Rising actress Alice Halsey steps into the role made famous by Melissa Gilbert.

See Netflix’s Little House on the Prairie cast side-by-side with the stars of the original series

Rising actress Alice Halsey steps into the role made famous by Melissa Gilbert.

By Brianna Zigler

and Randall Colburn

Randall Colburn

Randall Colburn is a writer and editor at **. His work has previously appeared on The A.V. Club, The Guardian, The Ringer, and many other publications.

EW's editorial guidelines

July 9, 2026 5:00 p.m. ET

Leave a Comment

Crosby Fitzgerald as Caroline Ingalls, Luke Bracey as Charles Ingalls, Skywalker Hughes as Mary Ingalls, Alice Halsey as Laura Ingalls on ‘Little House on the Prairie’. Credit:

Eric Zachanowich/Netflix

- Netflix's new adaptation of the *Little House on the Prairie* books is now streaming.

- Alice Halsey, Luke Bracey, Crosby Fitzgerald, and Skywalker Hughes star as the Ingalls family.

- According to the showrunner, the series incorporates new characters "from outside the books, that were part of her life, or a part of history at that time."

“Pioneer girl” Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote beautifully (and accessibly) about her childhood growing up in the American Midwest during the late 19th century. Her eight *Little House* books — including 1935’s *Little House on the Prairie *— inspired NBC’s long-running, beloved *Little House on the Prairie* series. Now, Netflix is bringing the books to the screen with an adaptation of its own.

That’s a tall order. A ratings juggernaut, NBC’s *Little House on the Prairie* ran for nine seasons from 1974 to 1983, followed by three television movies in 1983 and 1984. Melissa Gilbert starred as young Laura, who came of age on the American frontier through periods of great hardship and joy. Michael Landon and Karen Grassle costarred as Laura’s parents, Charles and Caroline.

More than 50 years after its premiere,* Little House* remains a hot property. In 2024, the eggheads at Nielsen revealed it to be the most-streamed classic series of 2024, with over 13 billion minutes viewed on Peacock, the OG series’ streaming home.

Rebecca Sonnenshine, the screenwriter of *The Housemaid* (2025) and a producer on series like *The Vampire Diaries*, serves as showrunner and executive producer. Speaking with ** in May, she said the new series will "overlap" with the "spirit of the [original] show."

She added, "We're also using a little bit of the history of Laura Ingalls Wilder's real life, which the show did as well... and there are things we incorporated in the show that are from outside the books, that were part of her life, or a part of history at that time."**

Without further ado, let’s meet Netflix’s new Ingalls family, along with the new and familiar faces they’ll encounter in Independence, Kan. Read on for **‘s guide to the cast and characters of *Little House on the Prairie*.

Alice Halsey as Laura Ingalls

Melissa Gilbert as Laura Ingalls; Alice Halsey as Laura Ingalls.

Ted Shepherd/NBCU Photo Bank; Eric Zachanowich/Netflix

Alice Halsey starred on daytime soap *Days of Our Lives* as Rachel Black from 2025 to 2026, but her career began with a role as the daughter of Brie Larson’s Elizabeth Zott on the Apple TV+ series *Lessons in Chemistry*. You can also hear her voice on Disney Jr.’s *Kindergarten: The Musical.*

Halsey leads *Little House* as Laura, who Netflix describes as “a disruptor” who’s “honest to a fault” and “questions authority.”

Sonnenshine called Halsey "an extraordinary actress" in a chat with EW. "She feels things very deeply, and she really just got this character who has this curiosity for the world," she said. "She felt so ready to explore the world and take on this character who is kind, and forthright, and empathetic, and honest, because she’s our window into this world.”

Luke Bracey as Charles Ingalls

Michael Landon as Charles Ingalls; Luke Bracey as Charles Ingalls.

NBCU Photo Bank/Getty; Eric Zachanowich/Netflix

Luke Bracey's career began on Australian soap operas, but he first made a splash stateside by playing Johnny Utah in 2015's *Point Break* remake, the role made famous by Keanu Reeves.

Since then, he has gone to war in the acclaimed *Hacksaw Ridge* (2016), starred opposite Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington in Hulu's *Little Fires Everywhere* (2020), and played famed talent manager Jerry Schilling in Baz Luhrmann's *Elvis* (2022).

Bracey leads the Ingalls family as Laura's father, Charles Ingalls. He has some big boots to fill in a role long associated with the late Michael Landon, whom former *Little House on the Prairie* costar Jason Bateman remembered for "his ease with people, with the process, with the business, with just Joe on the street. Women are crazy about him. Guys wanna be his buddy."

"He's incredibly rugged," Sonnenshine said of Bracey. "He feels like, 'Oh, I can see him building a house.' That was one of the criteria—can you see this person building a log cabin with their hands? And I thought, 'Yes, for sure.'"**

What happened to the cast of 'Little House on the Prairie': See the stars after they left Walnut Grove

The 10 best and worst moments from the original 'Little House on the Prairie'

Crosby Fitzgerald as Caroline Ingalls

Karen Grassle as Caroline Ingalls; Crosby Fitzgerald as Caroline Ingalls.

NBCU Photo Bank/Getty; Eric Zachanowich/Netflix

Guest spots on series like *Awkwafina is Nora From Queens*, *Abbott Elementary*, and *The First Lady* put Crosby Fitzgerald on the map. She appeared on the Apple TV+ series *Palm Royale* and the Michael Keaton-starring film *Goodrich* (2024). She also starred opposite Chris Hemsworth in this year’s Prime Video film, *Crime 101*.

Fitzgerald plays Caroline Ingalls, who Netflix describes as having “a playful side, a romantic side — but at the end of the day, she’s the one who keeps this family on track. Like moms do. She’s quiet and patient and practical — but with a core of steel. She gave up her teaching career to have a family, but that yearning for independence never quite went away. Her marriage is one of equals — something rare in the 19th century. And though her trust in her husband is tested, the strength of their love endures.”**

Skywalker Hughes as Mary Ingalls

Melissa Sue Anderson as Mary Ingalls Kendall; Skywalker Hughes as Mary Ingalls.

Ted Shepherd/NBCU Photo Bank; Eric Zachanowich/Netflix

Skywalker Hughes starred in 20 episodes of the Paramount+ series *Joe Pickett* and also appeared opposite Anna Faris and Jemaine Clement in *I, Object *(2026), the new film from sci-fi visionary Andrew Niccol (*Gattaca, Anon*).

Hughes plays Laura’s older sister (and polar opposite), Mary Ingalls.

“A rule follower. Quiet and studious. Always angling to be the good daughter, the obedient one, the ladylike one, the prettier one,” reads a character description from Netflix. “Other parents love Mary. Unlike her sister, she is uncomfortable in the natural world: the sun is too hot, the snow is too cold. She loves pretty ribbons and reading poetry and long afternoons of sewing. In other words, Laura and Mary are oil and water. Best friends and mortal enemies. They love each other deeply and hate each other intensely. But in the end, they always have each other’s backs — there is no choice but to protect each other in this wild new landscape.”**

Jocko Sims as Dr. George Tann

Jocko Sims as Dr. George Tann.

Eric Zachanowich/Netflix

Jocko Sims is best known for his memorable turn as Dr. Floyd Reynolds on NBC's *New Amsterdam*, though he also starred in TNT's *The Last Ship* and Hulu's *How to Die Alone*. In 2025, he recurred as Tucker on NBC's *Grosse Pointe Garden Society*.

Sims plays Dr. George Tann, a real-life figure drawn from history and described by Netflix as "a generous and kind-hearted man with a charming bedside manner that makes him a connector within the community."

While Dr. Tann wasn't featured in the original NBC series, he was a presence in the *Little House* books. According to the official *Little House on the Prairie* website, Dr. Tann treated the Ingalls family when they contracted malaria in Kansas.

"Kansas was a very mixed state at that time, and it's very soon after the war, so there were a lot of different kinds of people living there," Sonnenshine said of Sims' character, adding that the new series acknowledges the reality that "people had prejudices. Of course we wanted to portray that there are people who have a problem, and there are people who don't... I really want to present a very humanist interpretation of the books."**

Warren Christie as John Edwards

Warren Christie as John Edwards.

Eric Zachanowich/Netflix

Irish actor Warren Christie has been a television regular for more than two decades, having starred on series such as *October Road*, *Alphas*, and *The Watchful Eye*. He has also had recurring roles on *Chicago Fire*, *Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce*, and *Batwoman*.

Christie plays John Edwards, a Civil War veteran from Tennessee described as "a gregarious and mysterious man who catches the eye of every single woman in the county (maybe some of the married ones, too)." A close friend of the Ingalls family, he hides a tremor he developed during the war.**

Meegwun Fairbrother as Mitchell

Meegwun Fairbrother as Mitchell.

Eric Zachanowich/Netflix

In addition to his award-winning role on *Burden of Truth*, Indigenous actor Meegwun Fairbrother has appeared in *Helix*, *Hemlock Grove*, and Netflix's *Avatar: The Last Airbender*. He most recently starred opposite Margo Martindale in Prime Video's *The Sticky*.

Fairbrother's Mitchell is a new character created for the Netflix series. He is described as "a tender-hearted man who lives in Kansas with his family, where he became a successful farmer and built the most impressive homestead in the county."

Sonnenshine told ** that the show's Osage characters — whom she and the creative team based on real people living in the area at the time — are still caught up in the ongoing Indian Wars, particularly as they relate to illegal land seizures and efforts to force the Osage from their land.

"We did a lot of research into what really happened with the Osage in Kansas," Sonnenshine said. "So in the book, it's definitely there, but they're very much on the outside. It's kind of impenetrable to them. But what we did was dig into what the reality was on the prairie, what the situation was with the reservation, the Osage Diminished Reserve, and try to bring it to life in a way that felt like a human story."

Alyssa Wapanatǎhk as White Sun

Alyssa Wapanatâhk as White Sun.

Eric Zachanowich/Netflix

Cree actress Alyssa Wapanatǎhk played Tiger Lily in David Lowery’s *Peter Pan & Wendy* (2023). She also recurred as Lizzo on *Riverdale* and appeared in the hit Canadian film *Bones of Crows *(2022).

Wapanatǎhk stars as White Sun. Per Netflix, the character is “opinionated, beautiful, and has a sharp sense of humor. At times she sees the world through a more cynical lens than her husband, Mitchell.”**

Wren Zhawenim Gotts as Good Eagle

Wren Zhawenim Gotts as Good Eagle.

Eric Zachanowich/Netflix

Newcomer Wren Zhawenim Gotts, a member of the Sokoagon Chippewa tribe, starred on the Marvel series *Echo* as the younger iteration of Devery Jacobs‘ Bonnie.

The actress plays Good Eagle, Mitchell and White Sun’s daughter. “Good Eagle is wildly imaginative and is known as a storyteller in her family,” reads a description from Netflix.**

Barrett Doss as Emily Henderson

Barrett Doss as Emily Henderson.

Eric Zachanowich/Netflix

Actress and singer Barrett Doss has appeared in a number of television series over the years, including *30 Rock* and *Grey's Anatomy*. She was also a series regular on *Station 19* and, for a time, *Grey's Anatomy*. Before breaking into television, however, she got her start in theater, making her Broadway debut in *You Can't Take It With You* in 2014 after performing Off-Broadway.

Doss plays Emily Henderson, who runs the local general store and takes in an orphaned runaway named Caleb. Crosby Fitzgerald, who plays Caroline, spoke about Emily's character in relation to her own.

"She's an independent woman who's doing something so different from what Caroline had ever known back home, in terms of a single woman supporting herself [and] supporting a child," Fitzgerald told Netflix.

Michael Hough as Eli James

Michael Hough as Eli James.

Eric Zachanowich/Netflix

Before snagging the role of Eli James, English actor Michael Hough appeared on series such as *Game of Thrones*, *Chapelwaite*, and *Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.* In 2024, he had a small role in *The Apprentice,* starring Sebastian Stan.

In addition to being Jemma’s husband, Eli is a railway worker who is described as “very supportive of the newcomers arriving in Independence."

Mary Holland as Jemma James

Mary Holland as Jemma James.

Eric Zachanowich/Netflix

Mary Holland has become a familiar face thanks to appearances in sitcoms such as *It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia*, *Brooklyn Nine-Nine*, *Curb Your Enthusiasm*, and *Ghosts*. On the big screen, she appeared alongside Amy Adams in *Nightbitch* (2024) and in the 2020 film *Happiest Season*, which she cowrote with Clea DuVall.

Holland plays Jemma James, the wife of Eli James and the town gossip. She is described as "a confident woman with an air of 'big city.'"

Jemma and Caroline are friends, but the comfort Jemma provides isn't necessarily a good thing. "Jemma, in a way, is symbolic of Caroline's past," Fitzgerald reflected.

Kowen Cadorath as Caleb

Kowen Cadorath as Caleb.

Eric Zachanowich/Netflix

Newcomer Kowen Cadorath recently landed a small role in the *Malcolm in the Middle* revival. He has also appeared in the series *SkyMed* and the film *The Jinglebell Jubilee *(2023). On *Little House on the Prairie*, Cadorath plays Caleb, an orphaned preteen who's new to Independence.

Caleb is taken in by Emily and begins working at her general store.

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.***

Rebecca Amzallag as Lacey Aubert

Rebecca Amzallag as Lacey Aubert.

Eric Zachanowich/Netflix

Canadian actress Rebecca Amzallag has had recurring roles on the HBO Max series *Titans* and the horror anthology *Slasher*. She has also appeared on *Law & Order: Criminal Intent* and *Padre*, in addition to TV movies such as *Bury the Past* (2021) and *Love Triangle Nightmare* (2022).

On *Little House on the Prairie*, Amzallag plays Lacey Aubert, a happily widowed woman who runs a card room and bar on the outskirts of Independence.

Where can I watch Little House on the Prairie?

You can stream the new *Little House on the Prairie* on Netflix. The original series is available to stream on Peacock.

Original Article on Source

Source: “EW Drama”