Karen Grassle
Encyclopedia
Karen Grassle is an American
actress, best known for her role as Caroline Ingalls
, the wife of Michael Landon
's character and the mother of Melissa Gilbert
's character, on the Little House on the Prairie
TV series
.
in 1959 (after skipping two grades), serving as the student body's vice-president, and afterward enrolled in Sophie Newcomb College (Tulane University, 1959-1960) and then the University of California, Berkeley. She graduated with two BA
degrees in 1965, one in English, the other in Dramatic Art. She received a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
in London
, and eventually became head of its Voice Department. Her first acting job in New York City
was in the short-lived 1968 play The Gingham Tree, and she began calling herself "Gabriel Tree."
Prior to portraying Caroline Ingalls, Grassle appeared in two TV series: one episode of the soap opera
Love of Life as Bonnie Draper, and one episode of Gunsmoke
entitled "The Wiving" as Fran, one of several saloon girls kidnapped a'la Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
.
convinced her to revert to her birth name.
The series ran for nine seasons, from 1974 to 1983. In an interview, Grassle said that she loved playing the role of Caroline Ingalls.
During this time she played Kathy, the wife of Edward Herrmann
's title character in Harry's War
, a 1981 American film.
, where she remained active in theater. Eventually, she moved back to California
, where she still currently lives.
In 1994, she also appeared in the movie Wyatt Earp
, starring Kevin Costner.
In 2006, she performed in Driving Miss Daisy
in the starring role of Miss Daisy at the Manitoba Theater Center in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
. In August 2008, Grassle agreed to sign up as the promotional face for Premier Bathrooms, a supplier of bathing products for the elderly and infirm due to her association with the character of Caroline Ingalls' extolling care and family values.
; In 1982, she married J. Allen Radford, a real-estate developer, with whom she adopted a daughter, Lily. In 1991 she married Scott T. Sutherland, an osteopath; they divorced in 2000. Single, she now lives in the San Francisco Bay area with Lily.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actress, best known for her role as Caroline Ingalls
Caroline Ingalls
Caroline Ingalls, born Caroline Lake Quiner was the mother of Laura Ingalls Wilder, author of the Little House books.-Biography:...
, the wife of Michael Landon
Michael Landon
Michael Landon was an American actor, writer, director, and producer. He is widely known for his roles as Little Joe Cartwright in Bonanza , Charles Ingalls in Little House on the Prairie , and Jonathan Smith in Highway to Heaven...
's character and the mother of Melissa Gilbert
Melissa Gilbert
Melissa Ellen Gilbert is an American actress, writer, and producer, primarily in movies and television. Gilbert is best known as a child actress who co-starred as Charles Ingalls's second daughter, Laura Ingalls Wilder, on the dramatic television series Little House on the Prairie...
's character, on the Little House on the Prairie
Little House on the Prairie (TV series)
Little House on the Prairie is an American Western drama television series, starring Michael Landon and Melissa Gilbert, about a family living on a farm in Walnut Grove, Minnesota, in the 1870s and 1880s. The show was an adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder's best-selling series of Little House books...
TV series
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
.
Early career
She graduated from Ventura High SchoolVentura High School
Ventura High School is a secondary school located in Ventura, California. The school was founded in 1889 and is currently a California Distinguished School.-Notable alumni:*Mike Larrabee...
in 1959 (after skipping two grades), serving as the student body's vice-president, and afterward enrolled in Sophie Newcomb College (Tulane University, 1959-1960) and then the University of California, Berkeley. She graduated with two BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degrees in 1965, one in English, the other in Dramatic Art. She received a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art is a drama school located in London, United Kingdom. It is generally regarded as one of the most renowned drama schools in the world, and is one of the oldest drama schools in the United Kingdom, having been founded in 1904.RADA is an affiliate school of the...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and eventually became head of its Voice Department. Her first acting job in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
was in the short-lived 1968 play The Gingham Tree, and she began calling herself "Gabriel Tree."
Prior to portraying Caroline Ingalls, Grassle appeared in two TV series: one episode of the soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
Love of Life as Bonnie Draper, and one episode of Gunsmoke
Gunsmoke
Gunsmoke is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman MacDonnell and writer John Meston. The stories take place in and around Dodge City, Kansas, during the settlement of the American West....
entitled "The Wiving" as Fran, one of several saloon girls kidnapped a'la Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is a 1954 musical film directed by Stanley Donen, with music by Saul Chaplin and Gene de Paul, and lyrics by Johnny Mercer....
.
Little House on the Prairie
Grassle (as Gabriel Tree) auditioned for the role of the mother, Caroline Ingalls, in the Little House on the Prairie TV series and won the part against 47 other candidates. Michael LandonMichael Landon
Michael Landon was an American actor, writer, director, and producer. He is widely known for his roles as Little Joe Cartwright in Bonanza , Charles Ingalls in Little House on the Prairie , and Jonathan Smith in Highway to Heaven...
convinced her to revert to her birth name.
The series ran for nine seasons, from 1974 to 1983. In an interview, Grassle said that she loved playing the role of Caroline Ingalls.
During this time she played Kathy, the wife of Edward Herrmann
Edward Herrmann
Edward Kirk Herrmann is a U.S. television and film actor. He is best known for his Emmy-nominated portrayals of Franklin D...
's title character in Harry's War
Harry's War (1981 film)
Harry's War is a feature length independent film from American Film Consortium and Taft International Pictures, released in 1981. Starring Edward Herrmann, Geraldine Page, Karen Grassle, David Ogden Stiers, Elisha Cook, Salome Jens and Noble Willingham...
, a 1981 American film.
Later works
After the series ended, she moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico and became co-founder of Santa Fe’s Resource Theater Company. Later she moved to Louisville, KentuckyLouisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
, where she remained active in theater. Eventually, she moved back to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, where she still currently lives.
In 1994, she also appeared in the movie Wyatt Earp
Wyatt Earp (film)
Wyatt Earp is a 1994 American semi-biographical Western film, written by Dan Gordon and Lawrence Kasdan and directed by Kasdan. It stars Kevin Costner in the title role as lawman Wyatt Earp, and features an ensemble cast that includes Dennis Quaid, Gene Hackman, Isabella Rossellini, Mark Harmon,...
, starring Kevin Costner.
In 2006, she performed in Driving Miss Daisy
Driving Miss Daisy
Driving Miss Daisy is a 1989 American comedy-drama film adapted from the Alfred Uhry play of the same name. The film was directed by Bruce Beresford, with Morgan Freeman reprising his role as Hoke Colburn and Jessica Tandy playing Miss Daisy...
in the starring role of Miss Daisy at the Manitoba Theater Center in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. In August 2008, Grassle agreed to sign up as the promotional face for Premier Bathrooms, a supplier of bathing products for the elderly and infirm due to her association with the character of Caroline Ingalls' extolling care and family values.
Personal life
Grassle has been married three times: her first husband was actor Leon RussomLeon Russom
Leon Russom is an American Emmy-nominated actor.Russom has appeared in numerous television shows, particularly soap operas. He portrayed Admiral Toddman and the Starfleet Commander-in-Chief in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country...
; In 1982, she married J. Allen Radford, a real-estate developer, with whom she adopted a daughter, Lily. In 1991 she married Scott T. Sutherland, an osteopath; they divorced in 2000. Single, she now lives in the San Francisco Bay area with Lily.