Melissa Gilbert Reveals The Real Reason She Left Hollywood Behind

Little House on the Prairie star Melissa Gilbert opens with a real reason to leave Hollywood behind.

“I didn’t feel like that was a safe place to grow old. It fights aging, which is one of my least favorite expressions in the world,” she said Page Six in an interview published on Saturday, January 25. “Preventing aging means death.”

The actor, 60, added that he felt a lot of pressure to “not get bigger” and to “stay a size 2 or 4” while working in the industry.

He went on to explain how things changed for the better when he moved to the United States to Manhattan. “I went from there, ‘Oh God, I’d rather not get old!’ saying ‘Oh God, I’m so happy that I’m old!'” she said. “I love the age I am now. Sixty has been the most unbelievable year, looking back at all the things I have done and knowing that I have found my ideas, I have value, I am wise.”

It turns out, Gilbert has moved on from Hollywood in more ways than one — his next project is an off-Broadway play. Anywaywhere he plays the stars For Mad Men Mark Moses. The show – which opens on February 6 – follows an ex-couple who reconnect after 30 years apart. Gilbert says the part gave him a chance to revisit his past relationships.

“I will say that both times I was single again, a weight was lifted and peace filled my house because I didn’t have to hold back or start an argument because I didn’t agree,” Gilbert admitted.

Gilbert was previously married Bo Brinkman from 1988 to 1994. He went on to get married Bruce Boxleitner in 1995 until they broke up in 2011. Gilbert later married her third husband, Timothy Busfieldin 2013.

Despite leaving Hollywood in his sights and traveling across the country, Gilbert said he still has a deep love for Los Angeles — something that came into focus after the devastating wildfires this month.

“I didn’t realize the depth of love I have for my city until the wildfire,” he explained. “The number of people I know who have lost everything, not movie stars and television stars.”

On Friday, January 24, several people – including former real stars Heidi Montag again Spencer Pratt – sued the city of Los Angeles and the Department of Water and Power (LADWP) after their homes were destroyed by the wildfires that devastated parts of the greater Los Angeles area.

“LADWP and the City of Los Angeles had a duty to construct, inspect, maintain and operate its water supply system,” reads the lawsuit, per Rolling Stone. “The Palisades Fire was an unavoidable and unavoidable consequence of the water supply system operated by LADWP and the City of Los Angeles as planned and constructed. This plan really failed, and this failure was the main reason that caused the Plaintiffs to lose the money alleged in this Complaint.”

In addition to Spencer and Montag’s house burning down, Spencer’s parents, who lived nearby, also lost their home.