Melissa Sue Anderson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Melissa Sue Anderson
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Anderson as Mary Ingalls in Little House on the Prairie, 1974
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| Born | September 26, 1962 Berkeley, California, U.S.
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| Citizenship |
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| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1972–present |
| Known for |
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| Spouse(s) |
Michael Sloan
(m. 1990) |
| Children | 2 |
Melissa Sue Anderson, born on September 26, 1962, is an actress from both America and Canada. She started acting when she was a child, appearing in many commercials in Los Angeles. She is most famous for playing Mary Ingalls in the TV show Little House on the Prairie, which ran from 1974 to 1983. For this role, she was nominated for a special Emmy Award.
She also acted in movies like Midnight Offerings (1981) and Happy Birthday to Me (1981). In 1979, she starred in the ABC Afterschool Special episode called Which Mother Is Mine?. In 2007, Melissa became a Canadian citizen. She wrote a book in 2010 called The Way I See It, which shares stories about her time on Little House on the Prairie.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Melissa Sue Anderson was born in Berkeley, California, on September 26, 1962. She has an older sister named Maureen. When Melissa was seven years old, her family moved from the San Francisco Bay Area to Los Angeles. Her parents divorced when she was 13. Melissa was raised in the Roman Catholic faith by her mother. As a young child, she appeared in commercials for popular toy companies like Mattel and stores like Sears.
Acting Career Highlights
Melissa's journey into acting began when her dance teacher suggested her parents find an agent for her. After doing commercials, she quickly became popular for TV roles. One of her early memorable parts was playing Millicent on The Brady Bunch, where she shared a kiss with Bobby. She also appeared in an episode of the TV show Shaft in the same year.
Starring in Little House on the Prairie
At just 11 years old, Melissa got the role of Mary Ingalls in Little House on the Prairie. She was a main character on the show for seven seasons, starting in 1974. She later returned for three more episodes in the eighth season in 1981.
In 1976, Michael Landon, who was a star and producer on Little House, asked Melissa to be in his movie The Loneliest Runner. She played Nancy Rizzi, the first girlfriend of the main character, and was very excited to be asked. In 1977, she worked with Lance Kerwin again in the TV movie James at 15.
Awards and Other Roles
Melissa was nominated for an Emmy Award in 1978 for her acting on Little House on the Prairie. She won an Emmy Award for her performance in Which Mother Is Mine?, which aired in 1979. Also in 1979, she played the main character, Dana Lee Gilbert, in the TV movie Survival of Dana. Dana was a new student in Los Angeles from North Dakota.
In 1980, Melissa won a 'TP de Oro' Award, which is a big TV award in Spain, for 'Best Foreign Actress' for her role in Little House on the Prairie. After leaving Little House, she continued to act in other TV shows. These included The Equalizer, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, CHiPs, and Murder, She Wrote. She also helped produce a TV project called Where Pigeons Go to Die (1990) for Michael Landon.
In 1998, Melissa was honored and added to the Western Performers Hall of Fame. This is located at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. In 2014, she had a small role in the movie Veronica Mars.
Her Book: The Way I See It
In 2010, Melissa Sue Anderson wrote a book about her life called The Way I See It: A Look Back at My Life on Little House. The book mostly talks about her time as a child star on Little House on the Prairie. It shares fun stories and details about the show, its actors, and the people who worked behind the scenes. The book also covers her acting career before and after Little House. It explains how her personal life was affected by being an actress.
Personal Life and Family
Melissa Sue Anderson married Michael Sloan in 1990. He is a writer and producer for television. They have two children, a daughter named Piper and a son named Griffin. In 2002, the family moved to Montreal, Canada. On Canada Day in 2007, Melissa and her family officially became Canadian citizens.
Images for kids
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Anderson as Mary Ingalls in Little House on the Prairie, 1974
See also
In Spanish: Melissa Sue Anderson para niños
