Not everyone who starts a career in show business at a young age remains in the spotlight forever. After Melissa Gilbert continued acting following her role in “Little House on the Prairie,” her brother Jonathan Gilbert chose a different path.
His decisions left Melissa and their mother with aching hearts.
Melissa, born on May 8, 1964, and Jonathan, born on April 28, 1967, were adopted by actors Paul Gilbert and Barbara Crane.
Both children followed their parents into acting. While Melissa started with commercials before landing her iconic role as Laura Ingalls Wilder in “Little House on the Prairie,” Jonathan also joined the show playing Willie Oleson, Nellie’s brother.
During their time on the show from 1974 to 1982, they enjoyed success on screen, but their family life faced challenges.
Following the show’s success, their parents parted ways, and tragedy struck when their father passed away when Melissa was just 11 years old. Years later, Melissa discovered the true cause of her father’s death.
“I was 45 when I found out that my father had taken his own life,” she shared with CBS Sunday Morning in 2020. “Yeah, that was a very deep, dark secret for just about everyone in my life.”
Melissa’s mother remarried, and Melissa gained a stepsister, Sara, from this union.
After the conclusion of “Little House on the Prairie,” Melissa aimed to continue in the entertainment industry, but Jonathan chose a different route.
He opted for a significant change.
“My brother, Jonathan, completely shut the family out,” Melissa revealed in her memoir, “Prairie Tale: A Memoir.” “He turned eighteen and just disappeared.”
Although Jonathan resurfaced infrequently over the years, Melissa had only seen him “three times” in two decades.
“Surprisingly, I’m at peace with it. Although my heart aches for my mother.”
Reports indicate that Jonathan distanced himself from his family and pursued academic interests. He obtained a master’s degree in finance, as reported by CNN, before embarking on a career as a stockbroker in New York City.
While Jonathan left the entertainment industry and his family behind, Melissa and her sister Sara continued to thrive in show business. Sara kickstarted her acting career with commercials and later portrayed Darlene Conner in Roseanne, maintaining her presence in the industry.
Meanwhile, Melissa pursued acting on television and in films until 2019. Additionally, she engaged in other ventures such as participating in Dancing with the Stars, writing children’s books and a cookbook, and even running for the U.S. Congress.
While cutting ties with family is a challenge for many, everyone has their own reasons.
Not everyone is meant for the entertainment industry, and it is respectable when individuals choose a different path.
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