Television Actor Keeps Legacy Aliveby Tristi Pinkston | More from this Blogger 01 May 2008 10:00 AM Dean Butler, who portrayed Almanzo Wilder on the popular television series "Little House on the Prairie," became deeply interested in the real Laura Ingalls Wilder and her history. Even though the television show has been off the air for more than twenty years, Dean works diligently to pass the story on to others. Dean came on to the "Little House on the Prairie" set at the age of twenty-three and was cast as the love interest to the fifteen-year-old actress playing Laura, Melissa Gilbert. He was caught up in the story and spent time reading the book that features their courtship, "These Happy Golden Years." He admits to the discrepancy between the way their relationship was handled in the book vs. the way it was shown on television, and says he wishes they could have kept the storyline a little more close to reality, but he says he does appreciate the way it came off on film. After reading "These Happy Golden Years," he read "Farmer Boy," the book author Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote about her husband's childhood. He was intrigued to learn about the roots of his character, and today owns a production company called "Peak Moore Enterprises." This company is filming a documentary entitled "Almanzo Wilder: Life before Laura," which will be available this summer. I found it fascinating to visit Dean's blog and his website, as well as the Wilder Homestead website, and learn more about this project and the other things Dean has been involved with. "The Little House on the Prairie - The Musical" will open this summer in Minneapolis, with Melissa Gilbert as Caroline Ingalls. Dean talks joyfully about this opening on his blog, and you can see how much it means to him. It's not often we hear of an actor working so hard to keep a piece of history alive, especially a piece of history he's been privileged to reenact. My hat is off to Dean and I wish him the best in all future endeavors. My thanks to Families.com member Cheryl Malandrinos for bringing these websites to my attention. I've been in "Little House on the Prairie" heaven for days now. Related Blogs: Little House on the Prairie -- the Musical Learn more about Tristi Pinkston  I've been a blogger for Families.com since August of 2006. Relevantmedia tags User Comments ccmalandrinos (108) 01 May 2008 11:24 AMThanks for posting this Tristi. It's great the way Dean has stays connected to the character he played on TV. I'm looking forward to everything Dean is working on to keep Laura's legacy alive for generations to come. Cheryl  Heather Long (16954) 02 May 2008 06:42 AMThis is WONDERFUL. I loved the Laura Ingalls books when I was growing up and I was growing up and I was a huge fan of the series. I have often followed Melissa Gilbert's career and life (her marriages, etc) since then because I was such a huge fan. Those books are actually on our reading list with my daughter this year and I very much want to get the series on DVD so I can introduce her to the wonderful world of Laura, Mary, Nelly Olsen, Albert and more. Thanks for sharing this!  Tristi Pinkston (10839) 02 May 2008 11:05 AMSpeaking of Melissa's marriages, I'm also a big Bruce Boxleitner fan. Although I probably just spelled his name wrong. :) "Scarecrow and Mrs. King" all the way! ccmalandrinos (108) 02 May 2008 02:05 PMOh geez Tristi, we really should talk more. Bruce was my other crush. Scarecrow was too cute. I think it's a bit odd that I seem to have a thing for Melissa's husbands--TV and real. Cheryl Tristi Pinkston (10839) 02 May 2008 02:15 PMSo, while we're comparing notes, Cheryl, how do you feel about Remington Steele?  Lisa P (24013) 04 May 2008 10:13 AMAwesome blog, Tristi! Thanks for linking to all of these sites! I am so loving it :-) I read all the Laura Ingalls books as a kid. I still treasure them and am thrilled to hear that Dean is doing the Almanzo documentary. I can't wait to see it! I may also have to take a trip to MN for the musical. Lucky my in-laws live there! Community Tags history, Little House on the Prairie, television Discuss this article
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