Melissa Gilbert Celebrates Her Brother Who Once 'Cut Himself Off' from Family's Birthday

The "Little House on the Prairie" star Melissa Gilbert celebrated her brother Jonathan's birthday by sharing a series of childhood photos. Some of them feature the two having fun together, swimming, and riding in a carriage.

Melissa Gilbert signed the post with a touching tribute, saying she loves her brother. She feels "happy to say he remains one of the funniest people" she knows and also calls Jonathan "Brocephus."

The actress' hashtags under the post caught followers' attention, as they include "Jonathan Gilbert" and "Willie Oleson," indicating that he acted alongside her in "Little House on the Prairie."

"How did I not know he was your brother???" one of the fans wrote in surprise, while another left a hashtag that reads, "It all makes sense now."

Jonathan Gilbert was a child actor who starred in the original show and in the TV movie "Little House: Look Back to Yesterday." His acting credits also mention the TV movie "The Miracle Worker."

However, after a career as a child actor, Jonathan left the movie industry to study finance. He later became a stockbroker.

According to Melissa Gilbert's memoir "Prairie Tale," Jonathan "completely cut himself off from the family." He simply disappeared from their lives after turning eighteen.

Gilbert had only a few interactions and saw him a handful of times in the following decades. Although she admitted her heart ached for her brother, she felt "at peace" with his disappearance.

The book was published in 2010, so it is not known whether he returned to the familial fold during the last thirteen years.

Melissa and Jonathan have another Gilbert sibling known for her TV presence - Sara Gilbert. She gained fame after appearing in "Roseanne," playing Darlene Conner. Gilbert continued to play her character in "The Conners."

Melissa's adoptive mother gave birth to Sara during her second marriage after divorcing Melissa and Jonathan's adoptive father. Unlike her relationship with her brother, Melissa, and Sara, seem to be more in touch with each other.

Melissa behaved like a supportive sister when she understood that Sara was gay. So, when they finally had a conversation in which Sara, who was previously married for six years, came out, the "Little House on the Prairie" star reacted calmly, as she had known for years already.

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