Melissa Sue Anderson, best known as Mary Ingalls from “Little House on the Prairie,” had big dreams as a teenager. She wanted a large family and a loving husband. While she didn’t end up with as many children as she once envisioned, she made significant sacrifices to ensure her family always came first.
Dreams of a Big Family
In her younger years, Anderson expressed a desire for a large family. “I’d like to have four to six kids – I like big families,” she once said. When it came to finding a partner, she sought someone nice and lovable, much like what anyone would want in a significant other.
Meeting Her Husband
Before meeting her current husband, Michael Sloan, Anderson dated Frank Sinatra Jr. after meeting him on “The Love Boat” in 1979. She described their relationship as exciting but not wild, reflecting her own reserved nature.
After her time on “Little House,” Anderson landed roles in numerous TV movies and shows. It was on the set of “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” in 1987 that she met Michael Sloan, the show’s executive producer. Three years later, they were married, and Anderson began to turn down acting roles.
Michael Sloan, born in October 1946 in New York City, married Anderson on March 17, 1990. Sloan is known for producing and writing for shows like “The Equalizer” and “Quincy M.E.” He also created the TV series “The Equalizer,” in which Anderson played a role as the daughter of Edward Woodward’s character. Sloan and Anderson have been happily married for over three decades.
Family Life and Retirement
Anderson and Sloan have two children: daughter Piper, born in February 1991, and son Griffin, born in June 1996. After retiring from showbiz at age 35, Anderson enjoyed a quiet life in Southern California’s Topanga Canyon with her family.
Reflecting on her decision to step away from acting, Anderson said, “It’s nice just being a regular person. It’s good to get to know what I’m like without the acting.” She knew early on that she couldn’t balance a career and raising her children the way she wanted.
Anderson used Michael Landon, her “Little House” co-star, as an example of what she didn’t want for her kids. She recalled how Landon often had to sign autographs at his daughter’s birthday party, taking attention away from his children. “The children should be the stars of their little lives,” she explained.
A Return to Acting
After a twelve-year break from Hollywood, Anderson returned to acting. Her children, then 15 and 9, encouraged her to go back to work. “You devote your life to raising your kids, and then they start saying, ‘Oh, mom, you should spend more of your time acting again,’” she shared.
At 43, Anderson took on a role in NBC’s disaster-movie miniseries “10.5: Apocalypse,” filmed in Montreal, where her family lived. This role marked one of her significant returns to the screen.
Children’s Achievements
Anderson’s children have pursued different paths from their mother. Piper, now 32, is a Training and Evaluation Programs Specialist at the American Society of Hematology and speaks four languages. She holds a Master of Arts in International Communication from American University.
Griffin, 26, is a Law Clerk at Haworth Barber & Gerstman, LLC, with a background in economics, sociology, and law. He, too, is multilingual, speaking English, French, and Italian.
Later Years and New Ventures
In 2002, Anderson and her family moved to Canada and became Canadian citizens in 2007. While balancing her family life, Anderson penned an autobiography titled “The Way I See It: A Look Back At My Life on Little House,” published in 2012. She also participated in a “Little House” cast reunion on the “Today Show” in 2014.
Today, Anderson continues to support her children and occasionally takes on new acting roles. Her journey from a beloved child star to a devoted mother and occasional actress is a testament to her dedication to family and personal fulfillment.
