Melissa Gilbert’s life story reads like a captivating Hollywood drama. Born in 1964 in Los Angeles, the actress was only 24 hours old when her adoptive parents, Barbara Crane and Paul Gilbert, welcomed her and her brother, Jonathan, into their family.
Paul Gilbert, Melissa’s adoptive father, was a multi-talented performer – a stand-up comic, actor, and dancer who even worked as an aerialist at a family circus in Buenos Aires. Her mother, Barbara, was also an actress, though her career was cut short.
Melissa’s world was turned upside down at the age of six when her adoptive parents divorced. Tragically, she lost her father, Paul, in 1976. In her memoir, “Prairie Tale: A Memoir,” Melissa described her father as the “most incredibly talented, vivacious, funny, loving, fair person” she had ever known.
As Melissa grew older, she began to uncover the secrets surrounding her biological family. She was told that her biological mother was a prima ballerina named Kathy Wood, and her father was a Rhodes Scholar named David Darlington. However, Melissa later learned that this information was not entirely accurate – her biological mother was a dancer, but not a prima ballerina, and her father was a sign painter and stock car racer, not a Rhodes Scholar.
The revelations didn’t stop there. After her adoptive father’s passing, Melissa discovered that her adoptive parents had not actually wanted to adopt a child. “I mean, we had no plans to adopt a child,” she was told. The actress was devastated to learn that her adoptive parents didn’t truly want her.
Adding to the heartbreak, Melissa later learned that her adoptive father, Paul, had not died from a stroke as she had been told, but had instead taken his own life. This shocking truth was kept hidden from her for years, until she hired a private investigator to uncover the full story.
Despite the challenges she faced, Melissa Gilbert has found joy and fulfillment in her personal life. In 2013, she married Timothy Busfield, and together they have a blended family with eight grandchildren. Melissa also has two sons from previous marriages – Dakota Paul Brinkman and Michael Garrett Boxleitner.
Melissa Gilbert’s life story is a testament to resilience and the power of the human spirit. From the trauma of her early years to the triumphs of her acting career and personal life, her journey is a captivating and inspiring tale. Through her memoir, “Back to the Prairie,” Melissa has bravely shared her story, inviting readers to celebrate the remarkable life of this talented and resilient actress.
