Gilbert, Melissa 1964–

(Melissa Gilbert Brinkman, Melissa Gilbert-Boxleitner, Melissa Gilbert-Brinkman)

PERSONAL

Full name, Melissa Ellen Gilbert; born May 8, 1964, in Los Angeles, CA; daughter of Paul Gilbert (a comedian) and Barbara Gilbert Cowan (a dancer, actress, talent manager, and producer; maiden name, Crane; some sources cite another surname of Yudko); stepdaughter of Warren Cowan (a publicist); granddaughter of Harry Crane (a writer and actor) and Julia Crane (a dancer); sister of Sara Gilbert (an actress, director, and writer); half sister of Jonathan Gilbert (an actor); married Bo Brinkman (an actor, producer, and writer), February 21, 1988 (divorced, 1992 [some sources cite 1994]); married Bruce Boxleitner (an actor), January 1, 1995; children: (first marriage) Dakota "Cody" Paul; (second marriage) Michael Garrett; stepsons: Sam, Lee Davis. Education: Attended the University of Southern California. Politics: Democrat.

Addresses:

Agent—Jonathan Howard, Innovative Artists Talent and Literary Agency, 1505 10th St., Santa Monica, CA 90401.

Career:

Actress, director, and producer. Appeared in advertisements, infomercials, and public service announcements, including the public service announcement series The More You Know, NBC. Also known as Melissa Gilbert-Boxleitner.

Member:

Screen Actors Guild (member of board of directors, 2000; president, 2001-05), Directors Guild of America.

Awards, Honors:

Emmy Award nomination, outstanding lead actress in a limited series or special, 1980, for The Miracle Worker; Young Artist Award nomination, best juvenile actress in a television series or special, Young Artist Foundation, 1980, Golden Globe Award nomination, best performance by an actress in a television series—drama, 1981, Young Artist awards, best young actress in a drama series, 1983 and 1984, and TV Land Award (with Dean Butler), most memorable kiss, 2006, all for Little House on the Prairie; Young Artist Award nomination, best young actress in a television special, 1982, for Splendor in the Grass; Outer Critics Circle Award, best debut performance, and Theatre World Award, outstanding new performer, both 1988, for A Shayna Maidel; Gilbert and other members of the Little House on the Prairie cast were named to the Hall of the Great Western Performers, National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, 1998; Golden Boot Award (affiliated with the Motion Picture and Television Fund), 2000; named one the one hundred greatest teen stars, VH1, 2006; received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

CREDITS

Television Appearances; Series:

Laura Elizabeth Ingalls Wilder, Little House on the Prairie (also known as Little House: A New Beginning), NBC, 1974-83.

(As Melissa Gilbert-Brinkman) Rochelle Dunphy, Stand by Your Man, Fox, 1992.

Voice of Batgirl/Barbara Gordon, Batman (animated; also known as The Adventures of Batman & Robin and Batman: The Animated Series), Fox, between 1992 and 1994.

Kate Delacroy, Sweet Justice, NBC, 1994-95.

Host, Adoption, The Hallmark Channel, beginning 2002.

Television Appearances; Miniseries:

Zoya Ossipov (title role), Zoya (also known as Danielle Steel's "Zoya"), NBC, 1995.

Herself (teen star number thirty-one), 100 Greatest Teen Stars, VH1, 2006.

Television Appearances; Movies:

Kelly Sullivan, Christmas Miracle in Caufield, U.S.A. (also known as The Christmas Coal Mine Miracle), NBC, 1977.

Helen Keller, The Miracle Worker, NBC, 1979.

Laura Elizabeth Ingalls Wilder, Little House Years, NBC, 1979.

Anne Frank, The Diary of Anne Frank, NBC, 1980.

Wilma Dean "Deanie" Loomis, Splendor in the Grass, NBC, 1981.

Jean Donovan, Choices of the Heart (also known as In December the Roses Will Bloom Again), NBC, 1983.

Laura Elizabeth Ingalls Wilder, Little House: Look Back to Yesterday, NBC, 1983.

Laura Elizabeth Ingalls Wilder, Little House: Bless All the Dear Children, NBC, 1984.

Laura Elizabeth Ingalls Wilder, Little House: The Last Farewell, NBC, 1984.

Sara Calloway, Family Secrets, NBC, 1984.

Leah Furman, The Penalty Phase, CBS, 1986.

Terry Granger, Choices, ABC, 1986.

Marian Winslow, Blood Vows: The Story of a Mafia Wife (also known as The Godfather's Wife and The Story of a Mafia Wife), NBC, 1987.

Dr. Lisa DeVito, Killer Instinct (also known as Deadly Observation and Over the Edge), NBC, 1988.

(As Melissa Gilbert-Brinkman) Claudia Cassara, Joshua's Heart, NBC, 1990.

(As Gilbert-Brinkman) Dr. Kristine Lipton, Donor, CBS, 1990.

Emily Briggs, Without Her Consent (also known as A Matter of Trust), NBC, 1990.

(As Gilbert-Brinkman) Gina Crandall and Jennifer Crandall, The Lookalike, USA Network, 1990.

Judith Shapiro, Forbidden Nights (also known as China Love Story and China Nights), CBS, 1990.

(As Melissa Gilbert Brinkman) Janet King (some sources cite Gena King) and Vanessa, With a Vengeance (also known as Undesirable), CBS, 1992.

Julie, A Family of Strangers (also known as Nee de pere inconnu), CBS, 1993.

Lynn Matthews, Dying to Remember, USA Network, 1993.

Marion Ravinel, House of Secrets (also known as Conspiracy of Terror), NBC, 1993.

Miranda Berkley, With Hostile Intent (also known as Two Cops, Two Cops: The Long Beach Sexual Harassment Case, and With Hostile Intent: Sisters in Black and Blue), CBS, 1993.

Shari Karney, Shattered Trust: The Shari Karney Story (also known as Conspiracy of Silence: The Shari Karney Story and Shattered Trust), NBC, 1993.

Karen Barth, Cries from the Heart (also known as Touch of Truth), CBS, 1994.

Mary Bennett, The Babymaker: The Dr. Cecil Jacobson Story (also known as Seeds of Deception), CBS, 1994.

Melissa Prentice, Against Her Will: The Carrie Buck Story, Lifetime, 1994.

Emma Murphy, Christmas in My Hometown (also known as A Holiday for Love), CBS, 1996.

Karen Carlson, Childhood Sweetheart?, CBS, 1997.

Sarah Jenks, Seduction in a Small Town (also known as Harvest of Lies), ABC, 1997.

Meredith Saunders, Her Own Rules (also known as Barbara Taylor Bradford's "Her Own Rules"), CBS, 1998.

Gwen Todson, Murder at 75 Birch, CBS, 1999.

Rebecca, The Soul Collector, CBS, 1999.

Sarah Barlow, Switched at Birth (also known as Mistaken Identity and Two Babies: Switched at Birth), CBS, 1999.

Donielle, A Vision of Murder: The Story of Donielle, CBS, 2000.

Jo Ellen Hathaway, Sanctuary (also known as Nora Roberts' "Sanctuary"), CBS, 2001.

Taylor Singer, Hollywood Wives: The New Generation (also known as Jackie Collins' "Hollywood Wives: The New Generation" and Femmes a Hollywood), CBS, 2003.

Cassie Brodbeck, Heart of the Storm, Lifetime, 2004.

Natalie Jones, Thicker Than Water, The Hallmark Channel, 2005.

Katelyn Weston, Spring Thaw (also known as Sacrifices of the Heart), The Hallmark Channel, 2007.

Television Appearances; Specials:

Cohost, Circus Lions, Tigers and Melissas Too, NBC, 1977.

Herself, "NBC Salutes the 25th Anniversary of the Wonderful World of Disney," The Wonderful World of Disney (also known as Disneyland, Disneylandia, The Disney Sunday Movie, Disney's Wonderful World, The Magical World of Disney, Walt Disney, Walt Disney Presents, and Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color), NBC, 1978.

NBC team member, Battle of the Network Stars IV (also known as Battle of the Network Stars), ABC, 1978.

NBC team member, Battle of the Network Stars VII (also known as Battle of the Network Stars), ABC, 1979.

Celebrity Challenge of the Sexes 5 (also known as Celebrity Challenge of the Sexes), CBS, 1980.

NBC team member, Battle of the Network Stars X (also known as Battle of the Network Stars), ABC, 1981.

NBC team member, Battle of the Network Stars XI (also known as Battle of the Network Stars), ABC, 1982.

NBC team member, Battle of the Network Stars XIII (also known as Battle of the Network Stars), ABC, 1982.

Night of 100 Stars (also known as Night of One Hundred Stars), ABC, 1982.

The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast, NBC, 1984.

Herself, NBC's 60th Anniversary Celebration (also known as NBC 60th Anniversary Celebration), NBC, 1986.

Drug Free Kids: A Parents' Guide, PBS, 1988.

(As Melissa Gilbert-Brinkman) Michael Landon: Memories with Laughter and Love (also known as Michael Landon: Memorias, risas y gran amor), c. 1992.

People's 20th Birthday, ABC, 1994.

Barney's First Adventures, 1998.

Herself, Michael Landon, 1999.

Herself, Child Stars: Their Story (also known as Child Stars), Arts and Entertainment, 2000.

Segment host, The '70s: The Decade That Changed Television, ABC, 2000.

Herself, NBC 75th Anniversary Special (also known as NBC 75th Anniversary Celebration), NBC, 2002.

Television Appearances; Awards Presentations:

(As Melissa Gilbert-Brinkman) The 43rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards Presentation, Fox, 1991.

Presenter, The 21st Annual People's Choice Awards, CBS, 1995.

Eighth Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (also known as Screen Actors Guild Eighth Annual Awards), TNT, 2002.

Presenter, Ninth Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (also known as Screen Actors Guild Ninth Annual Awards), TNT, 2003.

Presenter, 10th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (also known as Screen Actors Guild 10th Annual Awards), TNT, 2004.

Presenter, 11th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (also known as Screen Actors Guild 11th Annual Awards), TNT, 2005.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

Jenny, "Dinner Date," Emergency! (also known as Emergency One and Emergencia), NBC, 1972.

Jenny, "Helpful," Emergency! (also known as Emergency One and Emergencia), NBC, 1972.

Spratt's child, "The Judgment," Gunsmoke (also known as Gun Law and Marshal Dillon), CBS, 1972.

Tenafly, NBC, c. 1972.

Herself, Dinah! (also known as Dinah and Dinah and Friends), syndicated, 1975.

Herself, "Oral Smoke Alarm," America 2Night, syndicated, 1978.

Rocky (young teenage tomboy), "Julie's Dilemma/Who's Who/Rocky," The Love Boat, ABC, 1978.

The Hanna-Barbera Happy Hour, NBC, 1978.

Gerda (title role), "The Snow Queen," Faerie Tale Theater (also known as Shelley Duvall's "Faerie Tale Theater"), Showtime, 1985.

"Matthew Henson," An American Portrait, CBS, 1986.

"Japanese Literature," American Treasury, CBS, 1989.

"New Sweden," American Treasury, CBS, 1989.

"Stereographics," American Treasury, CBS, 1989.

"Thanksgiving and FDR," American Treasury, CBS, 1989.

Live with Regis and Kathie Lee, syndicated, 1989.

"The Spirit Cabinet," The Hidden Room, Lifetime, 1991.

Herself, The Howard Stern Interview (also known as The Howard Stern "Interview"), 1993.

Herself, Howard Stern, 1994.

Herself, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, NBC, 1994.

Anna Sheridan, "Shadow Dancing," Babylon 5 (also known as B5, Babylon 5., and Spacecenter Babylon 5), syndicated, 1996.

Anna Sheridan, "Z'ha'dum," Babylon 5 (also known as B5, Babylon 5., and Spacecenter Babylon 5), syndicated, 1996.

(Uncredited) Voice of Anna Sheridan, "War without End: Part 2," Babylon 5 (also known as B5, Babylon 5., and Spacecenter Babylon 5), syndicated, 1996.

Herself, "Michael Landon," The E! True Hollywood Story (also known as Michael Landon: The E! True Hollywood Story and THS), E! Entertainment Television, 1997.

Guest host, The Vicki Lawrence Show (also known as Fox after Breakfast), Fox, 1997 (multiple episodes).

Michelle Tanner, "The Peacemaker," Touched by an Angel, CBS, 1998.

Theresa Janovitch, "Relativity Theory," The Outer Limits (also known as The New Outer Limits), Showtime, Sci-Fi Channel, and syndicated, 1998.

Herself, Intimate Portrait: Melissa Gilbert, Lifetime, 1998.

Herself, The Daily Show (also known as The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Global Edition, Ha-Daily Show, and I satira tou Jon Stewart), Comedy Central, 1999.

Herself, The Howard Stern Radio Show, 1999.

Herself, "Melissa Gilbert," Celebrity Profile (also known as E! Celebrity Profile, Celebrity Profile: Melissa Gilbert, and E! Celebrity Profile: Melissa Gilbert), E! Entertainment Television, c. 1999.

Herself, Hollywood Squares (also known as H2 and H2: Hollywood Squares), syndicated, 2000.

Herself, "Melissa Gilbert," Biography (also known as A&E Biography: Melissa Gilbert), Arts and Entertainment, 2001.

Herself, Intimate Portrait: Melissa Sue Anderson, Lifetime, 2001.

Herself, Intimate Portrait: Patty Duke, Lifetime, 2001.

Herself, MAD TV (also known as Mad TV and MADtv), Fox, 2001.

Herself, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, ABC, 2001.

Grace Bennett, "Once upon a Family," Presidio Med, CBS, 2002.

Lorna Berlin, "Smoke and Mirrors," Providence, NBC, 2002.

Herself, The Oprah Winfrey Show (also known as Oprah), syndicated, 2002.

Herself, Intimate Portrait: Young Hollywood, Lifetime, c. 2002.

Herself, The View, ABC, 2003.

Herself, "Melissa Gilbert," Biography for Kids, Biography Channel, 2004.

Marie Wagner, "Honor Thy Mother," 7th Heaven (also known as Seventh Heaven and 7th Heaven: Beginnings), The WB, 2005.

Herself, "Charlies Angels or Too Pooped to Pop," Fat Actress, Showtime, 2005.

Herself, "1974: Melissa Gilbert," Class of …, Biography Channel, 2005.

Herself, Sunday Morning Shootout, American Movie Classics, 2005.

Guest, Good Day Live, syndicated, 2005, 2006.

Title role, "Shari Noble," Nip/Tuck, FX Network, 2006.

(In archive footage) Laura Elizabeth Ingalls Wilder, Como estan ustedes?, Television Espanola (TVE, Spain), 2006.

(In archive footage) Laura Elizabeth Ingalls Wilder, Corazon, corazon, Television Espanola (TVE, Spain), 2006.

(In archive footage) Laura Elizabeth Ingalls Wilder, La imagen de tu vida, 2006.

(In archive footage) Laura Elizabeth Ingalls Wilder, Today (also known as NBC News Today and The Today Show), NBC, 2007.

Herself, Le syndicate des acteurs a Hollywood, 2007.

Appeared in other programs.

Television Appearances; Pilots:

Laura Elizabeth Ingalls, Little House on the Prairie, NBC, 1974.

Like Magic, CBS, 1981.

Chameleons, 1989.

Kate Delacroy, Sweet Justice, NBC, 1994.

Jennifer Bastian, Finally Home, The WB, c. 2000.

Host, "Adoption," Adoption, The Hallmark Channel, 2002.

Devon Jones-Thomas, Then Came Jones, ABC, 2003.

Appeared as the host of Reunion, CBS.

Television Work; Specials:

Director, "Me and My Hormones," ABC Afterschool Specials, ABC, 1997.

Director and executive producer, Child Stars: Their Story (also known as Child Stars), Arts and Entertainment, 2000.

Film Appearances:

Voice of Clara, Nutcracker Fantasy (animated), Sanrio Communications, 1979.

Herself, Hollywood's Children (documentary), Janson Media, 1982.

Charlie, Sylvester, Columbia, 1985.

Actress in "Who Gave You the Ten Cents?," Funny, Original Cinema, 1989.

Kay, Ice House, Upfront Films, 1989.

(Uncredited) Herself, Lisa Picard Is Famous (also known as Famous), First Look Pictures Releasing, 2001.

Ophelia, Safe Harbour (also known as Danielle Steel's "Safe Harbour"), New Line Cinema, 2007.

Stage Appearances:

Night of 100 Stars (also known as Night of One Hundred Stars), Theatre at Radio City Music Hall, New York City, 1982.

Laura Wingfield, The Glass Menagerie, Chautauqua, NY, 1985.

Rose Weiss, A Shayna Maidel, Westside Theatre (Downstairs), New York City, 1987-89.

Radio Appearances; Episodic:

Herself, Howard Stern, 1994.

Herself, The Howard Stern Radio Show, 1999.

RECORDINGS

Videos:

Herself, A Little House Conversation, 2006.

Music Videos:

Ray Parker, Jr., "Ghostbusters," 1984.

OTHER SOURCES

Periodicals:

Entertainment Weekly, October 17, 2003, p. 88.

McCall's, August, 1993, p. 114.

People Weekly, March 17, 2003, p. 113.

TV Guide, April 7, 1990, p. 17.

Electronic:

The Official Melissa & Bruce Site,http://www.gilbertboxleitner.com, October 8, 2007.