Behind the Scenes: Mistakes and Bloopers in Little House on the Prairie
Careful viewers can spot a number of amusing errors in Little House on the Prairie, despite the show’s heartwarming tales of pioneer life and family.
There is misunderstanding over the timeline because Laura’s pregnancy famously lasts longer than a year.
Because of the difficult style procedure, Nellie Oleson’s famous curly hair was a wig that was firmly fastened.
Colonel Sanders’ appearance before his birth and before KFC was established is a funny anachronism.
Scenes set in cold Minneapolis lack winter jackets because they were filmed in Arizona during the summer.
Modern hairstyles are inappropriate for the 1870s, and Caroline’s bra was briefly shown on screen.
The historical tendency of beards is in contrast to men’s clean-shaven faces.
Distracting from the drama is a visible dummy dropped from a train during a stunt.
Despite the seriousness of filming, Michael Landon’s on-set frog pranks made many chuckle.
The cast was affected by a scandal that involved Landon and the makeup artist.
The Ingalls children’s trip scenes change strangely, and the family quilt is strangely reused in several places.
Before Landon took over, Dean Butler’s first time driving a wagon was almost dangerous.
The death of the character Albert Ingalls is unclear, which heightens the mystery.
In contrast to the actual history, characters in the finale hardly mature even when years pass.
There are several reasons why Katherine MacGregor did not appear in the finale, including conflicts about her career and spirituality.
Fans will find warmth and amusement in these amusing mistakes and anecdotes that offer a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the beloved series.
Melissa Gilbert Shares Heartfelt Tribute to Late ‘Little House on the Prairie’ Co-Star
Melissa Gilbert Announces the Death of ‘Little House on the Prairie’ Co-star
In a heartfelt social media post, former child actor Melissa Gilbert revealed the death of a longtime “Little House on the Prairie” cast member.
The tragic news of Melissa Gilbert’s “Little House on the Prairie” co-star Jack Lilley’s loss has been disclosed. On Friday, March 21, 2025, Melissa announced on Instagram that Jack had died at the age of 91.
“The little house family has lost one of our own,” she wrote in a letter. “He also happened to be one of my favorite people on the planet.”
She told him how much she admired Jack, remembering the connection they had made when he taught her how to ride a horse when she was a kid. “He was so understanding with me. I would run up to him and yell, “Can we go ride?” and dad would never say no. Would you please, would you please?”
Known for his skills as an actor and stuntman, Jack was Victor French’s picture double and made several appearances on “Little House on the Prairie.” Additionally, he played a significant part in the iconic movie “Blazing Saddles.”
He was born in Santa Clarita, California, on August 15, 1933. He starred in a number of popular movies during his career, such as “Planet of the Apes” (2001), “Sudden Impact” (1983), and “The Legend of Zorro” (2005).
Jack’s career in entertainment started early in life. After moving to Los Angeles, his father—who was originally from Texas—began renting horses to film studios.
He naturally performed stunts in Westerns as a result of this work. He assisted in the establishment of the family’s Movin’ On Livestock company, which his son Clay Lilley currently runs in New Mexico, carrying on his father’s legacy.
Los Angeles’s growing urbanization made it more and more challenging to keep horses in the city. To give their animals more free room, the Lilley family relocated north.
In 1958, Jack and his spouse, Irene, moved to the Santa Clarita Valley and lived in the house her grandparents had constructed, where she had spent her childhood. Horses and other animals remained on the couple’s farm.
One of Melissa’s favorite memories is from 2002, when she worked on the western pilot “Then Came Jones.” A teenage Mary Elizabeth Winstead played her debut role in the Chris Brancato and Bert Salke-produced series, which starred Sean Patrick Flanery.
The woman who starred in “Safe Harbour” called the experience “synchronistic,” pointing out that their initial run-through was held at Paramount Studios, where “Little House on the Prairie” was shot for its first four years. It also happened on Halloween, which was Michael Landon’s birthday, by coincidence.
She said, “Getting my hair and makeup done, getting dressed, putting on my boots, corset, etc., on my first day on set was surreal.” What a weird déjà vu.
Melissa eventually heard Jack’s well-known voice yelling, “Hey Halfpint, you old rat-[expletive]!!!”
He put her at ease on set with another wrangler from “Little House on the Prairie,” Denny Allen. “I always felt at home with Jack. He had a full life. “I feel so fortunate to have had him as a friend,” she said.
Melissa Gilbert reflected on Jack’s life and impact and thanked him for their relationship. She sent her condolences to Clint (Burkey) Lilley and his family in particular.
A poignant farewell, “Oh Jack… sweet prince… may flights of angels sing thee to thy rest,” she said as she concluded her tribute. Always love, Your Halfpint.
In a March 20 Facebook memorial, fellow industry professional Bill Herring also shared his sorrow at Jack’s death. According to Bill, Jack was “a true legend in the horse and movie industry” who provided horses and performed in a variety of roles in some of the most well-known westerns.
As a boy, he remembered listening to his father and Jack’s phone conversations, in which Jack would often ask for gentle horses for filming.
In his reflection on the passing of Hollywood’s classic western stars, Bill wrote, “All the great ol’ timers are going away, but their memories and stories will last forever.” As a tribute to their heritage, he posted a picture of his own parents and the Lilley crew taken on the “Young Guns” set.
In a touching Facebook message, Savanah Dawn Lilley, Jack’s daughter, also honored her father. She recalled him as “the man who started it all,” summarizing his varied life roles as a storyteller, card shark, expert horseman, and wrangler.
His humor and strong connections were highly recognized, and he always knew someone who could help if he couldn’t. Above all, though, he was called “PAPA.”
Jack died so he could be with his late wife, Irene, she revealed, adding, “He just couldn’t bear another second without her.”
She responded, “You left one heck of a mark on this world, Papa,” expressing her love and appreciation for him. We will always remember your laughter and the light in your eyes when you saw the people you cared about.
In addition, she expressed gratitude to family and friends for their support and promised to share information soon regarding a service to honor his life.
Having worked on some of the most cherished films and television shows, Jack leaves a lasting legacy in the entertainment sector.
