Little House on the Prairie alum and noted stuntman on western dramas Jack Lilley has died. He was 91.
Lilley’s former Little House costar Melissa Gilbert confirmed his death in an emotional and lengthy social media tribute posted on Friday, March 21.
“The Little House family has lost one of our own. Jack Lilley has passed away. He was 91 years old,” Gilbert, 60, wrote via Instagram. “He also happened to be one of my favorite people on the planet. He taught me how to ride a horse when I was just a wee little thing. He was so patient with me. He never said no when I would bound up to him squealing, ‘Can we go ride? Please, please, please?’”
She added, “Aside from being Victor French’s photo double, he was featured prominently in many different roles on Little House. You can also see his absolute brilliance in the film Blazing Saddles.”
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Gilbert starred as Laura on the beloved TV series based on the novels by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Lilley, for his part, appeared in multiple roles throughout the show’s tenure. (Netflix ordered a reboot of Little House last month, though it is not known whether any of the OG stars will return.) The two actors later reunited on the set of 2000’s Then Came Jones.
“It was a joy to shoot [the pilot] and I was so bummed when it didn’t get picked up. It was all very synchronistic,” Gilbert recalled in her Friday tribute. “Our first read-though was at Paramount Studios, where we had shot Little House the first four years. It was also on Halloween, which is [Little House patriarch] Michael Landon’s birthday. That day, I also found out we would be shooting at Big Sky Ranch, where we had shot Little House.”
She continued, “My first day on set was surreal, getting my hair and makeup done, getting dressed, laced into my corset, boots etc. Such a strange deja vu. Then I walked to the set itself and before I could even focus I heard a familiar voice holler, ‘Hey Halfpint, you old rat-a–!!!’ It was Jack.”
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Lilley had served as the horse wrangler on the Then Came Jones set, along with Little House’s own wrangler Denny Allen.
“In that instant, I knew I was home,” Gilbert concluded on Friday. “Jack always felt like home to me. He lived quite a life. I am so lucky that he was my friend. All my love and prayers go out to his family and especially Clint (Burkey) Lilley.”
Jack is survived by his two sons, Clint and Cash, whom he shared with late wife Irene Lilley, who died in May 2024.
