12. Melissa Gilbert . 9: Melissa Gilbert Best known for her portrayal of Laura Ingalls on Little House on the Prairie , Melissa Gilbert was adopted at birth by Ed Gilbert and Barbara Crane, both Hollywood actors. Melissa Gilbert was born in Los Angeles, California, to a Jewish family. Gilbert's adoptive parents divorced when she was 8 years old. The couple later adopted a son, Jonathan, who co-starred on Little House on the Prairie. She's the former child star best known for her nine-year stint on Little House on the Prairie back in the '70s. Personal life. Her adoptive family is full of talented people. But later she was adopted by actor paul gilbert and his wife barbara crane. Born in May 1964, Melissa Gilbert has been involved in the entertainment industry since she was only a child, taking acting gigs on "The Dean Martin Show," "The Love Boat," and "Little House on the Prairie." {{sfn|Davis|2009|page=20} . The day after the actress was born, actress Melissa Gilbert was adopted by actor and comedian Paul Gilbert and his wife, actress Barbara Crane. Daughter Grace joins later in their series as well as adopted children Albert, Cassandra, and James. She was born on 8th May in the year 1964 in Los Angeles in California. Melissa Ellen Gilbert was born on May 8, 1964 in Los Angeles, California, to Kathy Wood and David Darlington. ... she learns she is adopted. Actress Melissa Gilbert, also known as Laura Ingalls in "Little House on the Prairie," was adopted shortly after she was born. She was adopted by actor Paul Gilbert (born Paul MacMahon) and his wife, Barbara Crane. Gilbert was born on April 28, 1967. Melissa Gilbert Actress Melissa Gilbert was adopted as a newborn. Melissa Gilbert was adopted as a new-born baby by a well-known Hollywood family. No. Melissa Gilbert The former Little House on the Prairie star was adopted at a very young age and raised in a show business family. Melissa gilbert.An american actress and television director melissa gilbert was born on may 8 1964 in los angeles california to kathy wood and david darlington. Only a day later she was adopted by actor and comedian Paul Gilbert and his wife Barbara Crane. Melissa Gilbert’s family secret. Unfortunately, Gilbert’s parents felt they weren’t ready to be parents and placed Melissa up for adoption immediately. Melissa Gilbert. Being raised in the house of actors and actresses, Sara and Melissa Gilbert live a far cry life from being normal and ordinary. Ed Gilbert died when Melissa was 11, and Michael Landon, who played … Growing up in a show business family helped her win the coveted role of Laura Ingalls on Little House on the Prairie. Jonathan Gilbert, Melissa Gilbert’s adopted brother, is Jewish and played Willie Oleson — blonde baddie Nellie’s little brother. Gilbert was adopted, so much of the actor’s family tree remains a mystery to her. Melissa is the adopted daughter of the late actor Paul Gilbert and the actress/producer Barbara Crane now as Barbara Cowan whose father is Harry Crane who was a TV writer and co-creator of "The Honeymooners"! When she was 20, Melissa Gilbert wanted the world to know she was no longer the pigtailed pixie Laura Ingalls of "Little House on the Prairie." 8. Melissa Gilbert divorce, married, husband, affair, boyfriend, alcoholism, net worth, salary | Melissa Gilbert is a television director and an American actress, most known for her role as Laura Ingalls Wilder on the Little House on the Prairie. So new, in fact, she was only a day old when she became the daughter of Paul Gilbert and Barbara Crane, both actors. She was the daughter of Kathy Wood and David Darlington. Gilbert revealed in her autobiography Prairie Tale that the siblings no longer have a relationship. Melissa Gilbert was adopted after one day of birth by actor and comedian Paul Gilbert, ultimately helping her land the role of Laura Ingalls Wilder on Little House on the Prairie. Age, Parents, Siblings, Family, Ethnicity, Nationality Gilbert was born on May 8, 1964, in Los Angeles, California, United States. Her parents divorced when she was eight and her adoptive father died when she was 11. Her younger brother, Jonathan Gilbert (a New York stock broker), was also adopted. Just bear with us while we all try to keep up with this one – Jonathan Gilbert, who played the role of Willie Oleson and Nellie’s brother, was in real lifeLaura Ingalls’s aka Melissa Gilbert’s, adopted brother, whom on the show in a an awkward way, played Willie’s love interest, Laura Ingalls. Her parents were actors and her grandfather was a television writer. Actress Melissa Gilbert of “Little House on the Prairie” was America’s sweetheart and many presumed she enjoyed a blessed childhood. She was placed for adoption after her birth and then adopted by Paul Gilbert who was a famous comedian and actor. He is the adopted son of actors Barbara Cowen (née Barbara Crane) and Paul Gilbert and the adopted brother of actresses Melissa Gilbert and Sara Gilbert. Gilbert was adopted (the day after she was born) by actors Barbara Crane and Paul Gilbert. “I tell people, I do not have a family tree, I have a family shrub,” she said. At some point, Jonathan’s adopted mother Barbara divorced his adopted father Paul, who passed away in 1976, and it can be concluded from Melissa Gilbert’s recounting in her “Prairie Tale” autobiography that the cause of death was suicide, apparently because of being in constant pain from an unspecified condition. Melissa was adopted as a new-born baby by Paul Gilbert and his wife, Barbara Crane. 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