- Karen Grassle and Michael Langdon co-starred in Little House on the Prairie
- Michael kissed her passionately once
- What's the reason for the kiss?
Karen Grassle (81) became famous as "Caroline Ingalls" in the cult series Little House on the Prairie. Despite the great success, things weren't always so harmonious behind the scenes. In her book, Bright Lights, Prairie Dust, Karen Grassle spills some juicy details about working on set.
She also talks about why she once got a passionate kiss from her serial husband Michael Landon (†54). It all started with the actress demanding changes in her contract and a better salary.
With this desire, she went to Michael Landon, who was not only an actor, but also a producer and director of Little House on the Prairie.
Michael Landon's kiss is said to have served a specific purpose
After talking to her co-star, his demeanour is said to have suddenly changed. According to Karen Grassle, the shift was particularly apparent in a kissing scene the two were filming. Michael Landon suddenly kissed her a lot more passionately than usual.
"One day, out in the field, as we were finishing a scene and I was on my way to an afternoon talk show, his usual kiss to 'Caroline' turned into a long and heartfelt kiss", says Karen Grassle in her book.
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In her opinion, Landon wanted to soften her up with this action and use his charm to get her to retract her demands. This method worked for the "Caroline Ingalls" actress who actually didn't like her role at all, though not.
When Michael Landon realized this, he is said to have given her the cold shoulder. As Karen Grassle writes in her biography, Landon had "ignored and treated with contempt", and how "intolerable" it was.
According to the Little House on the Prairie star, the demands for more pay went against Michael Landon's ideas about control, because the series' success depended heavily on him.
However, the inappropriate kiss wasn't the only time Grassle and Landon clashed. In an interview with the New York Post, the actress reported on further experiences with her co-star on the series set and made dire allegations against Michael Landon.
The relationship between the two stars was difficult and Michael Landon is said to have even made fun of his series wife after intimate scenes.
Despite the numerous scandals behind the scenes, Little House on the Prairie is still one of the most popular TV series of all time.
