This ‘Little House on the Prairie’ Star Turns 60 Today — Can You Guess Who?

LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE , Patrick and Matthew Laborteaux, Season 1 (1974-1983) — Everett Collection

Patrick Labyorteaux rose to fame as a child actor on Little House on the Prairie and later became known to audiences as Navy lawyer Bud Roberts on JAG and NCIS. Born on July 22, 1965, in Los Angeles, he turns 60 this year, and his journey from a challenging start in life to a successful Hollywood career is truly inspiring. In honor of his birthday, here are five fun facts about Labyorteaux that might surprise you:

1 He was labeled “unadoptable” as a baby

Everett Collection

Labyorteaux’s life could have turned out very differently. As an infant, he was in poor health, suffering from malnutrition, and social workers had even tagged him as “unadoptable.” Thankfully, at 9 months old he was adopted by talent agent Ron Labyorteaux and actress Frances Marshall, who gave him the loving home and care he needed to thrive.

2 He acted alongside his real-life brother on Little House on the Prairie

LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, Patrick and Mathew Laborteaux, Season 1, TV series 1974-1984

Everett Collection

Both brothers appeared on the beloved family drama, with Patrick playing Andy Garvey and his brother Matthew portraying Albert Ingalls, the adopted son of the Ingalls family. This casting was a happy coincidence for the siblings, who were not biologically related (both were adopted by the Labyorteaux family) but got to share the screen as part of the Little House cast.

3 He was credited as “Laborteaux” early in his career

Actor Patrick Labyorteaux arrives at the Entertainment Tonight Emmy Party Sponsored by GLAMOUR held at the Mondrian on September 21, 2003 in Hollywood California

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

If you watch some of Labyorteaux’s early performances, you might notice something odd about the credits. In many of his roles from the 1970s and ’80s, his last name was spelled “Laborteaux” (without the “y”). This alternate spelling appears in his early film and TV credits, even though the family name is officially Labyorteaux.

4 He first costarred with Mark Harmon in a 1987 comedy film

SUMMER SCHOOL, Patrick Labyorteaux (Jock), Mark Harmon (Ctr), Courtney Thorne-Smith, 1987.

Paramount Pictures/ Courtesy: Everett Collection.

Long before JAG and NCIS, Labyorteaux and future NCIS lead Mark Harmon shared the screen in the 1987 summer comedy Summer School. In the film, Labyorteaux played football player Kevin Winchester alongside Harmon’s laid-back teacher character. Even more fun, Summer School hit theaters on July 22, 1987, meaning it premiered on his 22nd birthday. Years later, Labyorteaux reprised his role as Bud Roberts in episodes of NCIS, reuniting with Harmon on television.

5 He once threw Jason Bateman in a dumpster after being bullied by him

Actor Patrick Labyorteaux attends the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood Expansion Official Unveiling, Stage 48: Script To Screen at Warner Bros. Studios on July 14, 2015 in Los Angeles, California

Jonathan Leibson/Getty Images for Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood

Labyorteaux says that as a kid actor he was actually bullied by another future star, Jason Bateman. The two attended a special actors’ school, and Bateman (then likely on Silver Spoons) used to toss garbage at Labyorteaux as a prank. According to Labyorteaux, he eventually teamed up with his friend, Diff’rent Strokes star Todd Bridges, to get some payback. The pair grabbed Bateman and dumped him into a trash dumpster in retaliation. Listen to the whole story below: