Net Worth Ranker
What Is Melissa Gilbert’s Net Worth?
Melissa Gilbert, a prominent American actress and director, has accumulated a net worth of $500,000. This figure represents the combined net worth she shares with her husband, actor Timothy Busfield, since their marriage in 2013. Gilbert’s financial journey has encountered some difficulties, including tax issues and the financial strain resulting from a previous divorce. Her career began in the late 1960s, with her breakthrough role coming in 1974 as Laura Ingalls Wilder on the NBC series “Little House on the Prairie”.
Melissa Gilbert’s Career Highlights
Gilbert’s acting career began in the late 1960s, featuring in television commercials. She appeared in a 1968 Christmas episode of “The Dean Martin Comedy Hour”. In the early 1970s, she made appearances on shows like “Gunsmoke,” “Emergency!,” and “Tenafly.” Her career took off in 1974 with “Little House on the Prairie,” where she played Laura Ingalls. Beating over 500 other child actresses for the part, Gilbert starred alongside Michael Landon and Karen Grassle. The show aired until 1982, followed by a sequel series and television films.
During her time on “Little House on the Prairie,” Gilbert also appeared in TV films like “Christmas Miracle in Caulfield, U.S.A.” and “The Miracle Worker,” where she played Helen Keller, earning an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Special in 1980. In the early 1980s, she played Anne Frank in an adaptation of “The Diary of Anne Frank,” also starring in “Splendor in the Grass” and “Choices of the Heart,” portraying missionary Jean Donovan. She also appeared in several TV films such as “Family Secrets,” “Choices,” “Penalty Phase,” “Killer Instinct,” and “Chameleons” throughout the 1980s.
In the 1990s, Gilbert continued to work primarily in television, with credits including “Without Her Consent,” “Forbidden Nights,” “The Lookalike,” “Family of Strangers,” “Shattered Trust: The Shari Karney Story,” “Seduction in a Small Town,” “Her Own Rules,” “The Soul Collector,” and “Mistaken Identity.” From 1992 to 1994, she voiced Barbara Gordon/Batgirl in “Batman: The Animated Series”. She had a main role as Kate Delacroy on “Sweet Justice” from 1994 to 1995. In the 2000s, she appeared in TV shows like “Sanctuary,” “Then Came Jones,” “Heart of the Storm,” “Thicker Than Water,” and “Sacrifices of the Heart.” She also had a main role on the short-lived Fox sitcom “Stand by Your Man” and recurring roles on “Batman: The Animated Series” and “Secrets and Lies.” In 2012, Gilbert competed on “Dancing with the Stars,” finishing in fifth place with partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy. More recently, she starred in “Tenure” in 2017 and portrayed Mary Russell in “Hometown Christmas” in 2018.
Gilbert made her feature film debut in the 1967 comedy “The Reluctant Astronaut”. She didn’t appear on the big screen again until 1985, starring as a young horse trainer in “Sylvester”. Since then, her film credits have been limited, including “Safe Harbour” and “Guest Artist”. In 2019, Gilbert appeared in “When We Last Spoke”. She was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Television Series Drama for “Little House on the Prairie,” and won two Young Artist Awards for her work on the show. Melissa Gilbert served as president of the Screen Actors Guild from 2001 until 2005, opting not to seek re-election. In her 2009 memoir, “Prairie Tale,” Gilbert documented her battles with alcohol and drug abuse.
Financial Challenges and Real Estate
In June 2015, it was reported that Melissa Gilbert owed $360,000 in federal income taxes and had worked out a payment plan with the IRS. This followed a previous incident in 2013 where she reportedly owed $112,000. Gilbert attributed these financial issues to the recession, a divorce, and a decline in acting opportunities. In 2014, Melissa Gilbert listed her Tarzana home in Los Angeles for $1.195 million.
In 2019, Melissa and Timothy Busfield purchased a 14-acre property in New York’s Catskill Mountains for $98,000. The property is located approximately 20 minutes from Woodstock and serves as their primary residence.
Early Life and Personal Ventures
Melissa Gilbert was born on May 8, 1964, in Los Angeles, California, to David and Kathy. She was adopted shortly after birth by actor Paul Gilbert and actress Barbara Crane. Her adoptive parents divorced when she was eight. Gilbert also has a brother named Jonathan, who was also adopted by her parents. Her adoptive father passed away by suicide when she was 11.
Gilbert was engaged to actor Rob Lowe in the 1980s but the relationship ended. She married Bo Brinkman in 1988 and had a son, Dakota, before divorcing in 1992. Subsequently, she began a relationship with actor and author Bruce Boxleitner, marrying him in 1995. They had a son, Michael, and divorced in 2011. She has been married to actor Timothy Busfield since 2013.
In the summer of 2015, Gilbert announced her candidacy for the US House of Representatives, running for Michigan’s 8th congressional district. Despite winning the primary, she suspended her campaign in the spring of 2016 due to health issues.
