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Jonathan Gilbert

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Jonathan Gilbert
Born
Jonathan J. Gilbert

(1967-04-28) April 28, 1967 (age 57)
Occupations
  • Actor
  • Stockbroker
Years active
  • 1974–84 (actor)
  • 1984–present (stockbroker)
FatherPaul Gilbert
Relatives

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

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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

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Gilbert is best known for his performance as Willie Oleson on the NBC TV series, Little House on the Prairie, from 1974 to 1983. 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.[5]

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).[6][7]

Filmography

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Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1974–1983 Little House on the Prairie Willie Oleson Recurring role
1979 The Little House Years TV movie and archive footage
The Miracle Worker Jimmy TV movie[5]
1983 Little House: Look Back to Yesterday Willie Oleson TV movie
1984 Little House: The Last Farewell TV movie[8]

References

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  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.
  2. ^ Davis 2009, p. 20.
  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.
  5. ^ a b "The Miracle Worker". Turner Classic Movies. Atlanta: Turner Broadcasting System (Time Warner). Retrieved August 19, 2016.
  6. ^ "Little House: Look Back to Yesterday (TV Movie 1983)". Retrieved November 2, 2017.
  7. ^ "Little House: The Last Farewell (TV Movie 1984)". Retrieved November 2, 2017.
  8. ^ Democrat and Chronicle Staff 1996, p. 44.

Sources

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