‘Little House on the Prairie’ Stars Explain How Michael Landon’s ‘Miserable Childhood’ Influenced the Show

Michael Landon‘s past played a role in shaping Little House on the Prairie. 

In an interview with Woman’s World published on Wednesday, December 3, Alison Arngrim —  who portrayed Nellie Oleson Dalton on the beloved TV series  — said Landon wanted to show the familial bonds he didn’t have growing up in the western drama.

“Michael Landon himself, his home life was not happy. He had a miserable childhood, and he talked openly about how difficult his parents were,” Arngrim, 63, told the outlet. “He was looking for the kind of real family and real love and connection that the show exemplified.”

Dean Butler — who starred as Almanzo Wilder in the historical drama — also spoke to the outlet, explaining that Landon wanted to create a meaningful legacy.

“This was not a perfect human being by any stretch. He was a very full, richly diverse human being, but he understood what his job was and that was to create something that multiple generations of people could experience together,” Butler, 69, remarked.

“Something that would be foundational in terms of its goodness with people, values and morals—that would be crystal clear,” he continued. “There was very little nuance and ambiguity in what he was doing.”

Little House on the Prairie aired on NBC and ran for 9 seasons from 1974 to 1983.  Landon —  who passed away in 1991 at 54 — not only acted in the show but also served as a writer, director and producer.