Melissa Gilbert Announces the Death of ‘Little House on the Prairie’ Co-star
ArchiveFirst published March 22, 2025. It may not reflect later developments.
Melissa Gilbert has shared the sad news of the passing of Jack Lilley, a beloved member of the Little House on the Prairie cast. In a heartfelt Instagram post on March 21, Gilbert wrote, “The little house family has lost one of our own. He also happened to be one of my favorite people on the planet.”
Lilley, 91, was a skilled stuntman and actor who doubled for Victor French and appeared in various roles on the show. He also worked on films like Blazing Saddles, Sudden Impact, and The Legend of Zorro. Gilbert recalled, “He was so patient with me… He never said no when I would bound up to him squealing, ‘Can we go ride?’”
Born in California, Jack grew up around horses, following in his father’s footsteps. He later built a livestock business now run by his son. Gilbert fondly remembered him shouting, “Hey Halfpint, you old rat-[expletive]!!!” on set, saying, “Jack always felt like home to me.”
His daughter Savanah said, “You left one heck of a mark on this world, Papa.”
