Celebrating its 50th anniversary and still airing in the U.S. and around the world, Little House on the Prairie is one of the most cherished family dramas in television history, and this smart, candid memoir from beloved star Dean тАЬAlmanzoтАЭ Butler, who played Laura тАЬHalf-PintтАЭ IngallsтАЩ eventual husband, is a must-read for fans, filled with insider stories and anecdotes.
Cast just before his twenty-third birthday, Dean Butler joined Little House on the Prairie halfway through its run, gaining instant celebrity and fansтАЩ enduring affection.Ironically, when the late, great Michael Landon remarked that Little House would outlive everyone involved in making it, Butler deemed it unlikely. Yet for four decades and counting, Butler has been defined in the public eye as Almanzo WilderтАФa role he views as the great gift of his life.
┬а
Butler had been cast as a romantic lead before, notably in the made-for-TV movie of Judy BlumeтАЩs Forever, opposite Stephanie Zimbalist. But Little House was, and remains, one of the most treasured shows in television history. As the eventual husband of Laura тАЬHalf-pintтАЭ IngallsтАФand the man who would share actress Melissa GilbertтАЩs first real-life romantic kissтАФButler landed as a central figure for the showтАЩs devoted fans.
┬а
Now, with wit and candor, Butler recounts his passage through the Prairie, sharing stories and anecdotes of the remarkable cast who were his on-screen family. But that was merely the beginning of a diverse career that includes Broadway runs and roles on two other classic showsтАФMoondoggie in The New Gidget and BuffyтАЩs neтАЩer-do-well father, Hank, in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Coming of age during a golden era of entertainment, Butler has evolved along with it, and today enjoys success and fulfillment as a director and producerтАФnotably of NBC GolfтАЩs FehertyтАФwhile remaining deeply loyal to Little House.
┬а
The warmth, heart, and decency that fans of Laura and Almanzo fell in love with on Little House echo through this uplifting memoir, a story, in ButlerтАЩs words, about тАЬgood luck, good television, and the very goodтАФif gloriously imperfectтАФpeople who made it so.тАЭ