Melissa Sue Anderson, known for her role as Mary Ingalls on “Little House on the Prairie,” celebrates her 61th birthday. The show, based on Laura Ingalls Wilder’s novels, touched on family and moral themes, appealing to audiences of all ages.

Melissa’s career started early due to her asthma, and she quickly made her mark in advertising and TV, with roles in “Bewitched” and “The Brady Bunch.”As Mary Ingalls, she faced challenging situations, losing her sight at a young age, which earned her an Emmy nomination in 1978.

Melissa’s departure from the show after season seven was due to creative reasons, not a feud with co-stars. She explained, “It’s just a matter of moving on for me. With the character, I’ve pretty much done everything I could.”

After leaving the series in 1981, Melissa continued her acting career with appearances in various shows and films. She took a break in 2007 when she moved to Canada but returned to acting later, appearing in productions like “Marker 187,” “Veronica Mars,” and “The Con is On.” She and her husband, Michael Sloan, are now Canadian citizens, enjoying family life.