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 Karen Grassle is an American actress from Berkeley, California. She is primarily known for portraying the historical figure of Caroline Ingalls (1839 -1924) in the long-running Western television series "Little House on the Prairie" (1974-1983). Caroline was the mother of the novelist Laura Ingalls Wilder (1867-1957), whose works had inspired the series.In 1942, Grassle was born in Berkeley, California. The city is located on the eastern shore of the San Francisco Bay, and was named in honor of the Anglo-Irish philosopher George Berkeley (1685 -1753). The city is primarily known as the location of the University of California, Berkeley, a public land-grant research university. Grassle's parents were the realty business owner Eugene Frederick "Gene" Grassle (1906-1977) and the school teacher Frae Ella Berry (1907-2002).Grassle received ballet lessons as a child. She was interested in acting, and took part in several school plays. She also sang in a Baptist choir. During her senior year in high school, Grassle was the vice president of the student body. She received a "Girl of the Year" award from her high school. In 1959, Grassle graduated from the Ventura High School.In 1959, Grassle started her college education at the H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial College, a women's college located in New Orleans. The college had been established by the philanthropist Josephine Louise Newcomb (1816-1901), as a memorial for her deceased daughter Sophie Newcomb (1855-1870). In 1960, Grassle transferred to the University of California, Berkeley. She moved back to her home state of California. In 1965, Grassle graduated from the University. She received Bachelor of Arts degrees in both English and Dramatic Art. She received a Fulbright Fellowship which allowed her to study in the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, located in Hammersmith, London.Grassle started her professional acting career with summer performances at the Stanford Contemporary Workshop, and Colorado Shakespeare Festival. After returning from her studies in London, she performed for a season at the Front Street Theatre of Memphis, Tennessee. She next moved to New York City, but she worked at resident and stock theaters throughout the country. In 1968, Grassle made her Broadway debut. She performed in the play "The Gingham Dog" (1968) by Lanford Wilson (1937-2011), which depicted the breakup of an interracial couple.Grassle was one of several replacement actresses who were hired to perform in the play "Butterflies Are Free" (1969) by Leonard Gershe, following departures from members of the original cast. The play was loosely based on the life of the blind American lawyer Harold Krents (c. 1944-1987). In the summer of 1972, she was performing at the Elitch Theatre in Denver, Colorado. Her co-star Brandon deWilde (1942-1972) was killed in a traffic accident in the suburbs of Denver.Grassle was primarily a theatrical actress until she decided to audition for the role of Caroline Ingalls. She won one of the leading roles in the hit series "Little House on the Prairie". During the series' production, Grassle made a guest appearance in "Gunsmoke". She depicted the saloon girl Fran, in a story about kidnapped women. During the late 1970s, Grassle stated performing in various television films.Grassle made her film debut in the comedy-drama film "Harry's War" (1981), portraying the protagonist's wife. In the film, a man inherits a family dispute with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). His actions against the IRS escalate to violence. The film only received a limited theatrical release for two weeks.Grassle left the cast of "Little House on the Prairie" in 1982, a year before the conclusion of the series. She subsequently moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she served as the artistic director of the local Resource Theater Company. She eventually left the city to perform with the Actors Theatre of Louisville, a Kentucky-based performing arts theatre.Grassle portrayed a minor character in the Western film "Wyatt Earp" (1994). It was her first film role since the early 1980s. The film only earned 55.9 million dollars at the worldwide box office, and was considered a box office failure. Grassle continued performing in theatrical; plays into the 2000s. She performed regularly at both the San Francisco Playhouse and the Manitoba Theatre Centre. She started regularly appearing in television commercials. She became the promotional face for Premier Bathrooms, a supplier of bathing products for the elderly and infirm.In 2021, Grassle had one of the main roles in the feature film "Not to Forget", in her first film role in several years. The film primarily depicted "the ravages and emotional toll of Alzheimer's disease". The purpose of its production was to raise awareness for the effects of the disease, and funds for medical research.Also in 2021, Grassle published her memoir, "Bright Lights, Prairie Dust: Reflections on Life, Loss, and Love by House's Ma". The book explained her long struggle with alcoholism, and her troubled relationship with her television co-star Michael Landon. Their relationship was strained after he denied her request for a raise, and he reportedly kept making humiliating comments about her in the presence of various members of the cast and crew of "Little House on the Prairie".By 2022, Grassle was 80-years-old. She is fondly recalled by generations of viewers of her popular Western series, and she has a decent reputation as a theatrical actress. She has never retired from acting, though her lengthy career has had few highlights in recent years.
Bio:
Karen Grassle is an American actress from Berkeley, California. She is primarily known for portraying the historical figure of Caroline Ingalls (1839 -1924) in the long-running Western television series "Little House on the Prairie" (1974-1983). Caroline was the mother of the novelist Laura Ingalls Wilder (1867-1957), whose works had inspired the series.In 1942, Grassle was born in Berkeley, California. The city is located on the eastern shore of the San Francisco Bay, and was named in honor of the Anglo-Irish philosopher George Berkeley (1685 -1753). The city is primarily known as the location of the University of California, Berkeley, a public land-grant research university. Grassle's parents were the realty business owner Eugene Frederick "Gene" Grassle (1906-1977) and the school teacher Frae Ella Berry (1907-2002).Grassle received ballet lessons as a child. She was interested in acting, and took part in several school plays. She also sang in a Baptist choir. During her senior year in high school, Grassle was the vice president of the student body. She received a "Girl of the Year" award from her high school. In 1959, Grassle graduated from the Ventura High School.In 1959, Grassle started her college education at the H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial College, a women's college located in New Orleans. The college had been established by the philanthropist Josephine Louise Newcomb (1816-1901), as a memorial for her deceased daughter Sophie Newcomb (1855-1870). In 1960, Grassle transferred to the University of California, Berkeley. She moved back to her home state of California. In 1965, Grassle graduated from the University. She received Bachelor of Arts degrees in both English and Dramatic Art. She received a Fulbright Fellowship which allowed her to study in the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, located in Hammersmith, London.Grassle started her professional acting career with summer performances at the Stanford Contemporary Workshop, and Colorado Shakespeare Festival. After returning from her studies in London, she performed for a season at the Front Street Theatre of Memphis, Tennessee. She next moved to New York City, but she worked at resident and stock theaters throughout the country. In 1968, Grassle made her Broadway debut. She performed in the play "The Gingham Dog" (1968) by Lanford Wilson (1937-2011), which depicted the breakup of an interracial couple.Grassle was one of several replacement actresses who were hired to perform in the play "Butterflies Are Free" (1969) by Leonard Gershe, following departures from members of the original cast. The play was loosely based on the life of the blind American lawyer Harold Krents (c. 1944-1987). In the summer of 1972, she was performing at the Elitch Theatre in Denver, Colorado. Her co-star Brandon deWilde (1942-1972) was killed in a traffic accident in the suburbs of Denver.Grassle was primarily a theatrical actress until she decided to audition for the role of Caroline Ingalls. She won one of the leading roles in the hit series "Little House on the Prairie". During the series' production, Grassle made a guest appearance in "Gunsmoke". She depicted the saloon girl Fran, in a story about kidnapped women. During the late 1970s, Grassle stated performing in various television films.Grassle made her film debut in the comedy-drama film "Harry's War" (1981), portraying the protagonist's wife. In the film, a man inherits a family dispute with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). His actions against the IRS escalate to violence. The film only received a limited theatrical release for two weeks.Grassle left the cast of "Little House on the Prairie" in 1982, a year before the conclusion of the series. She subsequently moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she served as the artistic director of the local Resource Theater Company. She eventually left the city to perform with the Actors Theatre of Louisville, a Kentucky-based performing arts theatre.Grassle portrayed a minor character in the Western film "Wyatt Earp" (1994). It was her first film role since the early 1980s. The film only earned 55.9 million dollars at the worldwide box office, and was considered a box office failure. Grassle continued performing in theatrical; plays into the 2000s. She performed regularly at both the San Francisco Playhouse and the Manitoba Theatre Centre. She started regularly appearing in television commercials. She became the promotional face for Premier Bathrooms, a supplier of bathing products for the elderly and infirm.In 2021, Grassle had one of the main roles in the feature film "Not to Forget", in her first film role in several years. The film primarily depicted "the ravages and emotional toll of Alzheimer's disease". The purpose of its production was to raise awareness for the effects of the disease, and funds for medical research.Also in 2021, Grassle published her memoir, "Bright Lights, Prairie Dust: Reflections on Life, Loss, and Love by House's Ma". The book explained her long struggle with alcoholism, and her troubled relationship with her television co-star Michael Landon. Their relationship was strained after he denied her request for a raise, and he reportedly kept making humiliating comments about her in the presence of various members of the cast and crew of "Little House on the Prairie".By 2022, Grassle was 80-years-old. She is fondly recalled by generations of viewers of her popular Western series, and she has a decent reputation as a theatrical actress. She has never retired from acting, though her lengthy career has had few highlights in recent years.
Tivia:
Played the mother of 5 children on Little House on the Prairie (1974), but never had any biological children of her own.She was known as the miracle baby in her family because, previous to her birth, her mother had 4 miscarriages.A long-involved advocate for women's rights, she wrote and co-starred in the mini-movie Battered (1978), which dealt with the issues of domestic violence.Graduated class valedictorian from Ventura High School in 1959.When she came to LA in 1973 for a never-completed movie project, she was calling herself "Gabriel Tree", and it was under this name that she beat out 47 other actresses for the role of "Caroline Ingalls" in the long-running TV drama Little House on the Prairie (1974) (co-star Michael Landon convinced her to revert back to her given name of Karen Grassle).Won the role of Caroline Ingalls in Little House on the Prairie (1974) out of 47 other actresses who also auditioned.After Little House on the Prairie (1974) ended, she was featured as a guest star on various television shows and toured the country performing in numerous plays. Later on, she moved to Louisville, Kentucky, to continue her work in the theater. She was the co-founder and artistic director of Santa Fe's Resource Theatre Company and starred in "Wit" at the Arizona Theater Company.Her father, Gene Grassle, ran a gas station and her mother managed a restaurant.Graduated from the University of California at Berkeley in 1964She now lives in the Bay Area, California, with her adopted son, Zachary. (2005)In the late 1960s - hoping to boost her career, briefly changed her professional name to Kay Dillinger, claiming to be the illegitimate offspring of the notorious 1930s bank robber (who died ten years before she was born!).Best known for her role as Caroline Ingalls, Michael Landon's ranch wife on the TV series Little House on the Prairie (1974) for eight seasons.Good friend of Michael Landon.When she was told about her audition with Michael Landon for the role of Caroline, Karen stated in an interview that she'd watched Bonanza, but she didn't know which "Cartwright" Michael Landon had played.Her first New York break was the play "The Gingham Tree." She had to borrow a dollar from a friend to go to the audition!2002 - Appeared on the "Memorable TV Moms" version of Weakest Link (2001), along with June Lockhart (Lassie (1954), Lost in Space (1965)), Jo Marie Payton (Family Matters (1989)), Pat Crowley (Please Don't Eat the Daisies (1965)), Janet Hubert (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990)), Alley Mills (The Wonder Years (1988)), Carol Potter (Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990)) and Beverly Garland (My Three Sons (1960)). Potter won.Inducted (as a cast member of Little House on the Prairie (1974)) into the Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in 1998.Trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.Mother, with ex-husband James Allen Radford, of adopted son Zachary Radford.Appearing in a commercial for "Premier" bathrooms. (January 2009) |
| Name: |
Karen Grassle |
Type: |
Actress,Writer (IMDB) |
| Area: |
All World |
Platform: |
IMDB |
| Category: |
|
Business scope: |
Actress,Writer |
| Products for sale: |
Actress,Writer |
| Last update: |
2024-07-01 05:08:47 |
| Height: |
5' 6' (1.68 m) |
| Biography: |
Karen Grassle is an American actress from Berkeley, California. She is primarily known for portraying the historical figure of Caroline Ingalls (1839 -1924) in the long-running Western television series \"Little House on the Prairie\" (1974-1983 |
| Trivia: |
Played the mother of 5 children on Little House on the Prairie (1974), but never had any biological children of her own.She was known as the miracle baby in her family because, previous to her birth, her mother had 4 miscarriages.A long-involved advocate for women's rights, she wrote and co-starred in the mini-movie Battered (1978), which dealt with the issues of domestic violence.Graduated class valedictorian from Ventura High School in 1959.When she came to LA in 1973 for a never-completed movie project, she was calling herself "Gabriel Tree", and it was under this name that she beat out 47 other actresses for the role of "Caroline Ingalls" in the long-running TV drama Little House on the Prairie (1974) (co-star Michael Landon convinced her to revert back to her given name of Karen Grassle).Won the role of Caroline Ingalls in Little House on the Prairie (1974) out of 47 other actresses who also auditioned.After Little House on the Prairie (1974) ended, she was featured as a guest star on various television shows and toured the country performing in numerous plays. Later on, she moved to Louisville, Kentucky, to continue her work in the theater. She was the co-founder and artistic director of Santa Fe's Resource Theatre Company and starred in "Wit" at the Arizona Theater Company.Her father, Gene Grassle, ran a gas station and her mother managed a restaurant.Graduated from the University of California at Berkeley in 1964She now lives in the Bay Area, California, with her adopted son, Zachary. (2005)In the late 1960s - hoping to boost her career, briefly changed her professional name to Kay Dillinger, claiming to be the illegitimate offspring of the notorious 1930s bank robber (who died ten years before she was born!).Best known for her role as Caroline Ingalls, Michael Landon's ranch wife on the TV series Little House on the Prairie (1974) for eight seasons.Good friend of Michael Landon.When she was told about her audition with Michael Landon for the role of Caroline, Karen stated in an interview that she'd watched Bonanza, but she didn't know which "Cartwright" Michael Landon had played.Her first New York break was the play "The Gingham Tree." She had to borrow a dollar from a friend to go to the audition!2002 - Appeared on the "Memorable TV Moms" version of Weakest Link (2001), along with June Lockhart (Lassie (1954), Lost in Space (1965)), Jo Marie Payton (Family Matters (1989)), Pat Crowley (Please Don't Eat the Daisies (1965)), Janet Hubert (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990)), Alley Mills (The Wonder Years (1988)), Carol Potter (Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990)) and Beverly Garland (My Three Sons (1960)). Potter won.Inducted (as a cast member of Little House on the Prairie (1974)) into the Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in 1998.Trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.Mother, with ex-husband James Allen Radford, of adopted son Zachary Radford.Appearing in a commercial for "Premier" bathrooms. (January 2009) |
| Quotes: |
Well, yes! But you have to put the work first. It can be quite painful if you don't feel appreciated by your partner, or if you're supposed to be wildly attracted to them and you're not. But so what? We get to be actors. We are lucky to be able to work.
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[on the importance of having the right chemistry of either a series' or a co-star]: No. Of course, it's more fun if you and the other person work well together, but it's not a requirement. I mean, you're acting. You can have difficulties with each other because of ego or insecurity or advertising and billing, things that can annoy people or hurt their feelings, but you don't let it get in the way of the work. That's the thing.
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<hr>
No. I never tell people how old I am. As an actor, it's not in my interest. |
| Job title: |
Actress,Writer |
| Others works: |
(1999) TV commercial: Videos for Little House on the Prairie (1974).
(4/18/06-5/14/06) Stage: Appeared (as "Miss Daisy") in "Driving Miss Daisy", Manitoba Theatre Center, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
(6/06-7/06) Stage: Appeared in Dal |
| Spouse: |
Dr. Scott Sutherland (1991 - 1997) (divorced)James Alan Radford (April 25, 1982 - 1987) (divorced, 1 child)Leon Russom (1966 - 1970) (divorced) |
| Children: |
Zachary Radford |
| Parents: |
Eugene Frederick Grassle
Frae Ella Berry |
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