Jonathan Gilbert

Jonathan J. Gilbert (born April 28, 1967) is an American former television and film actor known for his role as Willie Oleson on the TV series Little House on the Prairie.

Personal life Gilbert was born on April 28, 1967. He is the adopted son of actors Barbara Cowen (née Barbara Crane) and Paul Gilbert and brother of actresses Melissa Gilbert and Sara Gilbert.

In Melissa Gilbert's autobiography, she wrote that when Jonathan was 18, he moved away from California and she had no relationship with him since then, for reasons supposedly unknown to her. Her autobiography states that he is a stockbroker living in New York City.

He reunited with his sister, Melissa, and the cast of Little House for the 50th anniversary reunion of the show in Simi Valley on March 22, 2024.

Acting career Gilbert is best known for his performance as Willie Oleson on the NBC TV series, Little House on the Prairie, from 1974 to 1983. He is also one of only six actors on Little House on the Prairie to appear throughout the entire series, along with Melissa Gilbert, Richard Bull, Kevin Hagen and Dabbs Greer and Katherine MacGregor. In 1979, Gilbert was in the made for TV movie The Little House Years also as Willie Oleson. Also in 1979, he was in the made-for-TV Movie The Miracle Worker as Jimmy.

Filmography Television Year Title RoleNotes 1974–1983 Little House on the PrairieWillie Oleson Recurring role1979 The Little House Years TV movie and archive footage The Miracle Worker Jimmy TV movie 1983 Little House: Look Back to YesterdayWillie Oleson TV movie 1984 Little House: The Last Farewell TV movie