Melissa is one of the lead senior actresses in the American entertainment industry and started her career as a child star in the late 1960s. She first began appearing in numerous commercials and then played various guest roles on television. Slowly but surely the actress has established herself as one of the main celebrities in film and drama. Melissa Gilbert rose to fame after playing the role of Laura Ingalls Wilder on the popular NBC series Little House on the Prairie, in which she starred in 191 episodes out of the total of 205 episodes from 1974 to 1983. Gilbert’s appearance in the films The Diary of Anne Frank and The Miracle Worker also earned her a lot of recognition in the country. So in this post, we are going to talk about the total net worth of Melissa Gilbert her annual salary, income sources, career, biography, and a lot more.
Net Worth 2023:
Early Life:
Melissa Ellen Gilbert was born on the 8th of May 1964, in Los Angeles, California. Mellisa was adopted by the newly engaged couple later actor and comedian Pual Gilbert and actress, and dancer Barbara Crane. The couple later adopted a son named Jonathan, but shortly after Gilbert’s parents got divorced when she was 8 years old and after that, she stayed with her mother. Mellisa’s father died when she was just 11 years old. She was raised in a Jewish religion but didn’t have any formal education about religious norms while growing up.
Early Career:
Melissa Gilbert started her career as a child actress by appearing in several commercials including, Alpo, Bonanza, and many others. As a child star, her first appearance was on the TV show titled “Little House on the Prairie” in which she portrayed Laura Ingalls Winfder from 1974 to 1983. That show became the turning point of her career and it was a huge hit in these years. During that time she also starred in several television films such as The Miracle Worker, as Helen Keller, and The Diary of Anne Frank as Anne Frank. On the consummation of her series, Gilbert continued to appear in many movies and feature films including, Sylvester (1985), Blood Vows: The Story of a Mafia Wife (1987), Killer Instinct (1988), Without Her Consent (1990), Hollywood Wives: The New Generation (2003), Heart of the Storm (2004), Thicker than Water (2005), and many more. In 1985 Gilbert appeared as Charlie in the family drama film Sylvester which was her credited theatrical film debut. In 1979, she made her debut as a voice artist in the Japanese animated film Nutcracker Fantasy. Apart from all that, Gilbert is very close to Michael Landon who is an American actor, and like a father figure to Millesa since her adopted father passed away. However, Landon and Gilbert parted ways when she found Landon’s romantic relationship with the Little House Makeup artist.
Career:
In the following year, the actress listened that Michael had pancreatic cancer and she went to Malibu to visit him where she saw that Landon was bedridden. One week later Landon died. In 1995, Mellissa Gilbert gave birth to a son with her second husband, Bruce Boxleitner, Michael, honoring the later American celebrity. In 1983, Gilbert starred in the biopic “Choices of the Heart” where she played the role of Jean Donovon, then in three episodes of “Babylon 5” as Anna Sheridan. At 6429 Hollywood Blvd in 1985, she received a star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contribution to the television industry. From 1992 to 1994 Gilbert provided vocals for the character of Barbara Gordon / Batgirl in the superhero Batman: The Animated Series. She then got an opportunity to play the main role of Kate Delcony on the legal drama television series Sweet Justice, in which she starred from 1994 to 1995. Then from 2001 to 2005, she became the President of the Screen Actors Guild. Gilbert also started a tour for the Little House on the Prairie musical and portrayed Caroline Ma Ingalls. Between 2009 to 2010 Broadway was featured on US National Tour. In 2009, she came up with the release of an autobiography entitled Prairie Tale: A Memoir. Gilbert became one of the participants in the reality show Dancing with the Stars in 2012 where she competed but was eliminated in her 8th week. In mid-2015 it was announced that she ran for Michigan’s 8th congressional district in the 2016 elections to the United States House of Representatives. Being a nominee in the district, she soon dropped out of the elections because of some health issues.
Personal Life:
In 1981 Melissa Gilbert started dating actor Rob Lowe at the age of just 17 years old. After their first meeting in 1981, the two were spotte on several occasions, at parties, including red carpet events. In 1986, Rob finally proposed to Gilbert but the relationship didn’t last long because both of them cheated on one another. A year later Rob and she decide to get separated after Melissa had a miscarriage. In 1988, Melissa started her relationship with actor Bo Brinkman and they immediately got married on the 22nd of February 1988. The two welcomed their first child a son named Dakota Paul Brinkman on May 1, 1989. Unfortunately, the couple filed for divorce and separated in 1992. In 1995 Melissa Gilbert and actor, and writer, Bruce Boxleitner. The two first met with the help of Bruce’s former wife, Kathryn Holcomb. They got engaged twice but finally got married on January 1, 1995, in Gilbert’s mother’s living room. Due to premature labor, she lost her first child with Bruce.
Family:
Later on October 6, 1995, the couple was blesse with a son named Michael Garrett Boxleitner. Bruce was previously married to Kathryn with whom he already had children so Gilbert became the stepmother of his kids including Sam and Lee Boxleitner. Sadly, Milissa and Bruce got separated in March 2011, and the actress filed for divorce in August of that year. In early 2013, Melissa Gilbert got engaged to actor Timothy Busfield. Soon after the two got married on April 24, 2013, and their wedding ceremony was held at San Ysidro Ranch in Santa Barbara amidst close friends and family members. Busfield also has children from his earlier relationship and she became a stepmother to Samuel Busfield, Wilson Busfield, and Samuel Busfield, and Wilson Busfield. The family is currently living a luxurious life in the beautiful City of New York. Gilbert in her 2009 memoir, Gilbert stated that she had battled with drug abuse and alcohol.
Texas:
In June 2015, Milissa came into the spotlight when it was announc that she owes $360k in federal income taxes. She also has arranged a payment plan with the IRS, making her second run-in with the IRS. She failed to pay her texas on time and has a federal tax debt of 360k dollars and 112k dollars in 2013 for California State Taxes.
Biography:
Melissa Gilbert Net Worth:
As of 2023, Melissa Gilbert Net Worth is estimated to be around $500 thousand. Her source of income comes from the entertainment industry such as she appeared in numerous television films and projects. She came to the limelight after appearing in 191 episodes of the show Little House on the Prairie, making her the longest starring cast on the series. Her appearance on the shows The Miracle Worker and Little House on the Prairie, earned her several accolades and awards including, 1 Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series, 1 Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Television Series, 2 Young Artist Awards, and many more. Melissa Gilbert’s annual income is roughly $100 thousand and her net worth is increasing regularly.
Endorsement:
The actress has done endorsement work for numerous brands including, The Queen’s Treasures, Crew, Crepe Erase, CB I Hate Perfume, SheaMoisture, Vanicream Skin Care, Le Labo Fragrances, Eucerin, Eminence Organic Skin Care, and many more. In addition, Gilbert was featured in television commercials for Butterball Turkeys, Belle Color hair color, Wen Healthy Hair Care System, Noxzema, Crest toothpaste, Garnier’s Belle Color, Alpo Dog Food, SheerCover cosmetics, and Chaz’s Wen healthy hair care system, among others. Jimmie Allen’s Net Worth Carrie Underwood’s Net Worth