Surprising Secrets from the Set of Little House on the Prairie

Before their families’ lives became intertwined through the series, Melissa Gilbert and Leslie Landon already knew each other from school. They were classmates and friends long before Gilbert became Laura Ingalls and Leslie joined the cast later as Etta Plum.

Shortly before filming began, the two were standing in their school cafeteria line when Leslie excitedly told Melissa she’d won the role — beating out 500 other girls. The news came not from a casting call, but from a friend at lunch, making it an unforgettable childhood moment.