Melissa Gilbert, America’s sweetheart who captured hearts as Laura Ingalls on the beloved television series Little House on the Prairie, has had her fair share of love and heartbreak throughout her life. From her teenage romance with co-star Michael Landon Jr. to her enduring relationship with Timothy Busfield, Gilbert's love life has been as eventful as her impressive acting career.
Gilbert, who starred in Little House from 1974 to 1983, found herself intertwined with the life of Michael Landon Jr., the son of her on-screen father and mentor, the late Michael Landon. The two started dating around 1979, yet their young romance fizzled out by 1980. Despite the relationship ending, Gilbert and Landon Jr. maintained their friendship over the years, forging a bond rooted in their shared experiences on set.
Not long after her relationship with Landon Jr. ended, Gilbert found herself enamored with actor Rob Lowe. The two first met at the age of 14 but began dating seriously when they were both 17, around 1981. "I fell instantly, hopelessly and stupidly in love," Gilbert wrote in her memoir, Prairie Tale. Their romance, which lasted about six years, was marked by passionate highs and painful lows.
Gilbert recalled feeling as if she was starving for Lowe’s affection, and as their relationship progressed, tensions arose, largely due to Lowe's burgeoning career. He was rising to fame after his breakout role in The Outsiders, leading to numerous co-stars and temptations.
Over the years, Lowe admitted to infidelity during their tumultuous relationship, admitting to multiple affairs, including with actors Demi Moore and Nastassja Kinski. These revelations devastated Gilbert, leading her to pursue her own fling with the actor John Cusack, whom she kept secret from Lowe. "It was my own private ‘screw you,’" she later wrote. The couple eventually got engaged in 1986 but broke up the following year when Gilbert accidentally became pregnant; Lowe was not ready to take on fatherhood. Gilbert later experienced the heartbreak of miscarriage from this pregnancy, recalling, "I had lost my baby and my relationship with Rob. It hurt like hell."
After her passionate yet tumultuous time with Lowe, Gilbert married actor Bo Brinkman in 1988, again feeling this spark at first glance. "I turned around and saw this long-haired, very handsome man… he was gorgeous and had danger written all over him," she described of their initial meeting. This marriage welcomed Gilbert's first son, Dakota Brinkman, born the following year. Unfortunately, Brinkman dealt with alcoholism, which complicated their relationship, leading to Gilbert discovering his infidelity. After six years of marriage, the two divorced in 1994, largely attributed to these issues.
By 1995, Gilbert had married actor Bruce Boxleitner. Their 16 years together welcomed son Michael, but the couple called it quits, with Gilbert filing for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences, in 2011. This period was filled with self-discovery and reflection as she navigated her identity beyond the roles she had played as both actress and mother.
Fast forward to 2012; fate intervened when Gilbert met actor Timothy Busfield at a bar near Universal Studios. Gilbert recalls the moment with joy, saying, "There was one person sitting at the bar... and I couldn’t tell who it was, but I knew it was problematic. I knew she was the one. It felt so real." Their chemistry was undeniable, leading to their engagement by December 2012 and marriage by April 2013. After years of searching, it seemed she had finally found the happiness she had always deserved.
By 2021, Gilbert celebrated the birth of her first grandchild, Ripley, from her son Dakota, marking another joyful chapter. The following year, they adopted a rescue puppy to expand their family. Touchingly, Gilbert posted on Instagram to commemorate the 10th anniversary of her and Busfield's first meeting, stating, “I was instantly, completely and madly besotted and remain completely and madly besotted to this day.” The couple stood as symbols of enduring partnership, clearly depicting how love can flourish even after past heartbreaks.
Through her relationships and experiences, Melissa Gilbert manifests resilience. She has learned to balance love, personal struggles, and her identity as both mother and actress. Gilbert’s narrative is not just one of romantic entanglements, but rather one of growth—a reaffirmation of hope and finding lasting love beyond the trials of youth.
