LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE

For eight seasons Michael Landon showedTV audiences what family life in fictionalized 19th-century Walnut Grove, Minnesota, was truly all about. With his charming good looks and radiant smile, Charles Ingalls (Landon) was a man with a heart of gold who adored his wife Caroline (Karen Grassle) and daughters Mary (Melissa Sue Anderson), Laura (Melissa Gilbert), Carrie (Lindsay and Sidney Greenbush) and Grace (Wendi and Brenda Turnbaugh). Based on the books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, Little House on the Prairie ran on NBC from 1974-83. Here are a few of the more memorable and notable episodes.

“The Voice of Tinker Jones” [Season 1, Episode 11] — Sean Penn made his acting debut at age 14 in this episode as an extra. He played one of the school kids alongside his real-life mother, who played Mrs. Kennedy.

“Bunny” [Season 3, Episode 2] —Town bully Nellie Oleson (Alison Arngrim) gets what she deserves when Laura exposes her as a liar by pushing her down a hill in her wheelchair.

“Castoffs” [Season 4, Episode 1] — “Boy, are you going to get it when I find you,” Laura warns while searching for her beloved dog Jack. What followed was one of the more gut-wrenching episodes of the series.

“I’ll Be Waving as You Drive Away, Parts 1 & 2” [Season 4, Episodes 21 & 22] — Charles gets the news that Mary is going blind but doesn’t have the heart to tell her. Eventually, Mary is sent to a school for the blind, where she meets her future husband.

“Back to School, Part 2” [Season 6, Episode 2] — Laura and Nellie get into a classic mud-wrestling fight.

“The Last Farewell” [1984TV movie] — Michael Landon returned to write, direct and star in the series’ conclusion. Karen Grassle returned, as well.they actually blew up most of the town/set in this episode.