Once upon a time, long before the rise of the Internet, video games, and texting, television had a unique power to shape popular culture much like movies once did before TV entered every home. During the 1970s and into the early ‘80s, a significant portion of America was captivated by Michael Landon’s beloved TV show Little House on the Prairie. In that series, Jonathan Gilbert played the memorable role of Willie Oleson. Interestingly, Jonathan was cast not only for his acting talent but also because he was the real-life brother of Melissa Gilbert, who portrayed the show’s central character, Laura Ingalls.

Despite their sibling bond, Jonathan’s character wasn’t part of the Ingalls family but instead belonged to the rival Oleson family, adding a bit of on-screen tension to the off-screen sibling relationship. While Melissa continued her acting career after the NBC series ended and later took on a leadership role as president of the Screen Actors Guild, Jonathan chose a different path. Following the final Little House television movie in 1984, he decided to step away from the spotlight and focus on other interests outside of acting.