Melissa Sue Anderson got her start at the age of 10 when she began appearing in TV commercials and a 1972 episode of popular series Bewitched. After a year of experience, Melissa would land the role that would change her life forever as "Mary Ingalls" on hit historical Western series Little House on the Prairie.

Melissa Sue Anderson as "Mary Ingalls"

The oldest of five (later seven when "James" and "Cassandra" were adopted), "Mary Ingalls" was played by Melissa Sue Anderson for a total of eight seasons. "Mary" was the responsible older sister with a love for reading, tragically losing her eyesight at the age of 15. 

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For her performance, Melissa Sue Anderson has won numerous awards, including a Primetime Emmy Award for Best Leading Actress in a Drama Series. After she left Little House on the Prairie in 1981, Melissa would continue acting in television series. 

Melissa Sue Anderson after Little House on the Prairie

After Little House on the Prairie, Melissa Sue Anderson appeared on television series including Murder, She WroteWhich Mother is Mine, and 10.5: Apocalypse. Melissa also appeared in a number of films like 1981's Midnight Offerings and slasher film Happy Birthday to Me

In 2010, Melissa Sue Anderson, who is now 57, released an autobiography about her time as a child actor titled The Way I See It: A Look Back at my Life on Little House. Most recently, Anderson made an appearance in mystery comedy film Veronica Mars (2014) and The Con Is On (2018).

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Since 2002, Melissa Sue Anderson has lived in Montreal, Canada with her husband, writer and producer Michael Sloan, and their two children, Piper (29) and Griffin (24). The family officially became Canadian citizens in 2007. Check out some of our favorite Little House on the Prairie moments below!