Where Are They Now?

It can't ... it just can't be Jonathan Gilbert ...

According to a report from 2005 Jonathan Gilbert works at a theatre in Newport Beach, California.

This was the info from imdb.com.........I don't think anyone really has any recent or accurate information. I would imagine Jonathan just wants to be left alone.....

Date of Birth
10 July 1968, USA

Grandson of Harry Crane.

Adopted son of Paul Gilbert and Barbara Cowan.

Younger adopted brother of Melissa Gilbert.

Younger stepbrother of Claudia Cowan.

Stepson of Warren Cowan.

Older adopted brother of Sara Gilbert.

After leaving acting, Jonathan earned his BA from Hamilton College and an MBA in Finance from the Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College.
Where Are They Now

(June 2003) Is a stockbroker.

.........I don't think anyone really has any recent or accurate information. I would imagine Jonathan just wants to be left alone

Rhonda, you are oh so correct!

Dave

I would agree! I know I would want to be left alone!


The info I found was from a transcript from a cast meeting in 2005. Also the trivia/A-Z book that came with the ninth season mentions that Jonathan does theatre work now.

Okay, I just got back from my trip to De Smet and Walnut Grove. Alison Arngram was at Walnut Grove and did some Q&A sessions. I asked her what Jonathan Gilbert was up to these days.

Paraphrasing...
"What is Jonathan Gilbert up to these days. That's a good question! I really don't know! He's really traveled around. He was in South Africa for a while and then ?? and then ??. I wrote to the cast members before I released my book and he actually replied. I was quite shocked! Willie learned how to read and write, and he was a good writer! All I know is that of 2010 he was living in California."


So... we still don't really know what he's up to... but at least it's something. :)

He is stuck in an outhouse, smokin' a stogy and waiting for Nellie to bring him a supply of gumballs.

It sounds like she was being deliberately vague, the stories change even from them, year to year. She didn't say what he wrote, I doubt if he wrote her back, he just said "California" ; ) I just don't think he was a stock broker, if he went to college, there would be records of it, pictures of "him" so to speak, on the web doing those theater/stockbroker jobs don't match, very odd. The stockbroker with the bio on the internet is someone else I guess, no one thinks the grey gentlemen looks anything like him although people change in 30 years. I think they mixed him up with Jonathan from wrong information. I would think the "real" person in the pic would either be upset or think it was funny...wearing a "I'm not Willie Olson" tee shirt.
If there is something wrong or some reason he wants to stay out of the LHOP arena, no guest spots, etc. he should just ask them to tell them he doing okay and working, married/single and likes to be out of the Hollywood fray, unlike his siblings. He was said to be "lost" a few years ago and I'm surprised Jonathan had an address Alison could write too. He's not "famous" so the need to be this quiet is strange.
I can't help but get a bad feeling, no one is ever that invisible but I hope all is well or will be. It's been a long time since he left home.

Juliane wrote:

that's never jonathan gilbert . There are so many pictures of him in the internet. I think that none of these men is jonathan. He is also younger.
They have also written once Labyorteaux , and then Laborteaux. not a good report

Both spellings are correct.t....he and Pat changed it recently....
He was billed as Laborteaux.

I feel it's one of two things, he wants nothing to do for whatever reason (we all have our problems/issues) with his family and past life or he isn't at a place where he feels comfortable having anyone know what happened to him. Since he is only brought up at LHOP meetings, having to answer questions is few and far between.
To be honest, although I never looked at many LHOP sites years ago, it never seemed like anyone mentioned him much in books, remembrances, stories, etc. That might be telling in some way also. Did he attend Micheal's funeral?

Quote :

I would think the "real" person in the pic would either be upset or think it was funny...wearing a "I'm not Willie Olson" tee shirt.

That would be funny.

Davetucson wrote:

Gin wrote:

He is stuck in an outhouse, smokin' a stogy and waiting for Nellie to bring him a supply of gumballs.

Actually Gin, I talked to a cast member last week, who lives in New York
He knows Jonathon very well!He told me that Jonathon was spotted just last week in Mongolia....
He was milking a goat!
Remember Folks, You Heard it Here!

"Dave's Happenings Paper" All the news that's fit to print...

Gin wrote:

He is stuck in an outhouse, smokin' a stogy and waiting for Nellie to bring him a supply of gumballs.

Ah yes, In The Tradition of "Harriet's Happenings"!
"Dave's Happenings Paper" All the news that's fit to print...

This excerpt was in a review of Melissa Gilbert's last book. I know families have quarrels and it must be worse when they are in "show-biz" but her comments on her brother seem cruel.

"Melissa also holds back on talking about her siblings. She continuously says how much her sister Sara (from Roseanne) means to her, how much she makes an impact in her life and yet as far as the memoir goes they never do a single thing together. There are no memories of anything the two did together whatsoever. Sara is simply a name in the book. If you don't already know who Sara Gilbert is, this book will make you no wiser. Her brother, Jonathan, who played Willie Olson on Little House, is barely referred to during those years in the book. I had expected to hear what it was like to work with your brother. Then at some time in the book Gilbert blurts out that she must mention that when he turned 18 he withdrew his money, packed up and left and never came back, the end, and she's fine with that. Huh? I also must mention that the swearing was rather off-putting as well; I'm just not comfortable with swearing in a narrative."

I skimmed her book years ago, not wanting to hear so much about her after LHOP boyfriends and drinking, etc. I guess I missed that part.

Davetucson wrote:

Gin wrote:

He is stuck in an outhouse, smokin' a stogy and waiting for Nellie to bring him a supply of gumballs.

Actually Gin, I talked to a cast member last week, who lives in New York
He knows Jonathon very well!He told me that Jonathon was spotted just last week in Mongolia....
He was milking a goat!
Remember Folks, You Heard it Here!

you talked to matthew?

just a little joke.

I can't reveal the source Juliane, but I can tell you that when the Jonathon pics start popping up, he gets a big kick out of it!

I always wondered how the "real" guys feel being called Jonathan.

Who's that riding him?

Rob, Rob Rob!

Was Jonathan the only one that never gave an interview (not now, back then) It seems like almost everyone had a small interview somewhere, but I don't think I've ever seen one.
I can see not doing one after it ended, but that's quite a thing to avoid them during the show.

Victor French might have been another one who was quiet. He died young but wasn't one to do publicity for the shows.

Jonathon Gilbert has never given an interview ever.....Then, Now or in between!
Never saw one with Victor regarding Little House................

Re Jonathan, that might have been disinterest on his part at the time or the interviewer..he was a regular but probably underrated for what he did as Nellie's brother.

I've only heard Alison mention him as "odd" and things like that, I would have liked to hear what his TV Mom and Dad thought. I've only seen two interviews with Richard Bull and one was with Katherine, good but mostly about their parts and relationship. This one mentions Willie about 7 minutes in:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6AoAQnHQa8
He called Jonanthan, "very bright and very intelligent". This interview might have been on a DVD but I only have one so far in the Little House set.
They were also cast very well and I can't imagine anyone else playing them.

I liked that interview a lot and loved Richard Bull on LHOP.