“Little House on the Prairie” was comforting and has millions of fans worldwide.

The 1974–1983 sitcom was based on Laura Ingalls Wilder’s best-selling children’s books and followed the Ingalls family in 1800s Walnut Grove, Minnesota.

At 81, Karen Grassle, who plays Ma, the family matriarch, is an American gem who still acts.

She became famous for playing Caroline Lake Quiner Ingalls, but she disappeared from TV after playing one of the most iconic American parents.

The California actress returned to Broadway, her first love, after studying acting in London.

She studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London after graduating from the University of California.

Karen told apost.com, “That was one of the most exciting learning experiences of my life: the school was superb and we could go to the theater in London and see the finest actors and productions in the English language.”

After performing in several stage plays, she auditioned for a movie role she didn’t receive but auditioned for “Little House on the Prairie” and earned one of TV’s most iconic parts at 32.

“Little House on the Prairie” concluded in 1983, but Karen departed in 1982 and producers wanted to continue with just the Ingalls children, but it was canceled.

After leaving, Karen, 81, returned to Broadway, her first passion. After performing in Kentucky, Boston, and New York City, she founded her own theater group.

She appeared in the 1994 Kevin Costner film Wyatt Earp after appearing in “Cabaret” and “Driving Miss Daisy”.
She was nervous to act in horror film Lasso at 75.

Finally, my son says, “Oh just do it, Mom. Have fun! You’ll scream at night!” So I responded, “Okay, I’ll do it.” “It’s a complete change,” she told Dread Central.

Grassle will star in Not To Forget, about a Kentucky grandmother with Alzheimer’s and her young grandson. The movie will debut in 2021.