David's Little House Star Profiles and Trivia

EDDIE WAS IN ONE EPISODE OF THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW.....

The Taylors in Hollywood (1965) … Bell Hop

If any of you have a request for any actor on Little House, feel free to send me a private message and I will do my best to research them. Posting requests will just take up room on the board, a PM won't. HOPE ALL OF YOU MOTHERS OUT THERE HAVE A WONDERFUL AND BLESSED DAY WITH YOUR FAMILIES TOMORROW.........HAPPY MOTHERS DAY
DAVE

BILLY BARTY
Date of Birth
25 October 1924, Millsboro, Pennsylvania, USA
Date of Death
23 December 2000, Glendale, California, USA (heart failure)
birth Name
William John Bertanzetti
Height
3' 9" (1.14 m)
Billy Barty began performing at three and began making pictures in 1927. He played Mickey Rooney's little brother in the "Mickey McGuire" comedy shorts series. He was equally adept in both comedy and drama, and generally gives an added zest to any production he is associated with. He founded the Little People of America in 1957 and the Billy Barty Foundation in 1975. He possessed an immense talent and energetic charm that added a much needed shot in the arm to many shows and films.
IMDb Mini Biography By: Xeresa@home.com


Spouse
Shirley Bolingbroke
MARRIED (24 February 1962 - 23 December 2000) (his death) 2 children
Hospitalized overnight for injuries from a motor scooter accident during a parade. [28 May 1999]

Founder of The Little People of America Inc., a philanthropic organization of which no one taller than 4 ft 6 inches may become a member.

Father of a son, Braden Barty and a daughter, Lori.

His funeral was held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in North Hollywood, California on December 27, 2000.

Billy died at 9:20 a.m. PST at Glendale Memorial Hospital after a two-week stay with lung and heart problems.

He was a noted crusader for the greater public knowledge and social acceptance of dwarfs and was angered at his contemporary with a similar condition, Hervé Villechaize, for hampering his efforts by publicly insisting that he (Villechaize) was a midget instead.

He hosted his own daily kids TV show, "Billy Barty's Big Show" (1963), where he entertained and informed his viewers and studio audiences in between reruns of The Three Stooges films. It was seen weekday afternoons on KTTV Ch.11 in Hollywood, California from the early to mid 1960s.

In 1991, after the first Gulf War, Rush Limbaugh, on his radio show, spoke of making a movie about it. When somebody suggested casting Billy Barty, Limbaugh said he was dead; however, the next day, Barty, who admitted he listened to Limbaugh's show regularly but had missed it that day, called in to prove otherwise.

Has a granddaughter, Tina.

He was on the Board with former President George Bush to help pass the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Audio book: "Highlights from Within Reach," available only from the official web-site. [October 2005]

Majored in journalism at L.A. City College and was both sports editor and public relations director of the "L.A. Collegian" newspaper.

Had an admirable college career in sports: He played both football and basketball, plus ran 50 yards in 7.2 seconds.

Los Angeles KRTH-FM Radio News Director Steve Fredericks once asked the 3-foot, 10-inch-tall actor in an interview whether, if he could suddenly become a "big" person, if he would choose that. After a long and thoughtful pause, Barty said, "No . . . because I've made all the adjustments.".

Said one of his major pet peeves was when people would try to pick him up as though he were a child.

Ironically, in 1990 producer/writer William Winckler sued Billy Barty in Small Claims Court in Van Nuys, California for money that was owed him on the TV comedy series Short Ribbs, and Winckler won the case against Barty. The press had a "field day" with all the publicity, stories ran through AP, UPI, The Daily News, ABC-TV News Los Angeles by reporter Joe McMann, and news swept throughout the country. Stories of Billy Barty being sued in Small Claims Court appeared in nearly every newspaper in the U.S. and internationally, on radio news shows, and covered by TV news stations. Entertainment Tonight ran a story on Billy Barty being taken to small claims court. Barty himself said it was the most negative publicity he ever had in his life, with headlines such as "Small Billy Barty in Small Claims," "Barty Comes Up Short in Small Claims," etc. . Barty added that he got nearly as much publicity as Zsa Zsa Gabor did for slapping a Beverly Hills police officer around the same time (1990). Short Ribbs writer Warren Taylor also sued Barty in Small Claims Court and won this case as well.
Actor (177 titles)
2001 I/O Error (short)
Custodian
2000 The Extreme Adventures of Super Dave (video)
Funeral Eulogist (uncredited)
1999 L.A. Heat (TV series)
Morty Feinberg
– In Harm's Way (1999) … Morty Feinberg
1997 The New Batman Adventures (TV series)
Hips McManus
– Double Talk (1997) … Hips McManus (voice)
1996 Frasier (TV series)
Chris
– High Crane Drifter (1996) … Chris (voice)
1994 Outlaws: The Legend of O.B. Taggart
1993 Jack's Place (TV series)
Old Man
– The Pipes Are Calling (1993) … Old Man
1993 The Naked Truth
The Bell Boy
1991 Life Stinks
Willy
1991 Bride of Violence (TV movie)
Victor
1991 The Munsters Today (TV series)
Genie
– Genie from Hell (1991) … Genie
1990 The Rescuers Down Under
Baitmouse (voice)
1990 Adventures of the Gummi Bears (TV series)
– A Recipe for Trouble (1990) (voice)
1990 Nasty Boys (TV series)
– Desert Run (1990)
1990/I Wishful Thinking
Gypsy
1990 Diggin' Up Business
Crosby
1989 Short Ribbs (TV series)
Various
1989 UHF
Noodles MacIntosh
1989 Lobster Man from Mars
Mr. Throckmorton
1986-1988 ABC Weekend Specials (TV series)
Uncle Lester
– Runaway Ralph (1988) … Uncle Lester (voice)

The Mouse and the Motorcycle (1986) … Uncle Lester (voice)
1988 Willow
High Aldwin
1987 Off the Mark
The Little Russian
1987 DuckTales (TV series)
King Brian
– Luck o' the Ducks (1987) … King Brian (voice)
1987 Masters of the Universe
Gwildor
1987 Snow White
Iddy
1987 Rumpelstiltskin
Rumpelstiltskin
1986 Wildfire (TV series)
Dweedle
– Wildfire: King of the Horses (1986) … Dweedle (voice)
– Where the Dreams Come From (1986) … Dweedle (voice)

– King for a Day (1986) … Dweedle (voice)

– The Pixie Painters (1986) … Dweedle (voice)

– The Highwayman (1986) … Dweedle (voice)

1986 Body Slam
Tim McClusky

1986 Tough Guys
Philly

1985 The Golden Girls (TV series)
Edgar Lindstrom
– A Little Romance (1985) … Edgar Lindstrom
1985 Star Fairies (TV movie)
Troll (voice)
1985 Legend
Screwball
1984/I Night Patrol
Captain Lewis
1984 Trapper John, M.D. (TV series)
Mort Cavanaugh
– A Little Knife Music (1984) … Mort Cavanaugh
1983 Ace Crawford, Private Eye (TV series)
Inch
– The Gentleman Bandit (1983) … Inch
– The Microchip Caper (1983) … Inch
– Inch in a Pinch (1983) … Inch
– Bull Bates (1983) … Inch
– Murder at Restful Hills (1983) … Inch
1982 Hart to Hart (TV series)
Aloysis / Big Miller
– A Christmas Hart (1982) … Big Miller/Aloysis
1979-1982 Little House on the Prairie (TV series)
Lou Bates / Owen
– Little Lou (1982) … Lou Bates
– Annabelle (1979) … Owen
1982 The Comic Book Kids
1981 Under the Rainbow
Otto Kriegling
1981 Concrete Cowboys (TV series)
Adolph
– Episode #1.1 (1981) … Adolph
1980 Hardly Working
Sammy
1980 Bizarre (TV series)
Various Characters
1979 Skatetown, U.S.A.
Jimmy
1979 CHiPs (TV series)
James O'Hara
– Counterfeit (1979) … James O'Hara
1979 Fantasy Island (TV series)
Alphonse
– Cornelius and Alphonse/The Choice (1979) … Alphonse
1979 Firepower
Dominic Carbone
1979 Supertrain (TV series)
Mick
– Hail to the Chief (1979) … Mick
1978 The Love Boat (TV series)
Ralph Warren
– Heads or Tails/Mona of the Movies/The Little People (1978) … Ralph Warren
1978 Charlie's Angels (TV series)
News Vendor
– Angel on My Mind (1978) … News Vendor
1978 The Lord of the Rings
Bilbo / Sam
1978-1979 The Bay City Rollers Show (TV series)
Hugo / Various Characters
– Episode #1.1 (1978) … Hugo/Various Characters
1978 The Bay City Rollers Meet the Saturday Superstars (TV movie)
1978 Foul Play
J.J. MacKuen
1978 Man from Atlantis (TV series)
Moxie
– Deadly Carnival (1978) … Moxie
TO NAME A FEW

1979-1982 Little House on the Prairie - TWO EPISODES
Lou Bates / Owen
– Little Lou (1982) … Lou Bates
Annabelle (1979) … Owen

LITTLE LOU

Thanks Dave....you just can't help but fall in love with Billy. He was such an entertainer.

ANYTHING FOR YOU GIN!

Boy, Billy was everywhere. If a show needed a little person during the '70s and '80s, he got the call.

Susan French (January 23, 1912 – April 6, 2003) was an American stage, television and film actress.

French appeared in the TV movie People Like Us (1990). She also played the role of Mrs. Shaw in the TV movie Captain America (1979) and its sequel, Captain America II: Death Too Soon. French acted in the soap opera Bare Essence (1982–1983). She also appeared in episodes of The Alfred Hitchcock Hour ("The World's Oldest Motive," original air date April 12, 1965), Dallas, Falcon Crest, The Colbys, L.A. Law, Moonlighting, Quantum Leap, and Star Trek: The Next Generation. Her final television appearance was in an episode of Picket Fences.She Also Had a Recurring Role in The CBS TV Series "Cagney and Lacey" as Mrs. Skimmins.

French also appeared in the 1980 film Somewhere in Time, starring Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour. Her other film credits include House (1986), The Verne Miller Story (1987), Flatliners (1990) and Younger and Younger (1993). Her last film role was in the live-action version of Fist of the North Star (1995).
NO RELATION TO VICTOR FRENCH
French died in 2003 of natural causes in Santa Monica, California at the age of 91.

SHE WAS IN TWO LITTLE HOUSE EPISODES
SHE PLAYED TO MOTHER OF LOU AND THE GRANDMOTHER IN ANGRY HEART
Little House on the Prairie (TV series)
Mrs. Bates / Virginia Davenport
– Little Lou (1982) … Mrs. Bates
– The Angry Heart (1979) … Virginia Davenport
IN LITTLE LOU

Gin wrote:

Thanks Dave....you just can't help but fall in love with Billy. He was such an entertainer.

I couldn't see him as entertainer, but I LOVED his work in "Little Lou". He was a GREAT actor.

Vanesa.

I NORMALLY DO NOT DO TWO ACTORS IN ONE PROFILE, BUT I THINK THESE TWO EXEMPLIFY THE REASON THAT THE ACTING PROFESSION HAS ALWAYS PEAKED MY CURIOSITY WHEN IT COMES TO THE TRIVIA END OF THE BUSINESS.
THESE TWO BOTH APPEARED IN "BLESS ALL THE DEAR CHILDREN" IN 1984.
ONE HAD A SPEAKING PART, THE OTHER DID NOT. THE ACTOR THAT HAD THE SPEAKING PART HAD A TWO YEAR CAREER. THE NON SPEAKING PART WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL.

JOEL GRAVES - NO BIRTHDATE AVAILABLE. HE APPEARED IN FOUR TV SHOWS FROM 1983 TO 1985. WHO WILL LOVE MY CHILDREN, ITS AN ADVENTURE, CHARLIE BROWN, SCARECROW AND MRS KING.
HE WAS IN ONE LITTLE HOUSE EPISODE
BLESS ALL THE DEAR CHILDREN - 1984
HE PLAYED SAM, THE ORPHAN BOY WHO HELPED THE WILDERS FIND ROSE
HE WAS EVENTUALLY ADOPTED BY THE WOMAN WHO ABDUCTED ROSE


ANGELLA KAYE WAS BORN IN MARCH OF 1975 IN KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.
SHE IS AN ACTRESS THAT HAS BEEN IN OVER 76 TITLES. THE MAJORITY BEING UNCREDITED. SHE WAS QUOTED AS SAYING:
"I always enjoy working, even if it's uncredited or as an extra. I've never worked for the recognition, it's just nice to be able to say that I was a part of something."
BY THE AGE OF TEN, SHE HAD APPEARED IN OVER TWO DOZEN COMMERCIALS INCLUDING MCDONALDS AND CHEERIOS. SHE WAS ON HIGHWAY TO HEAVEN AS WELL AS LITTLE HOUSE, BOTH IN UNCREDITED ROLES.
SHE ALSO APPEARED IN THREE OTHER LITTLE HOUSE EPISODES AS A SCHOOL GIRL. THE LAST FAREWELL, HELLO AND GOODBYE AND FOR THE LOVE OF BLANCHE.
SHE HAS SUNG IN OVER TWO DOZEN COMMERCIAL JINGLES INCLUDING MCDONALDS, PAYDAY, FORD, FOLGERS AND GRANTS FARM BREAD.

While preparing for a production of "Man of La Mancha," she developed nodules on her vocal cords. Despite doctors orders, she refused to drop out of the production; and ended up with a ruptured blood vessel which also caused a vocal fold hemorrhage. She was then forced to drop out of the production after only 2 performances.

AS OF APRIL OF 2006 SHE WAS LIVING IN FLORIDA DOING VARIOUS THEATER AND VOICE OVER WORK.
ANGELLA KAYE SEATED NEXT TO JASON (DAVID FRIEDMAN)

James T. Callahan
Born 4 October 1930, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
Died 3 August 2007, Fallbrook, California, USA (esophageal cancer)
Although his acting career dates back to the early 60's with hundreds of appearances, he is probably best known for playing Mr. Powell on the 80s sitcom "Charles in Charge" (1984).
Diagnosed with esophageal cancer in February of 2007. Died six months later.
Studied drama at the University of Washington following his Army discharge.
Served in the U.S. Army in West Germany during the early 1950s.
As of May, 2008, is still featured in The Scooter Store commercials.
His first job was in the postal service, after which he went back to complete his schooling in the midwest. On the advice of a teacher, he enrolled at the University of Washington where he discovered his passion for dramatic art.
He was in over 150 acting appearances. Everything from Mash to Lou Grant to Adam 12. Much too numerous to mention.

Was In One Little House Movie
Look Back To Yesterday - 1983
He Played Dr. Houser Who Diagnosed Albert As Terminal

The last photo killed me...It was a so sad moment in LHOTP!

Vanesa.

The saddest for me.
Dave

RUTH FOSTER JAN.29TH 1920 TO MAY 12,2012

Actress. Best known for her portrayal in the reoccurring role of Mrs. Foster on the television series "Little House on the Prairie." She first broke into show business at the age of 12 when the Shubert Theater sponsored a Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dance contest. She competed and won first place. This exposure lead to a job as a dancer with a traveling dance group. Soon, she was offered a job as a dancer for the Latin Quarter Show. After several years of dancing, she went on to become an actress. Besides her role on "Little House", she portrayed Mrs. Fleming on the television show "Ben Casey". Other credits include roles in "Bonanza", "Highway to Heaven", "Dimension 5", "Cyborg 2087", "The Spike Jones Show" and "All Star Revue."

SHE WAS IN 61 EPISODES OF LITTLE HOUSE AS MELINDA FOSTER / AUNT RUBY IN THE PILOT

Beautiful woman! I do believe I will have to find a photo of her next.
A dancer!! wow.

Thank you!

Davetucson wrote:

James T. Callahan
Born 4 October 1930, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
Died 3 August 2007, Fallbrook, California, USA (esophageal cancer)
Although his acting career dates back to the early 60's with hundreds of appearances, he is probably best known for playing Mr. Powell on the 80s sitcom "Charles in Charge" (1984).
Diagnosed with esophageal cancer in February of 2007. Died six months later.
Studied drama at the University of Washington following his Army discharge.
Served in the U.S. Army in West Germany during the early 1950s.
As of May, 2008, is still featured in The Scooter Store commercials.
His first job was in the postal service, after which he went back to complete his schooling in the midwest. On the advice of a teacher, he enrolled at the University of Washington where he discovered his passion for dramatic art.
He was in over 150 acting appearances. Everything from Mash to Lou Grant to Adam 12. Much too numerous to mention.

Was In One Little House Movie
Look Back To Yesterday - 1983
He Played Dr. Houser Who Diagnosed Albert As Terminal

I've Watched This More Times Than I Can Mention and Cannot Get Through it Without Crying
"Take Me Back To Walnut Grove Pa, That's Where I Became Albert Ingalls"
Matt was Absolutely Brilliant In This Scene

That picture of Charles laying his head down on Albert's hospital bed breaks my heart.

I can't watch the movie withoutr crying. It breaks my heart that Albert was dying.

Born 14 September 1963, Los Angeles, California, USA
Tony Becker is the son of Pasadena Playhouse alumni Kenneth Becker and Patti Kane . Tony's dad had the first on-screen fight with Elvis Presley in Loving You (1957) and his mom was Sandra Dee's best friend in the original Gidget (1959) . Becker's first TV role as Mark Hamill's little brother on Mary Tyler Moore Production's "The Texas Wheelers" was the beginning of a long list of recurring roles on "Little House on the Prairie," The Waltons," "The Oregon Trail" and others. As an adult, Tony has appeared as a principal actor in the TV series "For Love an Honor" and "Tour of Duty" and guest-starred in several series and Movies of the Week. Tony's love of the outdoors has also put him behind the camera as a producer, writer, and director of a travel and adventure series.
Appeared in eight episodes of the Waltons as Drew Cutler.

He was in two episodes of Little House as Zeke
The Craftsman - 1979
Barn Burner 1979  

I guess I know him best from the Waltons. Can't forget those baby blues!

Only 8 episodes on the Walton's? Seems like more but I believe you.

He was in the Waltons movie....Mother's Day. It was one just this weekend.

LIWnut wrote:

Only 8 episodes on the Walton's? Seems like more but I believe you.

NOT A MATTER OF BELIEVING ME....HIS BIO MAY BE WRONG.......HERE ARE THE EPISODES LISTED
COULD HAVE BEEN IN A COUPLE OF WALTON MOVIES, BUT AREN'T LISTED
1.The Inspiration (31 January 1980) - Drew Cutler
2.The Valediction (13 March 1980) - Drew Cutler
3.The Outrage: Part 1 (27 November 1980) - Drew Cutler
4.The Outrage: Part 2 (27 November 1980) - Drew Cutler
5.The Pledge (4 December 1980) - Drew Cutler
6.The Last Ten Days (8 January 1981) - Drew Cutler
7.The Carousel (12 February 1981) - Drew Cutler
8.The Indiscretion (7 May 1981) - Drew Cutler

JOAN THOMPKINS

Born 9 July 1915, Mount Vernon, New York, USA
Early in her career, in 1938, Joan Tompkins played opposite Henry Fonda in a run of plays in White Plains, New York. She later became well known on radio in the role of Nora Drake. During her long years in radio, she also acted on Broadway in "Pride and Prejudice", "My Sister Eileen" and many other plays. Joan met the actor Karl Swenson, "the man of a thousand voices", in the radio studio and later married him. Later, they moved to southern California and founded an acting company in Beverly Hills, with Karl directing and Joan acting. After Karl's death in 1978, Joan retired into a new career. She established a writing group. She wrote several books, herself, and was an insightful critic and a voice of encouragement to the group members, who themselves published many books. She died on January 29, 2005, at her home in Orange County, California, at the age of 89, and was survived by four stepsons, their children and grandchildren.
Stage-actress on Broadway in "Pride and Prejudice", "My Sister Eileen" and many other plays. Early in her career, in 1938, she played opposite Henry Fonda in a run of plays in White Plains, New York.She was also a radio-actress,and became well known on radio in the role of Nora Drake, heroine of the soap opera, "This Is Nora Drake".
After World War ll, Joan offered to become a foster parent for a war orphan. From many photos she choose a crippled Polish boy - Tomek Machcinski, who later became a photographer known as " the man of a million faces". In 1994 their story was portrayed in the documentary "Child from a catalog".
She appeared in over 81 TV Shows and movies: Eight is Enough, Emergency, General Hospital as Elizabeth Maynard, The Waltons as Mrs Herbert, Barnaby Jones, Mary Tyler Moore Show to name a few.
Her first TV appearance was in 1954 on the Ponds Theatre. Her last was in The Night The City Screamed, a TV Movie made in 1980.

SHE WAS IN TWO LITTLE HOUSE EPISODES
FRED - 1976 - MRS PARSONS
BARN BURNER - 1979 - ADELE LARRABEE

"FRED" - AS MRS PARSONS

"BARN BURNER" - AS ADELLE LARRABEE

MARRIED TO KARL SWENSON FOR DECADES

Nicholas Pryor (born January 28, 1935) is an American film and television actor.Pryor was born Nicholas David Probst in Baltimore, Maryland, the son of Dorothy (née Driskill) and J. Stanley Probst, a pharmaceutical manufacturer. Pryor's most notable role was that of A. Milton Arnold, the Chancellor of California University, in the television series Beverly Hills, 90210. Pryor's character, which appeared on the show from 1994–97, was a widower and the father of one daughter, Claire (portrayed by Kathleen Robertson). Pryor appeared alongside William Holden and Lee Grant in Damien: Omen II. He later played the role of Joel Goodson's father in the 1983 hit movie Risky Business. Pryor also appeared as one of the sick passengers in Airplane!. Portrayed Julian Wells' father in Less Than Zero .For several years in the late '90s and early '00s, Pryor played the role of Victor Collins on General Hospital and its spin-off, Port Charles.
Pryor has been married to actress Christine Belford since July, 1993.
He has been in more than 150 titles of movies and TV Shows.

He was on one episode of Little House As The Dying Royal Wilder
Times Are Changing Part One And Two – 1982

Played This Guy's Dad in "Risky Business"

Cooper Huckabee was born on 8 May 1951, Mobile, Alabama, USA
Huckabee attended Davidson High School in Mobile, Alabama. At USM, he received an Athletic Administration Degree. He played football for the University of Southern Mississippi.

Huckabee played Buzz, one of the leading roles, in The Funhouse. He was Marshall, John Travolta's buddy in Urban Cowboy. He shared a starring role in the 1982 CBS made for TV movie "Country Gold" made in Nashville which also featured Loni Anderson, Linda Hamilton, & Earl Holliman. He was Henry T. Harrison, the spy, in Gettysburg. He's also had several guest apparences on various TV series, including ER and The Shield. Huckabee turned in a memorable performance as Euple Byrd, the first husband of country music legend Tammy Wynette in the made for TV movie Stand By Your Man. Recently Huckabee appeared in The Killers video for Dustland Fairytale. Huckabee has a recurring role in the TV series True Blood and portrays Joe Lee Mickens.
His various roles included:
The Quest (1976)
Little House on The Prairie (1976)
Foul Play (1978)
Joni (1980)
Urban Cowboy (1980)
The Funhouse (1981)
Stand By Your Man (1981)
The Pursuit of D. B. Cooper (1981)
The Blue and the Gray (TV miniseries) (played Matthew Geyser) (1982)[7]
"Country Gold" CBS TV movie(1982)
Little House: Look Back to Yesterday (1983)
Chase (1985)
Eye of the Tiger (1986)
The Curse (1987)
Cohen and Tate (1989)
Night Eyes (1990)
Love Field (1992)
Gettysburg (1993)
Bad Girls (1994)
Turbulence (1997)
The General's Daughter (1999)
Space Cowboys (2000)
Gods and Generals (2003)
Staunton Hill (2009)
True Blood (2010)

HE WAS IN TWO LITTLE HOUSE EPISODES
TROUBLEMAKER - 1976 - AS HERMAN STONE
LOOKBACK TO YESTERDAY - 1983 - AS VANCE REED
LOOKBACK - WITH HIS SWEETHEART - ETTA PLUM (REMEMBER JASON PEEKING THRU THE WINDOW?)

TROUBLEMAKER - STANDING UP TO THE NASTY TEACHER (RICHARD BASEHART)
NOTE: RICHARD BASEHART ONCE PLAYED ADOLPH HITLER

LATER YEARS