Melissa Gilbert Compares TV Dad Michael Landon to Sister’s TV Mom Roseanne Barr
Melissa Gilbert and Sara Gilbert grew up together as sisters and fellow child stars. Looking back, Melissa believes they had very different experiences due to the shows they starred in and the TV parents they had. During a recent appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show, Melissa said that she believes she didn’t have bad experiences as a child star because Little House on the Prairie was such a wholesome show with a loving cast.
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She explained, “Again, that’s part and parcel of Little House on the Prairie. I grew up with Michael Landon. My sister is a kid actor, too, and we say, ‘What’s the difference?’ I grew up with Michael Landon. She grew up with Roseanne. Do the math.”
Melissa has always spoken highly of Landon, who became like a surrogate father for her in real life too. She continues to try to share his legacy after his death from pancreatic cancer in 1991. Meanwhile, her sister Sara grew up playing Darlene on the show Roseanne, starring Roseanne Barr, who proved to be controversial.
Carsey-Werner / Courtesy: Everett Collection.
In fact, Barr was fired from her own spinoff, The Conners, after posting racist tweets online. Barr and Sara reportedly do not have a close relationship now, as Barr blamed Sara for her getting kicked off of The Conners. She believes she was the one who complained about the tweet. Which TV parent would you rather have? Or let us know the TV parent from any series you’d most like to grow up with!
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Favorite TV Families
April 2019
Celebrate the best of the best of TV families!
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