Why is 'Is Melissa Gilbert still alive' trending?
MELISSA Gilbert became a household name after landing her extraordinary role in Little House on the Prairie.
The Los Angeles born star went on to build a career away from the entertainment industry after dabbling in a number of sectors.
Why is 'Is Melissa Gilbert still alive' trending?
Fans were left heartbroken after rumours began to swirl on October 27, 2022, that the beloved actress had passed away.
But Melissa is in fact alive and well despite a string of false reports.
Several YouTube videos claimed that she had died in a horror car accident, sparking a flurry of concerned posts from her supporters.
However, it seems the 58-year-old was the victim of an online hoax after the clips were found to be spouting baseless claims.
It is not clear what triggered the shocking false reports of her death.
One angry supporter tweeted: "Do not believe Youtube about Melissa Gilbert! All evidence says that is false information for clickbait."
Melissa shared a series of pictures in an Instagram post hours after the claims began to circulate, rubbishing the rumours.
She added in the caption that she was now back in New York City following a trip to Albuquerque, New Mexico.
It comes after Will & Grace star Leslie Jordan, 67, sadly passed away after a fatal car crash in Los Angeles on October 24, 2022.
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Who is Melissa Gilbert?
Melissa Ellen Gilbert was born May 8, 1964, and is an American actress.
She is also a television director, producer, politician and former president of the Screen Actors Guild.
Melissa started off as a child actress in the late 1960s, kicking off her career by appearing in numerous commercials and guest-starring roles on television.
Melissa is of course best known for playing Laura Ingalls Wilder, the second oldest daughter of Charles Ingalls (played by Michael Landon) on the NBC series Little House On The Prairie.
She was on the show from 1974 until 1984.
Since then she has continued to work in TV and had parts in Babylon 5, Nip/Tuck and Night Shift.
The 58-year-old also appeared on the 14th season of Dancing With The Stars in 2012, where she dramatically fell and hit her head.
She suffered whiplash and a concussion following the incident during her performance.
Melissa also broke her back in 2001, leaving her with a range of complex neck and spine issues.
She revealed she had undergone a "wildly successful" fourth spinal surgery on November 19, 2020.
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Who is Melissa Gilbert's brother Jonathan Gilbert?
Entertainment star Paul Gilbert and actress Barbara Crane adopted Melissa the day after she was born when her biological parents gave her up.
The couple later adopted a little boy, named Jonathan, after he was born on April 28, 1967.
He is best known for his work in TV and film, starring alongside his sister Melissa in NBC series, Little House on the Prairie.
He made a name for himself as Willie Oleson in the show before going on to appear in The Little House Years as the same character in 1979.
The same year, he bagged a role in another made-for-TV-movie, The Miracle Worker, among other acting gigs.
In his early 20s, Jonathan moved away from California and became estranged from his family, according to Melissa's autobiography.
She wrote that he had since become a stockbroker and lives in New York City, but the pair still have no relationship.
What is Melissa Gilbert's net worth?
According to celebritynetworth.com, the actress' net worth is $500,000.
Her cash took a substantial hit following her divorce from American actor Bruce Boxleitner in 2011.
She blamed the split and the recession when it was revealed she had failed to pay $360,000 in federal income taxes to the IRS.
Melissa previously told ET Online: "Like so many people across the nation, the recession hit me hard.
"That, plus a divorce and a dearth of acting opportunities the last few years, created a perfect storm of financial difficulty for me."
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However, she also admitted she "lost her mind" during the divorce and went on a lavish spending spree to heal her heartbreak.
She got Botox and fillers and purchased a Mustang convertible.
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