Jack Lilley, an actor whose decades-spanning career includes his role in Little House on the Prairie, has died. He was 91.
Lilley’s family shared a tribute to “the man who started it all,” remembering the late actor in a heartfelt Instagram post on Thursday evening (March 20). Lilley’s family said the Little House on the Prairie star was known as “the card shark, the horse trader, the wrangler, the man with a story for everything, he always knew someone who could help if he couldn't, known to many as friend, storyteller, joker, and a heck of a horseman, and his favorite, PAPA.
“Jack went to be with his bride, Irene, tonight. He just couldn't bear another second without her. You left one heck of a mark on this world, Papa. Your laugh and spark in your eyes when you saw the ones you loved will stay with us forever,” the family shared. “Thank you to all of our family and friends for reaching out. We will let you know about a service to celebrate the life of Jack Lilley.”
Little House on the Prairie co-star Melissa Gilbert paid tribute to Lilley in a lengthy Instagram post on Friday morning (March 21). She said in her heartfelt statement that “the little house family has lost one of its own.”
“He also happened to be one of my favorite people on the planet,” Gilbert said. “He taught me how to ride a horse when I was just a wee little thing. He was so patient with me. He never said no when I would bound up to him squealing, ‘Can we go ride? Please, please, please?’ Aside from being Victor French’s photo double, he was featured prominently in many different roles on Little House. You can also see his absolute brilliance in the film Blazing Saddles.
“In 2002 (ish) I had the great pleasure of acting in a western pilot for ABC, produced by Chris Brancato and Bert Salke, starring my pal, Sean Patrick Flanery, called Then Came Jones. (Mary Elizabeth Winstead, in her very first role, played my daughter),” Gilbert continued. “It was a joy to shoot and I was so bummed when it didn’t get picked up.
“It was all very synchronistic. Our first read though was at Paramount Studios, where we had shot Little House the first four years. It was also on Halloween, which is Michael Landon’s birthday. That day, I also found out we would be shooting at Big Sky Ranch, where we had shot little house. My first day on set was surreal, getting my hair and makeup done, getting dressed, laced into my corset, boots etc. Such a strange deja vu.
“Then I walked to the set itself and before I could even focus I heard a familiar voice holler, ‘Hey Halfpint, you old rat-a**!!!’” Gilbert said. “It was Jack. He was our wrangler for that pilot and by his side was Denny Allen, who had been our wrangler on Little House. In that instant, I knew I was home. Jack always felt like home to me.
“He lived quite a life. I am so lucky that he was my friend,” Gilbert said, offering her condolences to Lilley’s family and tagging Clint (Burkey) Lilley, one of the relatives who shared the post on Thursday evening. Gilbert concluded, “Oh Jack....sweet prince...may flights of angels sing thee to thy rest. Love always, Your Halfpint.”