Actress Melissa Gilbert has been cast in a guest role for the upcoming 12th season of the popular Hallmark Channel series “When Calls the Heart.” Gilbert, best known for her longtime role on the 1970s-80s series “Little House on the Prairie,” will appear in two episodes of the period drama.
Executive producer Michael Landon Jr., whose father co-starred with Gilbert on “Little House,” connected with Gilbert at a reunion event earlier this year. This led to discussions about Gilbert joining the cast of “When Calls the Heart.” Gilbert will play the character of Georgie McGill, described as having “a surprising past with one special Hope Valley resident.”
Hallmark VP Kelly Garrett highlighted similarities between the themes of “Little House” and “When Calls the Heart.” Both shows focus on frontier life and feature “charming and compelling stories of hope, human connection and survival.” Garrett said announcing the casting news to dedicated fans at their annual reunion event, called Hearties Family Reunion, was important.
Gilbert earned an Emmy nomination for her iconic role on “Little House” from 1974 to 1983. She has since appeared in other notable TV movies and series. In addition to acting, Gilbert served as president of the Screen Actors Guild union and launched a lifestyle brand called Modern Prairie. She has also authored multiple New York Times bestselling books.
“When Calls the Heart” continues as a long-running original series for Hallmark Channel. The 11th season concluded earlier this year, following residents of the town Hope Valley through the 1920s. The 12th season is scheduled to air in 2025 with 12 new episodes. Ratings have remained strong for the sentimental series, which many fans liken to “Little House.”
