‘70s TV Star Melissa Gilbert Reveals Surprising Way She Found Out She Landed Role on Beloved Show

Melissa Gilbert learned that she landed a starring role on Little House on the Prairie in an unexpected way. In a new interview with People magazine, the actress revealed she found out that she landed the starring role as Laura “Half Pint” Ingalls "unconventionally," from director and star Michael Landon's daughter, Leslie.

The actress explained that she was sure she didn’t get the role after dozens of girls auditioned for the coveted part, but a run-in with Landon’s daughter gave her an early alert.