Mary from 'Little House on the Prairie' Left Hollywood for Her Kids - She Didn't Want to Raise Them like Her TV Dad's

Melissa Sue Anderson found fame as a child star thanks to "Little House on the Prairie," one of the most popular shows of the '70s. However, she retired from the spotlight for her kids and moved abroad. Everyone in the family had to adapt to their new home while she and her husband did their best to raise the kids. At 60, the actress looks happier than ever and just as beautiful in family pictures with her adult children and husband.

Melissa Sue Anderson is best known in Hollywood for playing Mary Ingall, Laura's big sister, on "Little House on the Prairie." You might remember her character went blind in season four, but her performance led to an Emmy nomination.

Despite her immense potential to become a household name in the industry, most people still remember her only for that show. But that's due to a specific reason, as Anderson didn't think acting for her main goal in life.

The actress was born in Berkeley and was only seven years old when her parents, along with her older sister Maureen moved to Los Angeles. They later met with a talent agent who helped Anderson land several commercials.

She even appeared on "The Brady Bunch," "The Love Boat," and "Shaft," but it wasn't until she was 11 that Michael Landon signed her up for her role in the popular show. Unfortunately, several things happened in her personal life, such as her parents' divorce when she was 13.

Anderson was raised by a conservative Catholic mom and was mostly scared of being social. She had private tutors most of her life. The actress even admitted:

"I don't see how I would have made it in high school."

Her mother, Marion, once revealed that Anderson went to prom, but everyone there wanted autographs and wouldn't leave her alone. Therefore, the young actress cried by the end of the night. Some people suspect this might have led to her decision to leave Hollywood.

But there are other reasons. When her character went blind in "Little House on the Prairie," the writers had no idea what else to write for Mary Ingalls. Anderson explained:

"It wasn't just the blind issue but also the period of the show. It was very limiting what you could or couldn't do. I used to say I was blind and boring. Either I was just there not doing much or going through some tragedy. I couldn't take it anymore. It became too soap opera-ish."

In her memoir book, "The Way I See It," the actress added that Mary lost a child later and became catatonic. Afterward, she was seen for a few more episodes of season eight, and that was it.

Her Marriage to Michael Sloan and How They Raised Their Children

Anderson married Michael Sloan, a prominent writer and television producer, on March 17, 1990. They had two children, Piper and Griffin, and the couple is still blissfully happy. Sloan worked on "Quincy M.E." in 1976 and was part of the original creation of "The Equalizer," the series.

He had partnered with Universal's Richard Lindheim to create a modern show based on the 1950s "Have Gun – Will Travel" from CBS. Sloan wrote the pilot but left quickly afterward, ceasing his involvement.

According to IMBD, the show was about "A retired Intelligence Agent turned private detective helps various threatened clients to equalize the odds." It ran between 1985 to 1989.

Melissa Sue Anderson actually appeared in four episodes. She and Sloan married a year after the series ended. Luckily, her husband struck a deal with Columbia Pictures and created "The Equalizer" in 2014, starring Denzel Washington.

The synopsis reads: "A man who believes he has put his mysterious past behind him cannot stand idly by when he meets a young girl under the control of ultra-violent Russian gangsters."

He also wrote and produced "The Equalizer 2" in 2018, with Washington returning for the leading role. "Robert McCall serves an unflinching justice for the exploited and oppressed, but how far will he go when that is someone he loves?" reads the summary.

Fans of the movie franchise will be excited to learn that "The Equalizer 3" will be released later this year. There is still little information about the plot, but Michael Sloan is credited as producer, so it should remain faithful to the first installments.

However, it's hard to tell whether it will be related to the currently airing show, which premiered in 2021 on CBS with Queen Latifah as the main character. The synopsis states: "An enigmatic figure who uses her extensive skills to help those with nowhere else to turn."

Despite how busy Sloan currently seems to be, he and Anderson disappeared from Hollywood for a long time. After having their kids, Anderson and Sloan decided to leave Los Angeles and settle in Montreal. The actress became a Canadian citizen along with her husband and children.

All of them have double citizenship, but Anderson appeared on "E-Talk" in 2007 to talk about how nice it was that the whole family was now Canadian. However, they had to study hard for the test. Her study notes had over 115 questions.

They all knew all the answers, which most Canadians might not even know, but they'd heard that the exam was challenging. So, they wanted to be prepared. Due to his age, Sloan was not supposed to take the test, but Anderson wanted him to accompany her.

In the interview, Anderson was asked about the fact that family shows no longer talked about values and building character. The actress agreed when asked if people needed stories that inspired them.

She also mentioned that "Friday Night Lights" was a fantastic show with excellent writing that described people learning from their worst experiences. Anderson was also questioned on her thoughts about "young Hollywood" and their problems with addiction.

The actress said she didn't face the same pressure as they did because child stars started making more money later. She doesn't think kids should work like that or receive that kind of money so early in life.

After her part in "The Equalizer," Anderson left the spotlight and didn't act much while raising her children. For the most part, she wanted to keep them away from the spotlight and the craziness of having a celebrity parent. The actress said:

"I was completely retire for five, six, seven years."

She had a few small jobs, but everything was "really for the kids." During her time on "Little House on the Prairie," Anderson saw how Michael Landon dealt with his own children. They were around, and he was stopped for autographs at one of his daughter's birthday parties. The actress added:

"The children should be the stars of their own little lives. I feel like I did the right thing. They've grown up to be their own people, and they're secure in themselves."

Meanwhile, her son, Griffin, wasn't interested in watching his mother act, but her daughter, Piper, saw several of her shows. Thanks to her parenting methods, the kids grew up like regular people and were brilliant. They also learned French in Montreal.

Anderson is not that active on social media but has shared pictures of her life on Twitter. On September 18, 214, she posted a photo with her daughter and wrote, "#tbt to a great weekend at the @GCVMuseum last month with my beautiful daughter @PiperSloan!"

Meanwhile, Piper and Griffin have their own LinkedIn accounts. She is a career development programs manager at the American Society of Hematology and has a Bachelor's and a Master of Arts from American University.

Griffin is an associate at Haworth Barber & Gerstman, LLC. He got a Bachelor of Arts from New York University and a Doctor of Law at Cardozo School of Law. Therefore, it's clear that despite their parents' connections to entertainment, both children were interested in something other than that industry.

What is Melissa Sue Anderson Doing Now?

In her interview with "E-Talk," Anderson revealed that she was only recognized a few times. Some people who grew up watching the show or watched it more recently would approach her for autographs.

However, some people are more respectful and don't say anything, but the actress thinks that not many people know her. "It's fine either way," she added. She doesn't care much for fame and never did, unlike many child stars.

Anderson explained that she was recognized a lot during her childhood and through her 20s, but she thinks it's nice if people remember her because it's been a while since her spotlight days. Ultimately, it's better if they don't because the actress was always shy.

She had a few small jobs at the time of the interview and admitted to still getting nervous despite all her previous experience. However, it's clear that she doesn't regret leaving Hollywood and settling with her family to have an everyday life in Canada.

However, Anderson has attended a few events with other Hollywood stars, such as the 61st Monte Carlo TV Festival on June 21, 2022, in Monaco, where she took pictures with Jason Priestley, Ron Perlman, and other stars.

At 60, she remains a timeless beauty with the same attractive hooded eyes that made her so popular as a young actress. On November 25, 2016, she posted a picture from her daughter's wedding; both women were stunning. Anderson wrote, "#FBF to my daughter @PiperSloan's wedding!! #WeddingHARMONy"