An actor from the popular TV series Little House On The Prairie has died.
The show’s main star Melissa Gilbert shared the sad news on Instagram on Friday morning.
‘The little house family has lost one of our own. Jack Lilley has passed away . He was 91 years old,’ said the actress in an emotional caption.
‘He also happened to be one of my favorite people on the planet.
‘He taught me how to ride a horse when I was just a wee little thing. He was so patient with me. He never said no when I would bound up to him squealing, “Can we go ride? Please, please, please?”
Little House On The Prairie aired from 1974 until 1983.
Based on Laura Ingalls Wilder’s series of Little House books, this drama series revolved around the 1870s adventures of the Ingalls family who owned a farm in Walnut Grove, Minnesota.
An actor from the popular TV series Little House On The Prairie has died. The show’s main star Melissa Gilbert shared the news on Instagram on Friday morning
‘The little house family has lost one of our own. Jack Lilley has passed away . He was 91 years old,’ said the actress
Aside from being Victor French’s photo double, he was featured prominently in many different roles on Little House.
‘You can also see his absolute brilliance in the film Blazing Saddles,’ noted the star.
‘In 2002 (ish) I had the great pleasure of acting in a western pilot for ABC, produced by Chris Brancato and Bert Salke, starring my pal, Sean Patrick Flanery, called Then Came Jones. (Mary Elizabeth Winstead , in her very first role, played my daughter)
‘It was a joy to shoot and I was so bummed when it didn’t get picked up.
‘It was all very synchronistic. Our first read though was at Paramount Studios, where we had shot Little House the first four years. It was also on Halloween, which is Michael Landon’s birthday. That day, I also found out we would be shooting at Big Sky Ranch, where we had shot little house.
‘My first day on set was surreal , getting my hair and makeup done, getting dressed, laced into my corset, boots etc. Such a strange deja vu.
‘Then I walked to the set itself and before I could even focus I heard a familiar voice holler, “Hey Halfpint, you old rat-ass!!!”
It was Jack. He was our wrangler for that pilot and by his side was Denny Allen, who ‘had been our wrangler on Little House.
‘In that instant, I knew I was home.
‘My first day on set was surreal , getting my hair and makeup done, getting dressed, laced into my corset, boots etc. Such a strange deja vu. ‘Then I walked to the set itself and before I could even focus I heard a familiar voice holler, “Hey Halfpint, you old rat-ass!!!”’ she said of Jack
Here the star is seen today
Melissa added that Jack always felt like home to her.
‘He lived quite a life. I am so lucky that he was my friend. All my love and prayers go out to his family and especially Clint (Burkey) Lilley. @stuntbagdrag
‘Oh Jack….sweet prince…may flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.
‘Love always, Your Halfpint.’
