Melissa Gilbert Showers Her ‘Pa’ Michael Landon with Love in Touching Birthday Message

"Little House on the Prairie" was one of the most beloved TV shows of the '70s, with the actors building beautiful bonds and friendships long after the show ended.

Two of the actors who forged one of the strongest bonds were Michael Landon and Melissa Gilbert. The pair played father and daughter on screen and were just as close in real life.

When Landon died in 1991, Gilbert was heartbroken by the loss, like most cast and fans worldwide. Today, Gilbert still loves and remembers Landon as one of the most influential people in her life.

What Did Gilbert Say About Landon?

Landon died in July 1991 after suffering inoperable cancer of the liver and pancreas. Years after his death, he is still remembered as one of the most popular TV characters ever. Many fans and friends post about him in remembrance, and Gilbert is no exception.

In 2021, she posted a photo of her and Landon on the "Little House on the Prairie" set and said she had dreamt about him the night before. She shared:

"I'd say that I miss him, but I was just with him in my dreams. Some folks say that when we dream of a loved one who has passed, it's their way of visiting us. I'd like to believe that."

In July last year, Gilbert shared a blog post to commemorate the 31st anniversary of Landon's death. In it, she talked about his impact on her and called him her "mentor."

Gilbert said that she missed Landon so much that she could feel the pain of his death in her chest as she wrote the blog post. The actress once again commemorated Landon on his birthday this year.

Gilbert shared a photo of herself and Landon on the "Little House on the Prairie" set again and captioned it:

"Happy birthday to my mentor, my teacher, my friend, my Pa. I love you so much. Xo, Your Halfpint."

Many fans wished Landon a happy birthday in the comments and talked about what a wonderful man he had been and how much they still loved watching him on the show: Happy heavenly birthday, Michael Landon.