Little House on the Prairie actress Katherine MacGregor dies aged 93

She became one of the most well known faces on TV in the 1970s thanks to her portrayal of villainous character Harriet Oleson on hit TV show Little House on the Prairie, and now tributes are pouring in for actress Katherine MacGregor after she sadly died at the age of 93.

According to NBC News, the much-loved star’s representative confirmed she passed away at the Motion Picture and Television Fund’s retirement home in Woodland Hills, California on Tuesday — sparking a flood of tributes from her former co-stars and fans.

Katherine played Harriet, the wife of the general store owner Nels Oleson (Richard Bull), for all nine series of the 1970s TV show. While her character was notoriously mean on the show, the actress previously said she tried to find the humour in her as well.

Speaking in 1981, she told the Santa Cruz Sentinel: “She was originally painted as just black-and-white mean. Anyone that mean has to be a fool. So I began mixing farce into it. I think the audience counts on seeing Mrs Oleson fall on her fanny.”

https://youtu.be/30iie3xf5a8

Actress Melissa Gilbert, who starred as Laura Ingalls Wilder on the series, has since led the tributes to her former co-star. Sharing a photo of them laughing together on set, she remembered her “loving and nurturing” side — something many fans wouldn’t have been aware of.

“This woman taught me so much… about acting… vintage jewelry (sic)… life,” she wrote. “She was outspoken and hilariously funny. A truly gifted actress as she was able to play a despicable character but with so much heart. Her Harriet Oleson was the woman our fans loved to hate. A perfect antagonist.

“The thing people outside of our prairie family didn’t know, was how loving and nurturing she was with the younger cast. I really loved her and I find great comfort knowing that she is at peace and, per her beliefs, her soul has moved on to its next incarnation. Farewell Scottie. I hope with all my heart we meet again next time.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BqKgVykgg7g/

Meanwhile, actress Alison Arngrim, who played Katherine’s on-screen daughter Nellie, shared a throwback photo and wrote on social media: “Long live our beautiful Harriet. Long live the immortal Katherine MacGregor!”

Katherine found some fame before her role on the TV show, appearing in a number of stage shows. She also went on to star in TV shows including Love of Life, East Side/West Side and All in the Family.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BqKqL-VBi7q/

Following the fame of Little House on the Prairie, Katherine stuck mainly to local theatre productions, only venturing back on to screen once in a 2014 short film, the Hollywood Reporter claimed.

Katherine made no secret of her love of the show from day one, and in a YouTube video previously she admitted: ”When I got the show, I went out and I got all the books. And I read them all and I thought they were absolutely charming. I sat down and I wrote eight pages of where I came from.”

The actress was married twice, first to actor Bert Remsen from 1949 to 1950 and then to actor and director Edward G Kaye-Martin — but that sadly ended in 1970 after less than a year. 

Were you a fan of Little House on the Prairie? Do you remember Katherine’s role as Harriet Oleson?