Melissa Gilbert was born in Los Angeles in 1964 and adopted at just one day old by Barbara Crane and Paul Gilbert. Growing up, she was told her biological father was a Rhodes Scholar and her mother a prima ballerina—stories she later learned were largely untrue.

Her adoptive parents hadn’t originally planned to adopt, having undergone fertility treatments before receiving an unexpected call about an available baby girl. Despite the unconventional beginning, Melissa grew deeply attached to her adoptive father, Paul. When he died in 1976, she was told he’d suffered a stroke—only learning years later that he had died by suicide.The revelation devastated her, leading to months of grief before she sought professional help and hired a detective to uncover the full truth, discovering Paul had experienced severe physical pain and had previously expressed suicidal intentions during medical treatment.Melissa eventually forgave her adoptive mother and chose to honor her father’s memory through mental-health advocacy. She became widely known as Laura Ingalls Wilder on Little House on the Prairie from 1974 to 1983, building a resilient life despite her painful beginnings.This piece touches on sensitive themes around suicide loss—if you’re personally affected by similar experiences, I’m happy to help you find relevant support resources.