Jonathan Gilbert

Jonathan Gilbert
Jonathan Gilbert
Born	Jonathan J. Gilbert; April 28, 1967 (age 57); Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupations	Actor; Stockbroker;
Years active	1974–84 (actor); 1984–present (stockbroker);
Father	Paul Gilbert
Relatives	Melissa Gilbert (sister); Sara Gilbert (sister);

Jonathan J. Gilbert (born April 28, 1967) is an American former television and film actor known for his role as Willie Oleson on the TV series Little House on the Prairie.

Personal life

Gilbert was born on April 28, 1967.^[1] He is the adopted son of actors Barbara Cowen (née Barbara Crane) and Paul Gilbert and adopted brother of actresses Melissa Gilbert and Sara Gilbert.^[2]

In Melissa Gilbert's autobiography, she wrote that when Jonathan was 18, he moved away from California and she had no relationship with him since then, for reasons supposedly unknown to her. Her autobiography states that he is a stockbroker living in New York City.^[3]

He reunited with his sister, Melissa, and the cast of Little House for the 50th anniversary reunion of the show in Simi Valley on March 22, 2024.^[4]

Acting career

Gilbert is best known for his performance as Willie Oleson on the NBC TV series, Little House on the Prairie, from 1974 to 1983.^[5] He is also one of only six actors on Little House on the Prairie to appear throughout the entire series, along with Melissa Gilbert, Katherine MacGregor, Richard Bull, Kevin Hagen, and Dabbs Greer. In 1979, Gilbert was in the made for TV movie The Little House Years also as Willie Oleson. Also in 1979, he was in the made-for-TV Movie The Miracle Worker as Jimmy.^[6]

He was in two out of the three made-for-TV movies based on the Little House on the Prairie TV series (Little House: Look Back to Yesterday and Little House: The Last Farewell).^[7]^[8]

Filmography

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1974–1983	Little House on the Prairie	Willie Oleson	Recurring role
1979	The Little House Years	Willie Oleson	TV movie and archive footage
1979	The Miracle Worker	Jimmy	TV movie^[6]
1983	Little House: Look Back to Yesterday	Willie Oleson	TV movie
1984	Little House: The Last Farewell	Willie Oleson	TV movie^[9]

References

^ "California Birth Index, 1905–1995". Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. Los Angeles County, California: Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
^ Davis 2009, p. 20.
^ Gilbert 2010.
^ "Melissa Gilbert And Her Brother on Little House On The..." Knitting and Crochet Forum. May 16, 2012. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
^ Trujillo, Laura (April 17, 2024). "Little House on the Prairie show celebrates 50 years". USA TODAY. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
^ ^a ^b "The Miracle Worker". Turner Classic Movies. Atlanta: Turner Broadcasting System (Time Warner). Retrieved August 19, 2016.
^ "Little House: Look Back to Yesterday (TV Movie 1983)". Retrieved November 2, 2017.
^ "Little House: The Last Farewell (TV Movie 1984)". Retrieved November 2, 2017.
^ Democrat and Chronicle Staff 1996, p. 44.

Sources

Gilbert, Melissa (2010). Prairie Tale: A Memoir (1st ed.). New York City: Gallery Books. p. 114. ISBN 978-1416599173.
Davis, Patti (2009). The Lives Our Mothers Leave Us: Prominent Women Discuss the Complex, Humorous, and Ultimately Loving Relationships They Have with Their Mothers. Carlsbad, California: Hay House. p. 20. ISBN 978-1401921620.
Democrat and Chronicle Staff (June 30, 1996). "TCM Little House: The Last Farewell". Democrat and Chronicle. Rochester, New York: Gannett Company. p. 44. Retrieved September 10, 2016. (subscription required)

External links

Jonathan Gilbert at IMDb

This article about a United States film and television actor born in the 1960s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[1] "California Birth Index, 1905–1995". Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. Los Angeles County, California: Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. Retrieved August 19, 2016.

[FOOTNOTEDavis200920-2] Davis 2009, p. 20.

[FOOTNOTEGilbert2010-3] Gilbert 2010.

[4] "Melissa Gilbert And Her Brother on Little House On The..." Knitting and Crochet Forum. May 16, 2012. Retrieved April 13, 2024.

[f835-5] Trujillo, Laura (April 17, 2024). "Little House on the Prairie show celebrates 50 years". USA TODAY. Retrieved December 21, 2024.

[The_Miracle_Worker-6] "The Miracle Worker". Turner Classic Movies. Atlanta: Turner Broadcasting System (Time Warner). Retrieved August 19, 2016.

[7] "Little House: Look Back to Yesterday (TV Movie 1983)". Retrieved November 2, 2017.

[8] "Little House: The Last Farewell (TV Movie 1984)". Retrieved November 2, 2017.

[FOOTNOTEDemocrat_and_Chronicle_Staff199644-9] Democrat and Chronicle Staff 1996, p. 44.

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