Classic TV Icon Melissa Sue Anderson ('Little House on the Prairie') Turns 62: A Look Back

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Classic TV icon Melissa Sue Anderson, best known as Mary Ingalls on Little House on the Prairie (NBC, 1974–1981) is now 62 years old. This is her story.

A Closer Look

Melissa Sue Anderson was born on September 26, 1962, in Berkeley, CA. She began acting at a young age, first in TV commercials.

Anderson’s career began to take with appearances on TV shows like Bewitched, and The Brady Bunch, the latter in which she portrayed Bobby Brady’s first kiss, Millicent. She also appeared in an episode of the TV adaptation of Shaft, and shortly after landed the role of Mary, daughter to Michael Landon’s character, Pa on Little House.

The Emmy

On August 10, 1978, at only 15 years old, Melissa Sue Anderson was nominated for her Emmy and graduated from high school. Only one month a year was spent at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy in La Canada Flintridge because her education was with her on-set tutor, Mrs. Minniear.

Post Little House

After Little House, Melissa Sue Anderson continued to act, and appeared in shows like Murder, She Wrote. In 2002, she moved to Canada with her family and, eight years later, published the memoir, The Way I See It.

In the book, Anderson claimed to have learned a great deal from Michael Landon by watching him direct on the set. So much so, that the legendary actor appreciated her inquisitive nature.