The Ingalls Family

The Little House on the Prairie Pilot aired on March 30, 1974. The six original actors of the Ingalls family (Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, Melissa Gilbert, Melissa Sue Anderson, and Rachel Lindsay and Sidney Robyn Greenbush (twins) were in the Pilot and returned for the TV series. The Little House on the Prairie TV series premiered on September 11, 1974. Grace Ingalls played by twins, Wendi Lou and Brenda Lea Turnbaugh was added to the cast at the beginning of season 5. Albert Ingalls (a fictional character) played by Matthew Labyorteaux was introduced at the beginning of season 5 and was eventually adopted in the Little House season 6 episode, The Family Tree. The fictional characters, James (Jason Bateman) and Cassandra Cooper (Melissa Francis) were adopted by the Ingalls after their parents were killed in an accident in the season 7 episode, The Lost Ones. Adam Kendall (Linwood Boomer) and Mary Ingalls were married in Season 5. Click on the photo for links to the pages of the different actors playing the characters.