Melissa Sue Anderson, famously known for her role as Mary Ingalls on “Little House on the Prairie,” once had dreams of having a large family and a loving husband. Though she didn’t have as many children as she envisioned, she made significant sacrifices to ensure her children had her full attention.
The former child star once expressed her desire for a big family, saying, “I’d like to have four to six kids – I like big families.” When it came to finding a partner, she looked for someone kind and loving, much like anyone else would.
Melissa Sue Anderson’s Journey to Marriage
Before meeting her husband, Michael Sloan, Anderson dated Frank Sinatra Jr., whom she met while appearing on “The Love Boat” in 1979. Reflecting on their relationship, she said, “It was exciting. But it was never really wild. That’s just not me.”
After her time on “Little House,” Anderson appeared in numerous TV movies, including “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” in 1987, where she met Sloan, the show’s executive producer. They married three years later, on March 17, 1990. Anderson then began to turn down acting roles to focus on her family.
Michael Sloan, born in October 1946, is a producer and writer known for “The Equalizer” series and films. The couple’s connection was strengthened by their shared professional background. Anderson even played a role in Sloan’s “The Equalizer” TV series.
Life After Marriage and Retirement
After marrying Sloan, Anderson retired from acting at age 35 to live a quieter life in Southern California’s Topanga Canyon. The couple had two children: daughter Piper, born in February 1991, and son Griffin, born in June 1996.
Discussing her retirement, Anderson said she enjoyed living a normal life away from Hollywood. “It’s nice just being a regular person. It’s good to get to know what I’m like without the acting,” she shared.
Anderson knew early on that balancing a career and motherhood would be challenging. “I didn’t want my kids to grow up around a parent who’s being stopped and asked for photographs all the time. They’ve been able to grow up being the stars of the household,” she explained.
Reflecting on the impact of fame on family life, she mentioned how Michael Landon’s fame affected his children. “I remember Michael Landon being stopped for autographs at his daughter’s birthday party. It takes so much attention away from the child,” she said.
A Return to Acting and Supporting Her Children
As her children grew older and more independent, Anderson slowly returned to acting. At 43, she played the President’s wife in NBC’s “10.5: Apocalypse,” filmed in Montreal, where she lived with her family. This role marked one of her most significant returns to acting after a long break.
Despite her brief return, Anderson’s main focus remained her children. Piper, now 32, works as a Training and Evaluation Programs Specialist and speaks four languages. Griffin, 26, is a law clerk and also multilingual, like his sister.
Anderson and Sloan moved to Canada in 2002 and became Canadian citizens in 2007. Anderson continued to balance her career and family, and in 2012, she published her autobiography, “The Way I See It: A Look Back At My Life on Little House.” She also participated in a “Little House” cast reunion on the “Today Show” in 2014.
Through her journey, Anderson has demonstrated a remarkable ability to balance personal aspirations with family commitments, creating a fulfilling life both on and off the screen.
