The long-running award-winning family drama was based upon the series of "Little House" autobiographical books, by Laura Ingalls Wilder.
Television producer and NBC executive Ed Friendly became aware of the endearing and enduring story in the early 1970s. He asked Michael Landon to direct the pilot movie. He said he would if he could also play the father.
The Time: beginning in the 1870s.
The Place: the American frontier - more specifically (mostly) Walnut Grove / Plum Creek, Minnesota.
The Characters: the Ingalls family - as seen through the eyes of
Laura Ingalls - the precocious, winsome second daughter of
Charles 'Pa' - a homesteader farmer/woodworker; demanding and compassionate.
Caroline 'Ma' - sensitive and understanding wife and mother.
Mary - pretty older sister (12 when the series began), who would become blind due to illness.
Carrie - cute younger sister.
Jack - the loyal, lovable family dog. (he would be replaced by Bandit in the season 4 premiere episode).
Supporting characters include:
Miss Eva Beadle - the first teacher at Walnut Grove School.
Dr. Hiram Baker - the town physician.
Rev. Robert Alden - the beloved pastor of the town church.
Mr. Isaiah Edwards - The mountain-man/drifter-turned-farmer when he settled in the town. (Trademark: singing "Old Dan Tucker") The family friend with a gruff exterior but a soft heart; previously had a wife and 8-year-old daughter who died from disease. After years of being a bachelor, he met and married...
Grace Snider - the (also widowed) postmistress. They would adopt 2 boys and a girl.
Lars Hanson - Walnut Grove founder and proprietor of the Hanson Lumber Mill and boss of Ingalls & Edwards.
The wealthy Oleson family:
Nels - father and proprietor of the mercantile (general store).
Harriet - the rude, gossiping mother.
Nellie - their mean (as a child) daughter.
Willie - their mischievous son.
cast
Alison Arngrim as Nellie Oleson-Dalton Allison Balson as Nancy Oleson Bonnie Bartlett as Grace Snider-Edwards Brenda Turnbaugh as Grace Ingalls Charlotte Stewart as Miss Eva Beadle-Simms Dabbs Greer as Reverend Robert Alden David Friedman as Jason Carter Dean Butler as Almanzo James Wilder Hersha Parady as Alice Garvey Jason Bateman as James Cooper Ingalls Jim Jeter as Hans Dorfler Jonathan Gilbert as Willie Oleson Karen Grassle as Caroline Quiner Holbrook Ingalls Karl Swenson as Mr. Lars Hanson Katherine MacGregor as Mrs. Harriet Oleson Ketty Lester as Hester-Sue Terhune Kevin Hagen as Dr. Hiram Baker Kyle Richards as Alica Sanderson-Edwards Leslie Landon as Etta Plum Lindsay Greenbush as Carrie Ingalls Lindsay Kennedy as Jeb Carter Linwood Boomer as Adam Kendall Lucy Lee Flippin as Eliza Jane Wilder Matthew Laborteaux as Albert Quinn Ingalls Melissa Gilbert as Laura Elizabeth Ingalls Wilder Melissa Sue Anderson as Mary Amelia Ingalls-Kendall Merlin Olsen as Jonathan Garvey Michael Landon as Charles Philip Ingalls Missy Francis as Cassandra Cooper Ingalls Pamela Roylance as Sarah Carter Patrick Labyorteaux as Andrew 'Andy' Garvey Radames Pera as John, Jr. Richard Bull as Mr. Nels Oleson Ruth Foster as Mrs. Melinda Foster Sam Edwards as Mr. Anderson Shannen Doherty as Jenny Wilder (1982-1983) Sidney Greenbush as Carrie Ingalls Stan Ivar as John Carter Steve Tracy as Percival Dalton Victor French as Mr. Isaiah Edwards Wendi Turnbaugh as Grace Ingalls
