Have you ever thought about an old TV show you loved and wondered what the actors are up to now? If you were a fan of “Little House on the Prairie” and enjoyed watching the adventures of the family on the farm in Plum Creek near Walnut Grove, Minnesota, you might be curious about the cast’s lives today.
For those who admired Melissa Sue Anderson, who played Mary Ingalls, it might be surprising to learn that she chose a different path than staying in the spotlight. She decided to leave Hollywood behind and start a new life in Canada.
Anderson’s acting career began with guest roles, but she became well-known when she landed a central role in “Little House on the Prairie.” Her performance earned her several nominations for Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series, and her fans felt she truly deserved the recognition.
In a 2010 interview with Pop Entertainment, Anderson reflected on her time filming the show that made her famous. “I’m lucky that there even was a character to play because in the book, there isn’t much of one. Laura Ingalls, the author, was quite older when she wrote the books and was remembering the best parts of her life. The characters of Ma and Mary didn’t factor in a lot. There was a lot of Laura and Pa and Laura and Jack the dog and Laura and Mr. Edwards, but there wasn’t a lot of Mary. I’m fortunate that they discovered that I could act.”
After her role as Mary Ingalls, Anderson took on smaller roles. In 1990, she married television producer Michael Sloan, and in 2002, they moved to Montreal with their two children, Piper and Griffin.
In 2007, the family became Canadian citizens. Embracing their new life, Anderson chose to step away from showbiz to spend more time with her children and ensure they didn’t feel pressured to pursue acting careers themselves.
In an interview with E-Talk, Anderson shared, “I really stepped away for a long time. That was really for the kids so they would have their own sense of who they were as opposed to being with me.”
Although she mostly left the spotlight, Anderson has taken on a few small roles in recent years. Her experience on “Little House on the Prairie” inspired her to write a memoir titled The Way I See It: A Look Back at My Life on Little House.
Melissa Sue Anderson continues to live a fulfilling life away from Hollywood, cherishing her family and reflecting on the journey that made her a beloved figure on our TV screens.
