![]() |
Karen Grassle as Caroline Ingalls on the TV show Little House on the Prairie |
Karen made her television debut in 1951 appearing in the series Love of Life starring Peggy McCay, Jean McBride and Ken Roberts. It would be 23 years before she would make another television appearance. This time it would be a starring role as Caroline Ingalls in the TV show Little House on the Prairie. She would co-star with Michael Landon (Charles Ingalls), Melissa Sue Gilbert (Laura Ingalls), Melissa Sue Anderson (Mary Ingalls), Lindsay and Sidney Greenbush (Carrie Ingalls), Alison Arngrim (Nellie Oleson), Jonathan Gilbert (Willie Olsen), Victor French (Isaiah Edwards), and Merlin Olsen (Jonathan Garvey). Grassle would play the role of Caroline until 1982 when she decided to leave the show.
![]() |
Karen Grassle |
![]() |
The cast of Little House on the Prairie in the early years. Front: Melissa Sue Anderson (Mary Ingalls), Lindsay/Sidney Greenbush (Carrie Ingalls) Back: Michael Landon (Charles Ingalls), Karen Grassle (Caroline Ingalls), Melissa Sue Gilbert (Laura Ingalls also called "half-pint" by Charles Ingalls) |
![]() |
Karen Grassle as Caroline Ingalls on the TV show Little House on the Prairie |
![]() |
Michael Landon (Charles Ingalls) and Karen Grassle (Caroline Ingalls) on the TV show Little House on the Prairie |
During her run on Little House on the Prairie, Grassle made an appearance on the TV series Gunsmoke starring James Arness, Milburn Stone, Ken Curtis, and Amanda Blake (1974); Hallmark Hall of Fame: Emily, Emily co-starring Pamela Bellwood, James Farentino and John Forsythe (1977); The President's Mistress co-starring Beau Bridges, Susan Blanchard, Larry Hagman, Gail Strickland, and Joel Fabiani (1978); Battered co-starring LeVar Burton, Mike Farrell, Chip Fields, Joan Blondell, Howard Duff, Diana Scarwid, Keith Coogan, and Ali Giron (1978); Crisis in Mid-air co-starring George Peppard, Desi Arnaz Jr., Greg Morris, Dana Elcar, Michael Constantine, Fabian, Denise DuBarry, Don Murray, and Martin Milner (1979); Little House Years co-starring the regular show cast (1979); Harry's War co-starring Edward Herrmann, Geraldine Page, David Ogden Stiers, and Elisha Cook Jr. (1981); and The Love Boat starring Gavin MacLeod, Lauren Tewes, Bernie Kopell, Fred Grandy, Jill Whelan, and Ted Lange (1981);
![]() |
Karen Grassle as Caroline Ingalls on the TV show Little House on the Prairie |
![]() |
Michael Landon (Charles Ingalls) and Karen Grassle (Caroline Ingalls) on the TV show Little House on the Prairie |
After Little House on the Prairie, Grassle starred in Cocaine: One Man's Seduction co-starring Dennis Weaver, Pamela Bellwood, Jeffrey Tambor, James Spader, Denise Crosby, and David Ackroyd (1983); Hotel starring James Brolin, Connie Sellecca and Shari Belafonte (1983); Little House: The Last Farewell co-starring Melissa Gilbert, Michael Landon, Dean Butler, Victor French, Richard Bull, Jonathan Gilbert, Allison Balson, Kevin Hagen, Shannen Doherty, and Leslie Landon (1984); Between the Darkness and the Dawn co-starring and Elizabeth Montgomery, James Naughton, and Michael Goodwin (1985); Murder, She Wrote starring Angela Lansbury (2 episodes, 1987-88).
![]() |
Karen Grassle today |
Karen's last known film role was in Wyatt Earp co-starring Kevin Costner, Dennis Quaid, Gene Hackman, David Andrews, Jeff Fahey, Joanna Going, Mark Harmon, Catherine O'Hara, Tom Sizemore, Michael Madsen, Bill Pullman, Isabella Rossellini, JoBeth Williams, and Mare Winningham (1994).
![]() |
Karen Grassle now |
In 2006 Karen Grassle was on stage performing the role of Miss Daisy in Driving Miss Daisy in Winnipeg, Canada. That same year she also performed in the play The Power of Ambition. In 2008, Grassle made appearances as the spokesperson for Premier Bathrooms.
![]() |
Karen Grassle and Victor Talmadge in The Power of Ambition 2006 |
![]() |
Karen Grassle, Keith Burkland, and Kristin Stokes in The Power of Ambition 2006 |
![]() |
Recently, Karen Grassle has appeared in commercials for Premier Bathrooms |
![]() |
Karen Grassle in 2009 |

she´s looking very happy and satisfy-NICE!
ReplyDeletei think she is a very good actress and i really enjoyed watching her on the little house all those years.
ReplyDeleteIm still here in Europe watching and enjoying her on littel house on the prarie. Netherlands Europe has everyday the littel house for so many jears. Karen is made to love for ever and to watch her give me peaceful feelings
DeleteI was curious about Karen, I knew her in San Francisco circa early 1960's at the Actors Workshop...hmm... when I visit my home there again I will keep my eyes open for her...
ReplyDeleteI just saw her in a sf playhouse production...she was great..
DeleteLove her haircut....I like my hair like that. I have always loved Karen Grassle!
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't cut my hair it's not in the bible!
DeleteShe is a good actor I still watch little house on the prairie
ReplyDeleteNo one could have played the role any better. Love her forever.
ReplyDeleteI am the world's greatest Little House fan, and I always aspired to be half the woman Caroline Ingalls was. How corny is that? Love the Little House. Dr TW from SC
ReplyDeleteShe looks so happy and healthy. Life has done well for her. Love her hair style.
ReplyDeleteLovely and charming woman.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a child I was in love with her!
I am 69 years old and I have always loved Little House on the Prairle.
ReplyDeleteThe best series on TV ever.
She is a very good actress, and she was always a pretty woman, and she has aged really well.
ReplyDeleteI think she is one of the most pretty woman on tv. She made the show , little house.
ReplyDeleteI agree I had a crush on her too I thought she was absolutely beautiful
Deletelove this show and still watch this everyday..and the waltons
ReplyDeleteMe too
DeleteShe has the prettiest smile ever!
ReplyDeleteO yes that happy sweet smile is a gift of angels. I love to watch her smile.
Deletein 1975 I had a crush on Caroline Ingalls she was absolutely beautiful. And the character was absolutely wonderful
ReplyDeletein 1975 I had a crush on Caroline Ingalls she was absolutely beautiful. And the character was absolutely wonderful
ReplyDeleteI had more than a crush. If you know what I mean.
ReplyDeleteI'd still hit that and not just in the poop shoot!
ReplyDeleteThis comment should be removed. It is inappropriate and disrespecful.
DeleteThe 1/8/16 3:46pm comment is VERY Disrespectful, disgusting & RUDE!! All of the sexually inappropriate comments need to be removed!
Deletethe theme song for little house on the priarie,makes me want to cry each time i watch an episode..,
ReplyDeleteeverbody played a part and indeed they did, every time a lesson was taught
No one could have played the role any better. Love her and all of her family in Little House on the Prairie(in particular Laura Ingalls) forever.(i am Ali from Iran)
ReplyDeletei think she is a very good actress and i really enjoyed watching her on the little house all those years.i love her and all of Ingalls family in particular Laura Ingalls for ever. Ali Dehghani from Iran
ReplyDeleteI'm watching Little House again on amazon. Hard to believe it was 42 years ago!
ReplyDeleteMe, too. I'm going to miss it when I see the last of the story in reruns.
DeletePrettiest smile...ever. what a wonderful character.
ReplyDeleteThe most lovely person I ever saw on film, I watch every evening the serie LHOP happy they show every day the serie on the dutch tv. She must be in secret a angel
ReplyDeleteAlways loved "Ma" Ingalls....
ReplyDeleteme too the best mum in the world
DeleteShe is so beautiful. We watch the little house all the time on dvd. Caroline is so familiar and nice, looks like a fin. Thank you from Finland.
ReplyDeleteI loved little House On the prarie. It was funny alot of times. The most funniest part was where friendly Fred armed everyone in the butt. Today I can't get over it that part anyway because it's so funny and I love 8it. Dad made a monster out of me we have the s and Dad showed me when I was 16. I could watch them movies everyday non stop!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love her, i always wished she was my mother since i grew up without one.
ReplyDeleteShe touched all of our hearts as Caroline Ingalls on "Little House on the Prairie". There could have not been a better actress for the part. She will always be known as one of the best TV mothers of all time.
ReplyDeleteShe is the Mother that everyone dreamed of having
ReplyDelete