearing in TV commercials. Her big break came in 1968 when she made a guest appearance on "The Dean Martin Comedy Hour" during its Christmas episode. From there, she kept building her resume with appearances on shows like "Gunsmoke," "Emergency!," and "Tenafly."

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Breaking Through with "Little House on the Prairie"

In 1974, Melissa landed the role that would define her career—Laura Ingalls Wilder on "Little House on the Prairie." Based on the beloved book series by Laura Ingalls Wilder, the show was a massive success, running until 1982. Melissa's portrayal of Laura stood out, beating out over 500 other young actresses for the part. After the original series ended, there was a sequel called "Little House: A New Beginning" and a series of TV movies that kept the magic alive.

Expanding Her Television Legacy

Even while filming "Little House on the Prairie," Melissa found time to take on other projects. In the late '70s, she starred in "Christmas Miracle in Caulfield, U.S.A." and an adaptation of "The Miracle Worker," where she played Helen Keller. Her performance earned her an Emmy nomination. In the early '80s, she took on the role of Anne Frank in "The Diary of Anne Frank" and starred in a remake of "Splendor in the Grass." Throughout the '80s and '90s, Melissa continued to rack up credits in TV movies like "Family Secrets," "Choices," "Penalty Phase," and "Killer Instinct." She also had significant roles on series like "Stand by Your Man," "Sweet Justice," "Batman: The Animated Series," and "Secrets and Lies." In 2012, Melissa competed on "Dancing with the Stars," where she finished in fifth place with partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy.

Feature Film Appearances

Gilbert’s feature film debut came in 1967 with "The Reluctant Astronaut," starring Don Knotts. Her next big film role was in 1985’s "Sylvester," where she played a young horse trainer. While she hasn’t appeared in many films since, she’s kept busy with direct-to-video projects like "Safe Harbour" and "Guest Artist." In 2019, she appeared in "When We Last Spoke."

SAG Presidency

In 2001, Melissa ran for and won the presidency of the Screen Actors Guild, beating Valerie Harper. She was re-elected in 2003, defeating Kent McCord. After two terms, Melissa chose not to run for a third, leaving a lasting impact on the organization.

Running for Congress

In the summer of 2015, Melissa announced her candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Michigan's 8th congressional district. She won the Democratic primary but, unfortunately, health issues forced her to suspend her campaign in the spring of 2016.

Personal Life

Melissa’s personal life has been as eventful as her career. She was once engaged to actor Rob Lowe in the '80s, but they ultimately parted ways. She then married actor Bo Brinkman in 1988, and they had a son named Dakota before divorcing in 1992. Shortly after, she began a relationship with actor and author Bruce Boxleitner, whom she eventually married in 1995 after two broken engagements. They had a son, Michael, but divorced in 2011. Since 2013, Melissa has been married to actor Timothy Busfield.