‘Little House on the Prairie’: Karen Grassle ‘Immediately Hit It off’ With This Co-Star
Karen Grassle starred alongside Michael Landon on Little House on the Prairie during the historical drama’s nine-season run. Playing the wholesome farming wife Caroline Ingalls, Grassle formed bonds with several cast mates over the years on the show including one whose personality was in contrast to her own.
Katherine MacGregor starred as the infamous ‘Mrs. Oleson’ on ‘Little House’
Katherine MacGregor made the notorious character of shop owner Harriet Oleson a memorable asset to Little House. With plenty of acting experience to her name, MacGregor had trained in New York and earned a list of impressive credits to her name.
“Of all the adult supporting characters, the one who most gratified the audience was Mrs. Oleson, played by Katherine MacGregor,” Grassle wrote in “Bright Lights, Prairie Dust“. “She had recently come out of New York and had all the vivacity and commitment required for a dedicated New York career.”
Grassle revealed that MacGregor had studied under acting coaches who worked with many Hollywood legends.
“She was definitely ‘Method’, a devoted student of Sandy Meisner, a famous New York acting teacher who taught such stars as Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton,” the Little House alum explained. “And she was also a student of Stella Adler, who was famous among actors.”
Karen Grassle recalled meeting Katherine MacGregor for the first time
MacGregor had an infectious personality which won over Grassle when they were introduced on set. Though their Little House characters were complete opposites in personality, Grassle and MacGregor became fast friends off screen.
“She was a large-boned, sexy brunette, and when we met, she said, ‘Call me Scotty,'” Grassle remembered. “We hit it off immediately because we loved to rehearse, and we both loved to laugh. We practiced our scenes together over and over.”
Grassle appreciated MacGregor’s confidence and how she embraced her Little House role. She admired her co-star’s bravery in playing her part with authenticity.
“Scotty attacked her character with courage, unafraid to be disliked,” Grassle wrote. “I loved that about her. Sometimes an actor’s desire for approval washes out the shadow side of her character, but Scotty never held back.”
Mrs. Oleson became a ‘Little House’ fan favorite
Harriet Oleson soon became known on Little House as the judgmental busybody of Walnut Grove. Yet MacGregor brought such fervor and comedy to the role that she became one of the show’s most popular characters.
“People loved to hate her,” Grassle remarked. “Whenever I was on the road promoting the show, people asked me about Mrs. Oleson.”
A question Grassle was always asked was what MacGregor was like behind the camera, and if she was similar to her onscreen persona.
“Scotty was warm and boisterous and generous with a hearty, earthy laugh,” Grassle wrote. “Her tough exterior and brutal frankness masked the marshmallow tenderness of her vulnerable soul. Scotty’s naturalistic delivery full of tics and starts so entranced the writers, they began to add the hesitations of speech to her dialogue. Soon we had the writers’ pauses and hiccups, plus Scotty’s own, creating a style the audience relished.”
MacGregor died in 2018.
