Actress Melissa Gilbert revealed she reunited with former Little House on the Prairie co-star Melissa Sue Anderson in December 2025.
The two former cast mates posed for photos on Instagram while backstage at Melissa Gilbert’s off-Broadway play Pen Pals.
Fans were emotional as the former TV sisters reunited more than 50 years after Little House on the Prairie premiered.
Little House on the Prairie fans, Melissa Gilbert reunited with a TV sibling you’ll definitely be in your feels about.
On December 27, fans of the hit TV drama were shocked to discover Melissa met up with someone who played a major role in her life. Posting photos from backstage of her off-Broadway play Pen Pals on Instagram, Melissa revealed her TV sister Melissa Sue Anderson (who portrayed Mary Ingalls opposite Melissa’s character Laura) came to see her performance and came backstage for a visit.
As the two posed for the camera alongside Melissa’s cast mate Veanne Cox and acting legend Betty Buckley, Melissa couldn’t help but get emotional about reconnecting with her former Little House on the Prairie co-star. What’s more, she disclosed that her and Melissa’s relationship has been a long time coming, full of healing and nostalgia for their days working on TV together.
“Last night after @penpalsplay my genius co-star @veannecox had a surprise in the audience,” she wrote in the heartfelt caption.”But I had a secret of my own. One I’ve been keeping close to my heart for a while now. Reconnection with a sister. Long, healing talks. Lots of reminiscing. Lots of catching up. Lots of laughter and a few tears.”
“I’m so happy to have Melissa Anderson back in my life,” she added. “We share such an important history that no one else on earth truly understands. Just us Ingalls girls. The best part is, the past is now just that and we can move forward as the sisters/friends we always wanted to be.”
When fans realized Melissa was rebuilding her bond with a former star on Little House on the Prairie, it didn’t take long before they were sentimental about the surprise reunion.
“I genuinely teared up a bit reading that. I’m so happy for both of you and the renewed connection with someone who shared such a significant experience with you. ❤️,” one person wrote in the comments. “This makes my heart so very happy ❤️,” another penned. “Yes ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ We love seeing you two reunited again,” a different follower added.
As fans may know, both Melissas played Laura and Mary Ingalls throughout Little House on the Prairie’s nine-season run from 1974 to 1983. While the two appeared close on television, behind-the-scenes footage showed something a little different.
“Melissa Sue Anderson was the boss of me,” Melissa said in a filmed interview from 2009. “She took that absolutely seriously. She was two years older than me, which, you know, when you’re nine and 11 is a big deal … She was tough. I mean both off and on camera, but on camera especially.”
We love seeing these two back together again!
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