The death of Jack Lilley has caused Melissa Gilbert deep sadness since he was both her close friend and her Little House on the Prairie co-star. The entertainment industry lost their beloved actor and stunt coordinator through his passing this week when he reached 91 years of age.
A Heartfelt Tribute
Melissa Gilbert commemorated Lilley on Instagram by describing him as one of the “favorite people on the planet” to her. From 1974 to 1983 the cast and crew of Little House on the Prairie saw Lilley in more than thirty episodes while he worked as both a stunt coordinator and an on-screen actor. To Melissa Gilbert he represented a mentor and a friend in addition to his role as colleague.
“He taught me how to ride a horse when I was just a wee little thing,” she reminisced. “He was so patient with me. He never said no when I would bound up to him squealing, ‘Can we go ride? Please, please, please?’”
A Special Reunion
In her touching post, Melissa Gilbert also recalled an unexpected reunion with Lilley in 2002 while she was filming a Western pilot for ABC.
“My first day on set was surreal,” she wrote. “Getting my hair and makeup done, laced into my corset, boots, and everything—it was such a strange déjà vu.”
It was Lilley, standing alongside Denny Allen, another wrangler from Little House on the Prairie.
“In that instant, I knew I was home,” Gilbert shared.
A Life Well-Lived
Jack Lilley’s passing was announced by his family on Instagram, though they did not disclose the cause of death. In addition to his work on Little House on the Prairie, Lilley had a role in the classic comedy Blazing Saddles.
“The man who started it all. Figuratively and literally,” his family wrote in their statement. “The card shark, the horse trader, the wrangler. The man with a story for everything. He always knew someone who could help if he couldn’t. Known to many as a friend, storyteller, joker, and a heck of a horseman.”
Remembering Jack Lilley
Friends together with fanbase supporters and professional counterparts still celebrate Lilley’s enduring impact through their tributes that celebrate both his professional success and his genuine personality traits. Through these words Melissa Gilbert leaves a lasting memorial about how he influenced her life as well as countless other people. She finalized her message to him with “Ride on, my friend.” His heart continues to carry him forever.
