‘Little House on the Prairie’: Melissa Gilbert Pays Tribute to Late Costar Steve Tracy Who Died From AIDS
What To Know
- Melissa Gilbert paid tribute to her late Little House on the Prairie costar Steve Tracy, who died from AIDS, in a heartfelt Instagram post on World AIDS Day.
- Gilbert reflected on the devastating impact of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s.
- She urged followers to remember those lost to AIDS and emphasized the importance of never forgetting.
Little House on the Prairie star Melissa Gilbert paid tribute to her late costar, Steve Tracy, in a heartfelt PSA.
On Monday, December 1, the former child actress, who played Laura Ingalls Wilder in the beloved historical drama series, took to Instagram with an emotional post on World AIDS Day. Gilbert listed Steve Tracy — who played Percival Dalton, Nelly’s (Alison Arngrim) eventual husband — as a friend who died from AIDS.
“I remember the beginning of the #aidspandemic in the 80s. It was terrifying, swift, horrible and preventable,” she began her lengthy message. “I watched so many people I knew, danced with, worked with, and so many I loved, die horrible, painful deaths.”
Gilbert continued, “In the beginning, there was little to no acknowledgment that it was even happening. It was dismissed as a ‘gay cancer.’ It spread rapidly, unmercifully and cruelly. Then women started dying. Then children. Suddenly, it could no longer be ignored.”
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She described watching “so many” friends and others die from AIDS, writing, “Steve Tracy, Jason Jeffries, Jamil Ina…it was like a runaway train on fire. So many I admired but didn’t know…Rock, Peter, Herb, Michael, Elizabeth… I remember walking through the hospital to say goodbye to Philip Gammon. Philipp had done my mother’s hair, my friend’s hair, our family’s hair and my hair for years and he was dying. I’ve never seen anyone that frail, sick, physically wasted, and I don’t think I ever will. I certainly hope not.”
To conclude her update, Gilbert issued a bold PSA, writing, “It is so important that we acknowledge this and never forget what happened then, so it never happens again. So for Phillip and Steve and Ryann and and and … please, please, never ever forget!”
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In the comments, followers lauded the When Calls the Heart star for her tribute and spreading awareness. One Instagram user shared, “Thank you for this, Melissa. ❤️🩹.”
Another wrote, “Remembering Steve Tracy ♥️.”
Someone else commented, “Thank you, Melissa. 🙌🙌🙌.”
Meanwhile, another fan echoed, “❤️🩵🩷💙 to all we’ve lost too soon.”
Tracy died in 1986. Little House on the Prairie aired for nine seasons from 1974 to 1983, followed by three TV movies.
Little House on the Prairie, streaming on Peacock, Prime Video, and Philo