Melissa Sue Anderson

Biography

Melissa Sue Anderson was very much like her most famous character, Mary Ingalls -- a quiet, slightly shy girl who would rather read a book than climb a tree. Her show business career got underway when a dance teacher urged her parents to find an agent for her. She began doing TV commercials, and the blond, blue-eyed beauty was in great demand for roles; she appeared in episodes of "The Brady Bunch" (1969)_ and Shaft (1973). During the production of "Little House on the Prairie," and after leaving the show, she starred in several films and made-for-TV movies. She continues to pursue an active acting career and published her autobiography, "The Way I See It," in 2009.

64years old

Turns 65 on September 26in 320 days

Born September 26, 1962Berkeley
Star sign: LibraThe sign runs September 23 to October 22

Movie Career

Films: 5
Career span: 37 years1981 to 2018

Every film, newest first

2018The Con Is OnIMDb rating 3.8
2008While She Was OutIMDb rating 4.8
2006Crazy EightsIMDb rating 3.8
1998Earthquake in New YorkIMDb rating 4.2
1981Happy Birthday to MeIMDb rating 6.0

Genres

Did you know?!

Big break
At 11, Anderson was cast as Mary Ingalls in Little House on the Prairie. She starred for eight seasons starting in 1974, left after season seven, and later appeared in three season eight episodes in late 1981.
Behind the award
Anderson won an Emmy for her performance in the ABC Afterschool Special Which Mother Is Mine?, which aired in 1979, after being nominated for a Primetime Emmy for Little House the year before.
Behind the award
Anderson earned Spain's TP de Oro Award for Best Foreign Actress in 1980 for Little House on the Prairie, following a 1979 guest visit to Televisión Española's program 625 Lineas.
Behind the camera
Anderson's autobiography, The Way I See It: A Look Back at My Life on Little House, came out in 2010. It draws mainly on her time as a child star on Little House on the Prairie and includes behind-the-scenes stories about the show, its stars, guest stars and crew.