Then vs. Now: How the Original ‘Little House on the Prairie’ Cast Compares to the New Reboot Stars, in Side by Side Photos
See the original 'Little House' cast side by side with the reboot stars playing Laura, Pa, Ma and Mary
Little House on the Prairie has been a beloved show for decades, since it first aired in 1974, and something that fans and the stars alike hold close to their hearts. There have been remakes over the years, such as the 2005 Disney miniseries, and now another is in the works, coming to Netflix later this year, with new stars gearing up to bring these characters to life in a different way.
Melissa Gilbert became an instant star as Laura Ingalls for nine years, while the series brought even more fame to the already-established Michael Landon, who portrayed Charles Ingalls. But soon enough, you’ll meet actors Alice Halsey as Laura, Luke Bracey as Charles, Crosby Fitzgerald as Caroline and Skywalker Hughes as Mary in the new reboot. We took a moment to get to know them all below, alongside the actors who originated their roles in the 1974 series.
Laura Ingalls: Melissa Gilbert vs. Alice Halsey
Laura Ingalls may be one of TV’s most iconic roles, first made famous by Melissa Gilbert on the original series from 1974-1983. On the left, you can see a young Gilbert as Laura, and on the right is Alice Halsey, who will be taking on the role in the upcoming reboot. She has previously starred in Lessons in Chemistry (2023), Kindergarten: The Musical (2024-2025) and Days of our Lives (2025).
Halsey shared her excitement after booking the role, writing, “I love all of the Little House books so much, and I’m so excited and grateful to get to bring Laura to life! Thank you so much to the Little House creative team for putting your faith in me.”
Melissa Gilbert wished the young actress well after she was announced to star as Laura. “And…here she is,” she wrote on Instagram. “Wishing them and @thealicehalsey all the luck in the world!! Netflix’s new Little House on the Prairie series has found its Laura Ingalls! We are so thrilled to announce that Alice Halsey will be playing the iconic role of Laura Ingalls.” While Gilbert is not directly involved with the reboot, she has been very supportive of the venture.
Charles Ingalls: Michael Landon vs. Luke Bracey
It’s hard to imagine anybody but Michael Landon as Charles “Pa” Ingalls, especially because of Landon’s star power at the time of the original series, having just come off a long-run as Little Joe Cartwright in Bonanza. But now, Luke Bracey is taking on that role and is ready to bring Charles back to the screen.
On the left above is Michael Landon while he portrayed Charles in the 197os and on the right is Luke Bracey. Bracey is best known for his roles in The Best of Me (2014), Point Break (2015), Hacksaw Ridge (2016) and Holidate (2020).
Caroline Ingalls: Karen Grassle vs. Crosby Fitzgerald
When you picture Caroline “Ma” Ingalls, you probably see Karen Grassle, who famously brought the character to life in the ’70s. But now the role will be reinvented by Crosby Fitzgerald, who has previously appeared in Abbott Elementary (2022), Palm Royale (2024) and The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox (2025).
Although Grassle hasn’t spoken about this new reboot, she did share her thoughts on whether a Little House reboot would be successful before the announcement of this version.
“There have been lots of attempts to do a Little House on the Prairie again,” Grassle pointed out. “There have been shows, there have been a musical and I think we had a unique experience and it can’t be repeated… And then the fact that we were all so perfectly cast was a kind of genius.”
Mary Ingalls: Melissa Sue Anderson vs. Skywalker Hughes
Melissa Sue Anderson originally brought the oldest Ingalls sister, Mary, to life and is now passing the baton to Skywalker Hughes. The young actress is best known for Joe Pickett (2021-2023) and Ordinary Angels (2024), but has multiple projects in the works.
“I am so thankful for this!” Hughes wrote on Instagram after being cast. “I’ve loved the Little House books since I was very young and little me would absolutely die of excitement! Big me is sooooo excited, too!”
Be sure to keep up with all Little House on the Prairie reboot news here and tune in when it premieres on Netflix!
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