INDIANAPOLIS — Can you believe it's been 50 years since "Little House on the Prairie" made its debut on NBC?
Melissa Gilbert starred as Laura Ingalls Wilder in nine seasons – and three movies – of the western historical drama.
"I just remember the comradery, the friendship and feeling of family with the entire cast and crew, and doing work that we all knew was important but had no idea it would be quite this long-lasting." "We were telling important stories at that time. Being part of that and being part of a show that was led by Michael Landon as a kid is a real gift."
Landon, who starred as Gilbert's character's father and directed nearly half of the episodes, died at 54 years old in 1991 from pancreatic cancer.
Gilbert also grew close to Patrick Swayze ("Ghost," "Dirty Dancing") while they were workshopping a musical adaptation of "Little House on the Prairie." He died at age 57 in 2009, also from pancreatic cancer.
"It is just a brutal, horrible cancer. By the time people are diagnosed, for a majority, it is a fatal diagnosis," Gilbert said.
Gilbert, a longtime advocate for pancreatic cancer awareness, is releasing a special collection of products in honor of the half-century anniversary of "Little House on the Prairie" — with all of the proceeds going to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.
"Hopefully, no one else will – eventually – have to suffer from this disease and no family will have to lose a loved one to it," Gilbert said. "Raising funds for PanCAN is important because they're funneling so much more for treatment and, hopefully some day, a cure."
The Modern Prairie X PanCAN capsule collection includes women's and children's bonnets, a set of three pocket squares, a pie carrier, a throw blanket and a tote bag — all featuring a purple print, which is the color representing pancreatic cancer awareness.
November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month. Click here for more information on Modern Prairie's partnership with PanCAN.