Before his passing in 1991, Michael Landon extended an invitation to his former co-star from Little House on the Prairie, Karen Grassle, to reconnect with him. Karen, who famously portrayed Caroline “Ma” Ingalls on the cherished series, shared her experience with Closer. “We had such a meaningful conversation,” Karen reminisces. “We both chose to let bygones be bygones, even though we never explicitly discussed the past. But it meant the world to me.”
In her revealing memoir, Bright Lights, Prairie Dust: Reflections on Life, Loss and Love From Little House’s Ma, Karen delves into her journey from being an obscure theater actress to becoming a star of one of the most beloved family shows on television. She also discloses, for the first time, the dark side of her years on Little House, which were marred by sexual harassment and a juvenile vendetta orchestrated by Michael Landon. "It's incredibly challenging when you're feeling so uncomfortable and you can't defend yourself because doing so would only lead to further embarrassment," she reveals.
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Starting Off on the Right Foot
Their relationship wasn't always strained. In fact, Karen's initial impression of Michael was overwhelmingly positive. "Wow, he's really handsome," she recalls thinking. "He was incredibly charismatic, brimming with energy, and showed great sensitivity during our audition reading together." The chemistry between them was palpable, making it easy for them to slip into the roles of a married couple. "We worked together seamlessly," Karen reflects. "People would often approach me and say, 'Oh, my god, the chemistry between the two of you is incredible.' It was something I didn't consciously think about; it was more of a feeling others could sense."
As the show's star, producer, and frequent director, Michael bore a heavy burden, and it occasionally surfaced in his temperamental behavior. "He was an extremely hard worker, but he could be quite moody," Karen recalls. "There was immense pressure on him."
The Turning Point
The situation took a turn for the worse after Little House became a runaway success, and Karen requested a raise, which was denied. "I was genuinely shocked because, based on the ratings, our positive relationship, and what my agent had told me, I assumed it was a done deal," she explains.
Unfortunately, her request soured Michael's attitude toward her. He began cutting her scenes and making crude jokes at her expense. "He embarked on a campaign on set to break me down and diminish my value to the show," Karen recounts.
The Worst Incident
The most distressing moment occurred when Michael regaled the crew with obscene jokes about women's anatomy while they were filming a scene in a cramped bedroom. "I believe those jokes were intended to humiliate me because we were trapped in that tiny room, in bed, with all the men standing around. We couldn't escape between shots due to the lack of space. So there I sat, in my little nightgown, enduring those filthy jokes. It was truly awful," she says.
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It wasn't until years later, as the #MeToo movement gained traction, that Karen found the words to describe her experience. "I called a friend and asked, 'Was that sexual harassment?'" Karen reveals.
Forgiveness and Moving Forward
Karen remained on Little House for eight seasons and eventually secured a raise. "We were conditioned, as women, to rise above bad behavior, stay quiet, and just keep going. And that's exactly what I did," she explains. Today, she looks back on her time on the show with a sense of closure and peace. "The most important lesson I learned was forgiveness," Karen shares. "It frees me from carrying those negative feelings."
—Reporting by Amanda Champagne-Meadows
For more on this story, pick up the latest issue of Closer magazine, available on newsstands now.
