Aunt of Sara Gilbert's son Levi and daughter Sawyer.

Goddaughter of Charlie Brill.

Both her ex-spouse (Bo Brinkman) and current spouse (Bruce Boxleitner) played Confederate officers in Gods and Generals (2003).

Ranked #31 in VH1's list of the "100 Greatest Kid Stars"

Best remembered by the public for her role as Laura Ingalls Wilder on "Little House on the Prairie" (1974).

Gilbert was one of 500 young girls who auditioned for the role of Laura Ingalls Wilder in the TV series "Little House on the Prairie" (1974) and she was the only one whose screen test was sent to be considered at NBC Studios. It was Michael Landon's daughter Leslie Landon who told Melissa that she had won the role of Laura when the two of them stood in line at their school cafeteria.

Adopted daughter of Paul Gilbert and Barbara Cowan.

Sister of actor Jonathan Gilbert.

Had a highly publicized relationship with Rob Lowe during the eighties and were supposedly engaged.

She is the youngest person ever to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Granddaughter of Harry Crane.

Was introduced to present husband, Bruce Boxleitner, by his ex-wife, Kathryn Holcomb.

Inducted (as a cast member of "Little House on the Prairie" (1974)) into the Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in 1998.

Dated Tom Cruise when both were teenagers.

Sister of Sara Gilbert.

In national voting completed on Friday, 2 November 2001, Melissa Gilbert was elected president of the Screen Actors Guild, taking the position held since November of 1999 by William Daniels, who declined to run for another term. She held the position until 2005, when she was replaced by Alan Rosenberg.

Has a combined family with her husband, Bruce Boxleitner: Bruce's two sons, Sam (b. 1980) and Lee (b. 1985), her own son, Dakota Paul (b. 1 May 1989) and one son together with Bruce, Michael Garrett (b. 6 October 1995).

Michael Landon Jr. took her to her senior prom in 1981.