Melissa Gilbert, widely recognized for her portrayal of Laura Ingalls Wilder in the beloved television series Little House on the Prairie, has embraced motherhood with open arms, raising seven children. She welcomed biological sons Dakota Brinkman and Michael Boxleitner from past marriages to Bo Brinkman and Bruce Boxleitner, respectively.

However, Melissa plays a motherly role to her five stepchildren as well: two from Boxleitner, and three from current husband Timothy Busfield. Melissa became a mother for the first time after she welcomed Dakota — a now grown-up 34-year-old — in 1989.

Dakota Brinksman briefly ventured into acting

Thanks to his famous parents, Dakota has lived his life in the public eye since he was born. He followed in his mother’s footsteps and forayed into acting with a string of impressive performances in various films.

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He showcased his talent as the young Evan in Laws of Deception, portrayed Chad MacKenzie in Safe Harbour, and embodied the character of James Schenker in the 2016 short film Shay.

Dakota Brinkman is a doting father

Dakota has maintained a low profile over the years, disengaging from any known social media presence, a decision confirmed by his mother during her September 2020 International Son’s Day celebration. The actress shared heartwarming photos on her Instagram account during this event, capturing moments with her four sons. Remarkably, she tagged the accounts of all her sons in the photos, except for Dakota, whom she affectionately noted “doesn’t do the social media thing.”

In 2018, Dakota entered a new chapter of life as he got married to his partner, Marissa. Their happiness was further amplified in 2021 when the couple welcomed their first child, daughter Ripley Nou. This momentous occasion brought immense joy to Gilbert, who became a delighted grandmother. In celebration of  Ripley’s first birthday in June 2022, she shared a heartwarming picture of the little girl. “Nana and Papa love you sooooooo much!!!” Gilbert wrote in the caption.

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