Actor behind Almanzo from 'Little House on the Prairie' releases memoir about series' legacy

In conjunction with the 50th anniversary of "The Little House on the Prairie," the release of a new memoir gives fans the chance to take a unique look inside the series.

"Prairie Man: My Little House Life & Beyond" by Dean Butler, who played Almanzo James Wilder on the television series, was released on Tuesday, June 25. The 261-page memoir explores Butler's upbringing in the San Francisco Bay Area, involvement in his high school theater, casting in "Little House" in his early 20s and projects since.

For those interested in purchasing a copy of the book and meeting Butler, the actor and author will be signing and selling books at two events in the Ozarks this fall. He will be at the Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Home & Museum's Wilder Days in Mansfield from Sept. 27-29 and at the Branson Convention Center on Nov. 16-17. "Prairie Man" is also available for purchase online and in select bookstores. An audiobook read by Butler is available, too.

Butler is most popularly known for his role as Almanzo, Laura Ingalls Wilder's love interest in "Little House," which follows the adventures of the Ingalls family in the 1870s. Butler was cast in his role at 22-years-old. Reflecting on his casting today, at age 68, Butler said he was "way too green" to understand how the role would shape his career.

"When Michael (Landon) said, 'People will be watching this show long after we're all gone,' that felt like hyperbole at the time," Butler said. "Now, it's very clear to me that 'Little House' will be watched for many, many years to come."

This year, the "Little House" television series celebrates its' 50th anniversary. The nine-season series first aired in 1974, featuring Michael Landon as father Charles Ingalls, Melissa Gilbert as lead daughter and narrator Laura Ingalls, Karen Grassle as mother Caroline Ingalls, and Melissa Sue Anderson and Sidney Greenbush as the other two daughters, Mary and Carrie Ingalls.

The series' 50th anniversary is part of the reason why Butler decided to write his memoir. He was also inspired by the works of his colleagues. Gilbert released her first book on the experience of "Little House" in 2009 titled, "Prairie Tale" A Memoir." Anderson released "Way I See It: A Look Back at My Life on Little House" in 2010 and Grassle released her memoir, "Bright Lights, Prairie Dust: Reflections on Life, Loss, and Love From Little House's Ma" in 2021.

"The reality that the 'Little House' 50th anniversary was out there in the distance started to come into focus for me," Butler recalled. He began to think about writing a book in 2021. "I had been asked for years, 'When was I going to write my book?' I just couldn't really wrap my head around that. I'd think, 'What do I have to say about this that could be fresh and different?' And then it occurred to me that I'm the only man on our cast who's written a book about the experience."

So at 5 a.m. on Jan 10, 2023, Butler sat down at his kitchen table with a cup of coffee and began to write. He continued this practice every day until he was finished with his first rough draft on July 31, 2023.

"It was a really great adventure to peel back the onion on my memories," he said.

An 'incredible gift'

After graduating from high school, where he discovered a love for acting, Butler attended the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California. He soon established an agent based in San Francisco and during his junior year of college was cast as Michael Wagner in CBS' made-for-television film, "Forever." The film is based on Judy Blume's novel of the same name and co-stars Stephanie Zimbalist as Katherine Danziger, Wagner's love interest.

Not long after, Butler signed with the late Ina Bernstein Sharr, who, during the 1970s, served as the vice president of talent and television packaging at IFA and ICM, according to Variety. Sharr also worked with celebrities like Paul Newman, Loretta Swit, Maureen Stapleton and Nancy Sinatra. It was Sharr who encouraged Butler to audition for "Little House."

"At the time, I had never seen 'Little House' because I was not the target audience as a young guy," Butler said. "'Little House' was on Monday nights. I was watching ABC Monday night football games. I was not breaking away from the second half of a good game, or any game for that matter, to watch 'Little House on the Prairie.' I certainly knew what it was, I had seen the promos for it, everyone on the planet knew who Michael Landon was, I knew it was there. But I had no real sense of what this would mean to me long-term for me in my life."

Cast as Almanzo, first appeared in the series' fourth season. He remained on screen through the series' final, ninth season. He also starred in a spin-off series, "Little House: A New Beginning" and three made-for television films, "Little House: Look Back to Yesterday," "Little House: The Last Farewell" and "Little House: Bless All the Dear Children."

In addition to working alongside his colleagues, Butler said he enjoyed being a part of "Little House" for its message.

"I think it touches something that is so fundamentally good about people," Butler said. "It offers people very simple, straight-forward object lessons in good ways to live and not good ways to live. It offers the benefits or rewards of good behavior and it offers consequences for bad behavior."

As for playing Almanzo, the series' heartthrob love interest, Butler described the role as a "beautiful opportunity to represent something that people loved."

Since completing his memoir and starting the cast's nationwide tour, Butler has channeled a newfound sense of gratitude for the impact of "Little House" on not only his career, but his life.

"Years later, looking at it, being a part of something that is so beloved by people who have watched it, loved it, it's been such an incredible gift," Butler said.

Greta Cross is the trending topics reporter for the Springfield News-Leader. She has more than five years of journalism experience covering everything from Ozarks history to Springfield’s LGBTQIA+ community. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretacrossphoto. Story idea? Email her at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: New actor memoir explores legacy of 'Little House on the Prairie'