Melissa Gilbert’s life began on May 8, 1964, in Los Angeles, California, at a place called the French Hospital, which no longer exists today. Her birth parents made the difficult choice to place her for adoption, believing that focusing on their careers was the best decision for them at that time. Within just 24 hours, a new family welcomed her into their lives—Barbara Crane and Paul Gilbert.
Barbara was an actress, and Paul was a talented comedian, actor, and dancer. The couple also adopted Melissa’s younger brother, Jonathan. When Melissa was just six years old, her parents separated, but her memories of her father remained warm and cherished. She remembered Paul as a loving and fair man.
Tragedy struck in 1976 when Paul passed away. The initial story was that he had died from a stroke, but as Melissa grew older, she discovered a painful truth—her father had actually taken his own life, a secret her adoptive family had kept hidden to protect her.
Growing up, Melissa was told that her biological father, David Darlington, was a Rhodes Scholar, and her birth mother, Kathy Wood, was a prima ballerina. But reality painted a different picture. As she matured, Melissa learned that her mother had indeed been a dancer, but her father was a stock car racer and sign painter. They both had children from previous relationships and couldn’t manage the responsibility of another child, leading to the heartbreaking decision to place Melissa up for adoption.
After Paul’s death, more revelations about her adoption came to light. Her godmother, Mitzi, shared that the Gilberts hadn’t initially planned to adopt. But when they received a call about a baby who needed a home, they hesitated before ultimately choosing to welcome Melissa into their lives. This was surprising news to Melissa, but her adoptive mother, Barbara, explained that they had been struggling to conceive and hadn’t intended to adopt until that fateful phone call.
The family’s secrets didn’t end there. At the age of 11, Melissa believed her father had died from a stroke. It wasn’t until she was 45 that she uncovered the truth—that he had taken his own life. With the help of a detective, she learned that Paul had been suffering from severe pain and had expressed s*icidal thoughts while receiving care from the VA. This discovery was devastating, but Melissa eventually found peace with the truth. Since then, she has become a passionate advocate for mental health and suicide prevention.
Despite the heartache caused by these hidden truths, Melissa forgave her adoptive mother, Barbara, for keeping them. Today, Melissa Gilbert is best known for her iconic role as Laura “Half-Pint” Ingalls Wilder on the beloved television series Little House on the Prairie. She shared her life story in her memoir, Back to the Prairie, which was published in July 2022. Now, she enjoys a quiet life with her family.
In April 2013, Melissa married Timothy Busfield in a private ceremony, marking her third marriage. Together, they are proud grandparents to eight grandchildren and live a peaceful life in a cozy 14-acre cottage nestled in the Catskill Mountains of New York.
Melissa Gilbert’s life has been a journey of unexpected twists, resilience, and a deep commitment to both her acting career and mental health advocacy.