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Karen Grassle, who played Caroline “Ma” Ingalls on Little House on the Prairie, gave a detailed account of her experience on the show. Grassle wrote about her relationship with Michael Landon and her first meeting with him. Here’s what she said about the first time she laid eyes on the late actor.

Karen Grassle was wowed by Michael Landon’s looks

Michael Landon as Charles Ingalls on Little House on the Prairie
Michael Landon | Bruce Birmelin/NBCU Photo Bank

Grassle knew about Landon from his work on the television show Bonanza. When she first met him, she couldn’t help but notice his appearance. Grassle thought Landon was very attractive. “Ah yes, that’s the young guy from Bonanza—wow, handsome,” said Grassle to herself upon meeting him in person for the first time.

Grassle also liked the way Landon laughed. She described him as having an “infectious” laugh. During their first meeting, Grassle spoke about her journey toward becoming an actor. Most of her experiences were negative, but Grassle tried to make her stories funny.

The Little House on the Prairie star also wrote about her experience practicing lines with Landon. She said at one point he got very close to her, and she had to force herself to concentrate. She tried to keep herself from getting distracted by this handsome man who was now in her personal space.

“Mike got down on the floor beside me to read his part and looked right into my eyes,” said Grassle. “I needed all my concentration to keep from being distracted by how close he was. I hung onto the work, and we finished the first scene.”

Alison Arngrim also thought Michael Landon was attractive

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Alison Arngrim, who played Nelly Oleson on Little House on the Prairie, spoke about her experiences on the show during an interview with Megyn Kelly. Arngrim says Landon was a very handsome man. Kelly says she loved watching Landon on television when she was a little girl. She says as she got older, her view of Landon changed. “You know you’re old when pa starts looking hot,” she joked. Argrin responded by saying, “Hubba, hubba.”

Landon looked great onscreen, but Arngrin says he was even more attractive in person. “He was actually more gorgeous in person if that is physically possible,” says Arngrim. She also says he was a “stunning” and “gorgeous man.”

Life on the set of ‘Little House on the Prairie’

Arngrim also marveled at how talented Landon was. “He was incredible,” she says. “He was writing the show, and producing the show, and directing the show.”

Arngrim added that Landon was more than just an attractive face. She spoke about his humor and how he made the set a fun place to work.

“He also just had this wonderfully warped sense of humor, and loved to laugh, and loved to play practical jokes, and fool around with the kids, and laugh all the time,” says Arngrim. “So, we worked harder than almost on any other show but laughed more than anybody on any other show.”

Arngrim got along well with her castmates. She developed a close friendship with co-star Melissa Gilbert. “As soon as we met, we hit it off; we bonded,” she says.

RELATED: Michael Landon Tried to Buy Alcohol While Dressed as a Priest

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