Little House on the Prairie Actor Jack Lilley Dead at 91

Hollywood mourns yet another loss as Jack Lilley, cherished for his work on "Little House on the Prairie," passed away peacefully in his sleep at the age of 91. His son, Clint Lilley, confirmed the news, sharing that the veteran actor spent his final moments at the Motion Picture & Television Fund retirement home in Calabasas, California, on March 19.

Clint described his father as "one of a kind," reflecting on their family's three generations of Hollywood history. "We got a glimpse of the old Hollywood … because he came out of that," Clint remarked, highlighting his father's journey through a rapidly evolving entertainment industry.

Jack Lilley, who played a stagecoach driver on "Little House on the Prairie," was a familiar face to fans of the beloved 1970s series. He also appeared in several made-for-TV movies tied to the franchise, such as "Little House: Look Back to Yesterday" (1983), and the 1984 classics "The Last Farewell" and "Bless All the Dear Children."

Clint shared that his father’s values were deeply rooted in hard work and humility, lessons Jack made sure to pass on. "He taught us we had to work for it and nothing was going to be handed to you," Clint said with a laugh, recalling his father’s determination to keep the family grounded despite their Hollywood ties.

Melissa Gilbert, Jack’s "Little House" co-star, took to Instagram to share her heartfelt tribute. "The little house family has lost one of our own. Jack Lilley has passed away," she wrote, describing him as "one of [her] favorite people on the planet." Gilbert reminisced about how Jack taught her to ride a horse as a child and praised his work both as Victor French’s photo double and in various roles in the series. "He lived quite a life. I am so lucky that he was my friend," she added.

Beyond "Little House on the Prairie," Jack Lilley had a long and varied career as an actor and stuntman, working on iconic films like "Sudden Impact," "Young Guns," "Planet of the Apes," and "The Legend of Zorro."

Clint shared that his father’s generosity was well-known within the industry. "He helped a lot of people … he could make things happen. He was always willing to help out," Clint said, emphasizing Jack’s knack for finding solutions and making things work. "He’s a really good father, no doubt about it," Clint concluded, offering a touching final tribute to the man he called "Dad."

Jack Lilley’s legacy is one of talent, kindness, and grit—a true testament to the old-school Hollywood spirit that so many admire.