Melissa Gilbert Net Worth - Pulptastic

What is Melissa Gilbert’s Net Worth and Salary?

Melissa Gilbert, an actress and director, has a net worth of $500,000 combined with her husband Timothy Busfield. Gilbert gained fame in the 1970s portraying Laura Ingalls Wilder on the television series “Little House on the Prairie”. She has struggled financially and personally in recent years due to a cooling career, costly divorce, and tax issues. Gilbert entered politics in 2016 as a Democratic candidate for Congress for Michigan’s 8th congressional district. She has appeared in TV movies and films, voiced a character on “Batman: The Animated Series”, and competed on “Dancing with the Stars” in 2012. Gilbert has been nominated for one Emmy and one Golden Globe award and won two Young Artist Awards for her work on “Little House on the Prairie”. Gilbert served as president of the Screen Actors Guild from 2001 until 2005 and documented her battle with addiction in her 2009 memoir “Prairie Tale”.

Early Life and Family

Melissa Gilbert was born on May 8, 1964 in Los Angeles, California and was given up for adoption. She was adopted by actor Paul Gilbert and his wife, actress Barbara Crane, just one day after her birth. Gilbert’s adoptive parents divorced when she was eight years old and her mother later remarried Harold Abeles, with whom she had a daughter named Sara. Gilbert also has a brother named Jonathan who was adopted by her parents. However, when Gilbert was 11, her adoptive father died by suicide. Later, her mother and stepfather also divorced.

Early Career

Melissa Gilbert began her career as a child actress in the late 60s and appeared in numerous television commercials. She made her television debut in 1968, appearing in the Christmas episode of “The Dean Martin Comedy Hour.” In the early 70s, she returned to television with guest appearances on shows like “Gunsmoke,” “Emergency!,” and “Tenafly.”

Breakthrough Role on “Little House on the Prairie”

In 1974, Gilbert landed her breakthrough role on the NBC historical drama series “Little House on the Prairie,” based on the “Little House” book series by Laura Ingalls Wilder. On the show, Gilbert starred as Laura, the second oldest daughter of Charles Ingalls, played by Michael Landon, and Caroline Ingalls, played by Karen Grassle.

Her siblings on the show were played by Melissa Sue Anderson and Lindsay and Sidney Greenbush. For her role as Laura, Gilbert beat out more than 500 other child actresses.

“Little House on the Prairie” was a great success, running through 1982. There was also a sequel series called “Little House: A New Beginning” that aired afterward, concluding in 1983, as well as a handful of subsequent “Little House” television films.

Melissa Gilbert’s TV Film and Series Credits

Melissa Gilbert appeared in a number of television films during her years on “Little House on the Prairie.” She portrayed Helen Keller in an adaptation of “The Miracle Worker,” earning an Emmy Award nomination. Gilbert also starred as Anne Frank in an adaptation of “The Diary of Anne Frank,” and played missionary Jean Donovan in “Choices of the Heart.” Over the years, she starred in television films such as “Family Secrets,” “Penalty Phase,” and “Chameleons.”

In the 90s, Gilbert continued to mostly star in television films, including “Shattered Trust: The Shari Karney Story” and “Her Own Rules.” She also had significant roles on regular series, including a main role on the Fox sitcom “Stand by Your Man” and another main role on the NBC legal drama “Sweet Justice.” Gilbert competed in season 14 of “Dancing with the Stars,” finishing in fifth place.

Melissa Gilbert’s Film Career

Melissa Gilbert’s feature film debut was in the 1967 comedy “The Reluctant Astronaut,” starring Don Knotts. She took a long break from films and didn’t appear on the big screen again until 1985 when she starred in the family drama “Sylvester” as a young horse trainer. Her film credits have been limited since then, including the direct-to-video romance “Safe Harbour” and the drama “Guest Artist.”

Presidency of Screen Actors Guild

In 2001, Melissa Gilbert won the presidency of the Screen Actors Guild, defeating Valerie Harper in a contentious election. She was reelected in 2003, defeating Kent McCord. However, Gilbert decided not to seek a third term.

Melissa Gilbert’s Congressional Campaign

Melissa Gilbert announced her candidacy for the US House of Representatives in the summer of 2015, running for Michigan’s 8th congressional district. She won the primary and became the district’s presumptive Democratic nominee. However, due to health issues, she suspended her campaign in the spring of 2016.

Relationships and Marriages

Melissa Gilbert was engaged to actor Rob Lowe in the 80s but later broke it off. She then married actor Bo Brinkman in 1988 and had a son named Dakota before divorcing in 1992.

Gilbert then began a relationship with actor and author Bruce Boxleitner, whom she had met on “Battle of the Network Stars” when she was a teenager. After getting engaged twice and breaking them off both times, Gilbert and Boxleitner finally got married in 1995. They had a son named Michael and eventually divorced in 2011.

She has been married to actor Timothy Busfield since 2013.

Melissa Gilbert’s IRS Troubles Due to Financial Hardships

Melissa Gilbert reportedly owed $360,000 in federal income taxes in 2015, and had to work out a payment plan with the IRS. This was not the first time she had run into trouble with the IRS, as she had owed $112,000 in 2013. Gilbert cited the recession, a divorce, and lack of acting opportunities in recent years as the reasons for her financial difficulties.

Property Purchase in Catskill Mountains

In 2019, Melissa Gilbert and Timothy Busfield purchased a 14-acre property in New York’s Catskill mountains for $98,000. The property is situated approximately 20 minutes from Woodstock and serves as their current primary residence.

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