Melissa Gilbert is a famous actress who rose to stardom as Laura Ingalls on the hit TV show Little House on the Prairie.
But did you know that she has a brother who also appeared on the show? His name is Jonathan Gilbert, and he played Willie Oleson, the mischievous son of the town’s storekeeper.
But what happened to Jonathan after the show ended? Where is he now, and what is he doing?
In this article, we will reveal the secret life of Melissa Gilbert’s brother, and why he disappeared from the public eye.
Who is Jonathan Gilbert?
Jonathan Gilbert was born on April 28, 1967, in Los Angeles, California.
He is the adopted son of actors Barbara Cowen and Paul Gilbert, and the adopted brother of Melissa Gilbert.
He also has a half-sister, Sara Gilbert, who is the biological daughter of Barbara and her second husband, Harold Abeles.
Sara is also an actress, best known for her roles in Roseanne and The Conners.
Jonathan started acting at the age of 7 when he was cast as Willie Oleson on Little House on the Prairie.
He played the role for 10 years, from 1974 to 1983.
Jonathan also appeared in two TV movies based on the show, Little House: Look Back to Yesterday and Little House: The Last Farewell.
He also had a small role in the TV movie The Miracle Worker, where he played Jimmy, the brother of Helen Keller.
Why did Jonathan Gilbert quit acting?
Jonathan Gilbert quit acting when he was 18 years old after Little House on the Prairie ended.
He pursued a different career path and enrolled at Hamilton College in New York.
He graduated with a BA in 1988 and then went on to earn an MBA from the Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College in 1993.
Jonathan then became a stockbroker and worked for various firms in New York City.
He also changed his name to Jonathan J. Gilbert to avoid confusion with another Jonathan Gilbert who was also a stockbroker.
He is currently a managing director at Levin Capital Strategies, a financial services company.
What is Jonathan Gilbert’s relationship with Melissa Gilbert?
Jonathan Gilbert’s relationship with Melissa Gilbert is not very close, according to Melissa’s 2010 autobiography, Prairie Tale.
Melissa wrote that Jonathan moved away from California when he was in his early 20s and that she had no contact with him since then.
She said that she did not know the reason for his estrangement and that she missed him and wished him well.
Melissa also wrote that Jonathan did not attend their father’s funeral in 1976 when he committed suicide due to chronic pain.
She said that Jonathan was very close to their father, and that his death affected him deeply.
She speculated that Jonathan may have blamed himself for their father’s death and that he may have felt guilty for being adopted.
Melissa also wrote that Jonathan did not attend her wedding to Bruce Boxleitner in 1995, or her wedding to Timothy Busfield in 2013.
She said she invited him on both occasions, but he did not respond. She said that she hoped that he was happy and healthy and that she loved him.
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FAQs
How many times did Melissa Gilbert marry?
Melissa Gilbert has been married three times.
The first husband was Bo Brinkman, an actor and producer, whom she married in 1988 and divorced in 1994.
Her second husband was Bruce Boxleitner, another actor and writer, whom she married in 1995 and divorced in 2011.
Her current husband is Timothy Busfield, a fellow actor and director, whom she married in 2013.
Does Melissa Gilbert have any children of her own?
Melissa Gilbert has two biological sons from her previous marriages.
Her first son, Dakota Brinkman, was born in 1989 with Bo Brinkman.
Her second son, Michael Boxleitner, was born in 1995 with Bruce Boxleitner.
She also has five stepchildren from her second and third husbands: Sam and Lee Boxleitner, and Samuel, Daisy, and Wilson Busfield.
- What is Melissa Gilbert’s net worth?
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Melissa Gilbert has a net worth of $500 thousand as of 2023. This is a combined net worth with her husband, Timothy Busfield. Gilbert has struggled financially and personally in recent years, due to a cooling career, a costly divorce, and tax issues.
What are some of Melissa Gilbert’s movies?
Melissa Gilbert has appeared in dozens of movies, mostly on television. Some of her notable films include The Diary of Anne Frank (1980), The Miracle Worker (1979), Sylvester (1985), Blood Vows: The Story of a Mafia Wife (1987), Killer Instinct (1988), Without Her Consent (1990), The Lookalike (1990), Shattered Trust: The Shari Karney Story (1993), Cries from the Heart (1994), The Soul Collector (1999), Hollywood Wives: The New Generation (2003), and Guest Artist (2019).
How old is Melissa Gilbert?
Melissa Gilbert was born on May 8, 1964, in Los Angeles, California.
She is 59 years old as of 2023.
Melissa was adopted as a baby by actor Paul Gilbert and actress Barbara Crane, who later divorced.
She has a brother, Jonathan Gilbert, who also acted on Little House on the Prairie, and a sister, Sara Gilbert, who is known for her roles on Roseanne and The Conners.
Conclusion
Melissa Gilbert’s brother, Jonathan Gilbert, is a former actor who played Willie Oleson on Little House on the Prairie.
He quit acting when he was 18 and became a stockbroker in New York City.
Jonathan changed his name and cut off contact with his family, including Melissa.
He has not appeared in any public events or interviews since he left Hollywood.
Jonathan is a mystery to many fans, who wonder what he looks like now, and what he thinks of his sister’s fame.
