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Alison Arngrim

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Alison Arngrim
Arngrim in 2017
Born
Alison Margaret Arngrim

(1962-01-18) January 18, 1962 (age 62)
New York City, U.S.
Occupation(s)Actress, author
Years active1974–present
Spouses
  • Donald Spencer
  • Robert Paul Schoonover
Parent
RelativesStefan Arngrim (brother)
Websitewww.alison-arngrim.com Edit this at Wikidata

Alison Margaret Arngrim (born January 18, 1962)[1] is an American actress and author. Beginning her television career at the age of twelve, Arngrim is a Young Artist Award–Former Child Star "Lifetime Achievement" Award honoree, best known for her portrayal of Nellie Oleson on the NBC television series Little House on the Prairie from 1974 to 1982.

Early life

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Arngrim's father, Thor Arngrim, was a Canadian-born Hollywood manager.[2] Her mother, Norma MacMillan of Vancouver, British Columbia, was an actress who provided the voices for characters for: Casper on Casper the Friendly Ghost, Gumby on Gumby, Davey on Davey and Goliath, Sweet Polly Purebred on Underdog, and for other animated children's programs.[3]

Her brother Stefan (b. 1955) was also a child actor, perhaps best known for his role as Barry Lockridge on the Irwin Allen science fiction television series, Land of the Giants.[4]

Arngrim claimed that her brother sexually molested her from age six until nine, when he was aged from 13 to 16 years old.[5] She also claimed that her brother admitted to the abuse but isn't particularly apologetic for his behavior.[6] Arngrim stated that she no longer has any kind of relationship with her brother, an act she believes has bettered her life.[6]

Acting career

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After beginning a career as a child model and actress in television commercials, Arngrim rose to fame as a child star in 1974, portraying the role of Nellie Oleson on the NBC television series Little House on the Prairie. She originally auditioned for the role of Laura Ingalls and, later, Mary Ingalls, but was instead cast in the role of antagonist Nellie Oleson. Arngrim would play the role of Nellie for seven seasons and her portrayal became a cultural reference and camp archetype for the spoiled "bad girl" throughout the 1970s.[citation needed][7]

Years later, in one of her stand-up routines, Arngrim described playing Nellie on Little House on The Prairie as "like having PMS for seven years."[8] In 2002, she was honored by the Young Artist Foundation with its Former Child Star "Lifetime Achievement" Award for her work as a child actress on Little House.[9] At the 2006 TV Land Awards, Arngrim tied with Danielle Spencer ('Dee' on What's Happening!!) as the "Character Most in Need of a Time-out" for her role as Nellie.

In addition to her role on Little House, Arngrim also recorded the comedy record album, Heeere's Amy, in which she portrayed first daughter Amy Carter.[10] Her mother, who voiced the Kennedy children on the comedy albums of Vaughn Meader, also guest starred on the album. After leaving Little House, Arngrim appeared in guest-starring roles on such television series as The Love Boat and Fantasy Island. She was also a frequent panelist on the short-lived NBC game show Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour.

Starting in 2006, she developed a successful career on stage in France, with her friend, author/director/comedian Patrick Loubatière. In 2017 in Pinehurst, North Carolina she appeared as Emily Brent in Judson Theatre Company's production of Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None.[11]

Philanthropy

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In addition to performing, Arngrim also devotes her time to charitable organizations. One of her inspirations for her charity work is the memory of her friend and fellow actor Steve Tracy, who played the role of Nellie Oleson's husband, Percival Dalton, on Little House on the Prairie. Tracy died from complications of AIDS in 1986, after which Arngrim set her sights on becoming an activist for AIDS awareness including the organization ACT UP and working at AIDS hotline. She also focuses on other issues, such as child abuse, speaking frequently for and lobbying with the group PROTECT.[12] In 2004, Arngrim revealed on Larry King Live that she herself was an incest survivor.[13]

Author

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In 2010, Arngrim authored an autobiography titled Confessions of a Prairie Bitch: How I Survived Nellie Oleson and Learned to Love Being Hated.[14] In the book she, for the first time, publicly identified her then-teenaged brother as her childhood abuser, though the book is mostly light-hearted and received critical praise for her ability to mix humor and personal tragedy.[15] She wrote and performed a stage version, which premiered at Club Fez in New York.[16] She later performed this one-person show at Parliament House, a gay resort in Orlando, Florida.[17]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1974 Throw Out the Anchor! Stevie Feature film
1974–1982 Little House on the Prairie Nellie Oleson Main role
1981 The Love Boat Becky Daniels Episode: "Tony and Julie/Separate Beds/America's Sweetheart"
Fantasy Island Lisa Blake Episode: "Elizabeth's Baby/The Artist and the Lady"
1983 I Married Wyatt Earp Amy TV film
1986 Video Valentino Trixie Short film
2000 For the Love of May Jude
2002 The Last Place on Earth Party Toast Feature film
2007 Le deal Edith
2009 Make the Yuletide Gay Heather Mancuso
The Bilderberg Club: Meet the Shadow One World Government Dr. Samantha Klein Short film
2012 Livin' the Dream Debbie Sweat
2015 The Comeback Kids Herself Episode: "Child Star Support Group: Part 2"
CPR Talent Agency Pilot
Life Interrupted Ally Hughes TV film
2017 The Mephisto Box Leeza Feature film
2021 Even in Dreams Debra

Awards

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Wins

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Nominations

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References

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  1. ^ Rose, Mike (January 18, 2023). "Today's famous birthdays list for January 18, 2023 includes celebrities Kevin Costner, Dave Bautista". Cleveland.com. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  2. ^ "Manager Thor Arngrim dies". The Hollywood Reporter. December 18, 2009. Retrieved April 17, 2022.
  3. ^ Bishop, Angela (October 10, 2018). "Alison Arngrim's Dark Childhood Secret". Studio 10. Network 10. Retrieved April 17, 2022.
  4. ^ "Groovy Clothes Call for Proper Setting, Teenage Actor Warns". Los Angeles Times. August 25, 1968. Archived from the original on January 4, 2013.
  5. ^ Macdonald, Gayle (June 16, 2010). "Little House's Alison Arngrim: a retrospective". The Globe and Mail. Toronto.
  6. ^ a b Bennett, Craig (April 14, 2022). "Secrets from Little House On The Prairie". Studio 10. Network 10. Retrieved April 17, 2022. Often people deny it. In this case, he did not. He absolutely admitted to everything - but apparently not particularly sorry. I realise that's sort of stunning because a lot of people go 'oh yes, he was really sorry about the whole thing'. No. Not really. And that's sort of hard to take, I imagine, for people who don't work in the field to hear that someone said "Yes I did it" but that they don't care... I don't have anything to do with him and I think my life is better for it.
  7. ^ Meinhart, Kendra (July 29, 2012). "Mean girl pioneer: 'Little House' star recalls days on TV's favorite prairie". The Town Talk.
  8. ^ Interview in Las Vegas Review-Journal 5 August 2010
  9. ^ "23rd Annual Young Artist Awards". YoungArtistAwards.org. Archived from the original on September 3, 2014. Retrieved March 31, 2011.
  10. ^ Schmader, David (June 10, 2009). "Did You Know This? I Did Not". The Stranger. Retrieved June 12, 2011.
  11. ^ "Arngrim Headlines Cast of 'And then There Were None'". February 23, 2017.
  12. ^ Pace, Giacinta (March 10, 2012). "Whoa Nellie! Alison Arngrim fights for children's rights". NBC News. NBC. Retrieved April 17, 2022.
  13. ^ King, Larry (April 27, 2004). "Alison Arngrim". Larry King Live. CNN. Retrieved April 17, 2022.
  14. ^ Arngrim, Alison (2010). Confessions of a Prairie Bitch: How I Survived Nellie Oleson and Learned to Love Being Hated. It Books. ISBN 978-0-06-196214-1.
  15. ^ Arngrim, Alison (June 14, 2011). Confessions of a Prairie Bitch: How I Survived Nellie Oleson and Learned to Love Being Hated Paperback – June 14, 2011. Harper Collins. ISBN 978-0061962158.
  16. ^ Hgd.com
  17. ^ Barnes, Brooks (June 14, 2013). "From 'I Hate Her' to Icon". The New York Times. Retrieved April 11, 2015.

Other sources

  • Arngrim, Alison (2010). Confessions of a Prairie Bitch: How I Survived Nellie Oleson and Learned to Love Being Hated. New York City: It Books. ISBN 978-0-06-196214-1.

Further reading

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  • Dye, David. Child and Youth Actors: Filmography of Their Entire Careers, 1914-1985. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co., 1988, p. 7.
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