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‘Little House on the Prairie’: Karen Grassle Explains Timeline of How Relationship with Michael Landon Deteriorated

While things on screen can usually seem so good, they aren’t always as they seem. Little House on the Prairie star Karen Grassle knows that too well. The former Caroline Ingalls actress recently discussed her relationship with Michael Landon.

Fans may or may not know that over the years, Grassle and Landon had a falling out. Her upcoming book is a memoir that will touch on many aspects of the show. She details her battle with alcoholism and what exactly happened between her and Landon.

While things started out well in the first season, it didn’t last. After attempting to negotiate a pay raise going into season two of Little House on the Prairie, Grassle’s costar and director did not support the move.

“Mike began to have private conversations with me to get me to give in,” the actress said to People. “He would say things like, ‘The network has done some testing and Ma is not the favorite character so they don’t want to give you more money’ or he’d say ‘You know, it’s a jungle out there’ or ‘Well, Karen there has to be some parity between you and the girls’”

Michael Landon started to treat her differently on set as well. She appeared in fewer scenes and when she did appear, things were awkward.

“I love playing those scenes where we would talk over whatever the town crisis was and kind of flirt with each other, they were really sweet scenes, but he began to tell filthy jokes while we were sitting there in that bed, and I had nowhere to go,” she explained. “I was trapped in that little bed in that little room, with me standing all around and there was light just on us. It was so humiliating.”

‘Little House on the Prairie’ Stars Made Amends

It was back in 1991 when Michael Landon died of pancreatic cancer. While the relationship during the show had deteriorated, the two were able to come together and make amends later. Once Little House on the Prairie ended in 1983, and the two had time apart, things were easier to reconcile.

“Mike and I ended on a positive note and I was so, so glad for that,” she says. Losing friends is hard. It sounds like these two were able to come to terms with one another after all. Ma and Pa shouldn’t fight you know.

With her new book, the Little House on the Prairie star is going to be revealing quite a bit. There are going to be more stories revealed when the book hits shelves. Fans are going to go crazy over this. Perhaps the book will make a great Christmas gift this year for those Little House fans in your own life!