Melissa Gilbert, known for her role on “Little House on the Prairie,” openly discussed her adoption journey in an interview.
On April 18, 2011, Melissa Gilbert participated in an interview where she talked about her adoption. Since her mother was Kathy Wood and her father was David Darlington, she was given the name Babygirl Darlington.
Shortly after the star was born, her fiancé left her. The future actress found a long-term home in less than 48 hours, and her adoptive parents named her Melissa Gilbert.
The star was adopted by Barbara Crane and Paul Gilbert barely 24 hours after her birth. She was born on May 8, 1964, in the now-defunct French Hospital in Los Angeles.
Paul began his career as an aerialist in a family circus with roots in Buenos Aires before becoming a stand-up comedian, actor, and dancer. Barbara was a young actress in her twenties who had a short acting career.
Melissa was always aware of her adoption. In her autobiography, “Prairie Tale: A Memoir,” the actress said that as a young child she was told that her mother, Kathy, was a prima ballerina and her father, David, was a Rhodes Scholar.
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Her birth parents reportedly refused to quit their jobs to raise her, according to her adoptive parents. They were forced to give up their daughter because Melissa’s father was supposed to be working on a project at the time and the delivery time was shortened.
When Melissa was old enough, she learned the truth about her parents. Compared to her father, who raced stock cars and painted signs, Kathy was a dancer, but far from a prima ballerina.
David and Kathy each have three children from previous marriages. When they learned they couldn’t afford a seventh, they realized they had left together, gotten pregnant, and moved in with their children.
The “Little House on the Prairie” actress was shocked to learn more about her adoption after her stepfather died. Melissa’s godmother, Mitzi, was investigating the occasion when her adoptive parents took her from the hospital.
She admitted that she was surprised by the Gilberts’ return with their new baby. The actress was shocked, and she and the rest of the family turned to look at Barbara, who said: “I don’t think we had planned to adopt a child.”
Barbara claimed that before the phone rang notifying them that Melissa would be available, she and her husband had no interest in having children. When the famous adoptive mother called her husband while he was away, he advised her to “go for it.”
Melissa was taken aback when they called her “it,” but Barbara explained that she hadn’t given birth yet. Later, Barbara said they were trying to get pregnant when they found out about her.
Barbara says the Gilberts didn’t think about adoption before getting the call while they were undergoing fertility treatment. In a July 2020 interview, Melissa talked about how private her adoptive family was.
The actress said in an interview that when she was 11 years old, her father died of a stroke. But when he was 45, she found out he had killed himself.
The actress kept everything about her life secret, including herself. She told the reporter that she would never lie to her children about something so important.
Melissa thought families suffered as a result of these secrets. She has had three husbands and is now married to Timothy Busfield, the grandfather, and mother who grew up on “Little House on the Prairie.”
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Dakota Paul Brinkman was Melissa’s first child from her first marriage to actor Bo Brinkman. When she married Bruce Boxleitner, her second husband, the actress gave birth to their second child, Michael Garrett Boxleitner.
Melissa Gilbert’s journey from adoption to self-discovery serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of love, support, and open communication in families. Her experiences have shaped her perspective and fueled her passion for promoting honesty, acceptance, and understanding. By sharing her story, she continues to inspire others and contribute to the dialogue around adoption and the importance of maintaining family relationships.