Melissa Gilbert's 2 Children: All About theLittle House on the PrairieStar's Sons Dakota and Michael

Mar. 15, 2025

Melissa Gilbert with sons Dakota Brinkman and Michael Boxleitner at the Screen Actors Guild Forum and Tribute at Renaissance Hollywood Hotel in Hollywood, California.Photo:Melissa Gilbert/ Instagram

Melissa Gilbert/ Instagram

Melissa Gilbertmay have been part of a classic television family, but in real life, she has two kids of her own, Dakota Brinkman and Michael Boxleitner.

The actress rose to fame in the ’70s portraying Laura Ingalls Wilder onLittle House on the Prairie. After starring in the Western historical drama for nearly a decade, Gilbert explored other opportunities in Hollywood, focusing on television.

She eventually met her first husband, director Bo Brinkman, and the two welcomed their son, Dakota Brinkman, in May 1989. After the couple split, Gilbert went on to remarry to her second husband, fellow actor Bruce Boxleitner, and they had their son Michael Boxleitner in October 1995.

Though Gilbert kept her kids out of the limelight for much of their childhoods, she started to share more about their lives on social media as they established themselves.

Dakota appears to have dappled in acting before working on other creative ventures. Meanwhile, Michael — who was named after Gilbert’s late costarMichael Landon— has also tried out acting, landing a minor role in the CBS dramaFBI: Most Wanted.

Today, Gilbert’s family has expanded aftermarrying her husband, actorTimothy Busfield, in 2013 and becoming a stepmom to his kids. Plus, the actressbecame a grandmafor the first time when her son Dakota and his wife Marissa welcomed their daughter Ripley in 2016.

Here’s everything to know about Melissa Gilbert’s children: Dakota and Michael.

Dakota Paul Brinkman, 35

Melissa Gilbert and son Dakota Brinkman attend The 8th Screen Actors Guild Awards on March 10, 2002 in Los Angeles, California.J. Vespa/WireImage

J. Vespa/WireImage

Gilbert and her first husband, Brinkman, welcomed their son, Dakota Paul Brinkman, on May 1, 1989.

In honor of his birthday in 2020, Gilbert posted photos of Dakota from over the years onInstagram.

“He’s my first born. The first one to eternally occupy my heart,” she captioned the snaps. “I could not be more proud of the man he is. He is compassionate, funny, loving, kind and fiercely loyal. Happy Birthday Dakota Paul Brinkman! I love you 3000. xoxo, Mama.”

While Dakota grew up away from the spotlight, he landed minor roles in a few lesser-known projects up until 2016, according to hisIMDb. After that, he worked as a lead writer for the gaming companyNights at the Game Tablefrom 2019 to 2020, per hisLinkedIn.

Since then, Dakota has kept a low profile, though his mom has shared glimpses of his life on social media. When he proposed to his now-wife Marissa on Christmas Day in 2016, Gilbert celebrated the special milestone with a picture of the engagement ring.

“All I wanted for Christmas was another daughter-in-law and she said yes!! Congratulations @martobes and my first born son Dakota!” the actress wrote onInstagram.

Melissa Gilbert with her son Dakota Brinkman.Melissa Gilbert/ Instagram

Dakota and Marissa later welcomed their daughter Ripley on June 8, 2021.

“My feed is going to get boring if you’re not into babies,“Gilbert captionedpictures of the Ripley. “I’m a very proud Nana!!”

Still, theSweet Justicestar understands Dakota and Marissa’s preference not to have photos of Ripley as she’s gotten older, but they made an exception for a Valentine’s Day post in 2023.

Gilbert posted a photo of the toddler in a heart-embroidered dress onInstagram, captioning it, “I don’t post pictures of many of my grandchildren out of respect for their parents wishes that they remain out of the public eye. However I got express permission for this one. Ripley Lou- what a valentine!!!”

Michael Boxleitner, 29

Melissa Gilbert and son Michael Boxleitner attend the premiere of “Born To Be Wild 3D” on April 3, 2011 in Los Angeles, California.Jason LaVeris/ Getty

Jason LaVeris/ Getty

Gilbert and her second husband, Boxleitner, welcomed their son Michael Boxleitner on Oct. 6, 1995.

The couple named Michaelafter Gilbert’s on-screen dad, Michael Landon, whomthe actress was close towhile they were filmingLittle House.

Reflecting on her motherhood journey in August 2016, Gilbert shared details of Michael’s birth story, which involved complications.

“We all have moments in our lives that are magical, perfect, inevitable. The moments I met each of my children face to face stand out as those moments. This is the moment I met @michaelgarrett95,” she wrote on Instagram.

Gilbert revealed that she gave birth to him at 28 weeks, and although she was “afraid” for him because he couldn’t breathe on his own and had to spend time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), she knew he would pull through.

“He was only 3 lbs and had the courage of a lion,” she added. “He’ll be 21 soon but he will always, always be my Peeker McSqueek.”

Melissa Gilbert with her son Michael Boxleitner and mother Barbara Cowen.Melissa Gilbert/ Instagram

Speaking to PEOPLE in August 2024, Gilbert opened up abouther struggle with misophonia— a disorder that makes people sensitive to sounds, like chewing or finger tapping — and how it affected her kids, who had to learn to adjust.

“I had a hand signal that I would give, making my hand into a puppet and I’d make it look like it was chewing and then I’d snap it shut — like shut your mouth!” she recalled. “My poor kids spent their whole childhoods growing up with me doing this. They weren’t allowed to have gum.”

However, once she was diagnosed, she underwent several months of treatment that helped her cope with the condition and to ease tensions at home.

“Everyone around me doesn’t have to walk on eggshells,” she said, adding that after her treatment, she gave her kids an unusual gift: chewing gum.

“It’s changed my whole life,” Gilbert shared.

Like his mom, Michael is an actor who has appeared in several theatrical productions. In addition,he’s appearedin an episode of the CBS procedural dramaFBI: Most Wanted.

source: people.com