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Melissa Gilbert Biography

Birth Name:Melissa Ellen Gilbert

Birth Place:Los Angeles, California, United States

Profession Actress, Director, Producer

Fast Facts

  • To recognize her contribution to TV, she received a Star on the Walk of Fame in 1985, as well as being inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame in 1998, at Oklahoma City’s National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
  • Adopted when she was only one day old, by comedian Paul Gilbert and actress Barbara Crane, she starred in dozens of commercials before getting her start on "Little House on the Prairie․"
  • Quote: "(About "Little House on the Prairie") "Not a day goes by that I don't think about it and burst into tears․ It's like stepping through a looking glass․ There's a part of me that's always going to be Laura․ I think every girl has a Laura in them․""
  • Received the part as Laura Ingalls on "Little House on the Prairie" in 1973, for which she beat over 500 other child actresses auditioning for the part
  • Has been elected as the president of the Screen Actors Guild twice, once in 2001 and again in 2003
  • Was a contestant on the TV show "Dancing With the Stars" in 2012, on which she had a mild concussion but continued to compete and finished in 5th place

Awards

  • 1975Bronze Wrangler-Fictional Television Drama: winner
  • 1980Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Special: nominated
  • 1980Young Artist Award-Best Juvenile Actress in a TV Series or Special: nominated
  • 1981Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama: nominated
  • 1982Young Artist Award-Best Young Actress in a Television Special: nominated
  • 1983Young Artist Award-Best Young Actress in a Drama Series: winner
  • 1984Young Artist Award-Best Young Actress in a Drama Series: winner
  • 1995Annie-Best Achievement for Voice Acting: winner
  • 2004TV Land Award-Teacher of the Year: nominated
  • 2006TV Land Award-Most Memorable Kiss: winner
  • 2019Best of Show-Feature Film: winner
  • 2019Audience Award-Best Dramatic Feature: nominated
  • 2019Indie Spirit Award-Best Picture: nominated
  • 2019Jury Award-Best Narrative Feature: nominated
  • 2019Audience Award-Dramatic Feature: nominated
  • 2019Best Narrative Feature-Best Narrative Feature: nominated
  • 2019Audience Award-Best Feature: nominated
  • 2019Best Independent Film-Feature Film: winner
  • 2019Festival Award-Best Feature Film: nominated
  • 2019Best Feature Film-: winner
  • 2019Audience Award-Best Feature: nominated
  • 2019Film Jury Award-Best Feature Film: winner
  • 2019Festival Prize-Outstanding Feature Film: winner
  • 2019Jury Prize-Narrative Feature Film Competition: nominated
  • 2019Jury Prize-Best Feature: nominated
  • 2019Audience Award-Best Fiction Film: nominated
  • 2019Jury Prize-Best Narrative Feature Film: nominated