• Jonathan J. Gilbert was born on 28 April 1967 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
• He is a former actor turned stockbroker, best known for his roles in television projects such as “Little House on the Prairie”.
• He has an estimated net worth of over $2.4 million.
• He is the adopted brother of actresses Melissa and Sara Gilbert.
• He retired from acting in the early '90s and has not been public about his personal life since then.



Who is Jonathan Gilbert?

Jonathan J. Gilbert was born on 28 April 1967, in Los Angeles, California, USA, and is a former actor turned stockbroker, best known for his roles in television projects such as “Little House on the Prairie”, one of only six actors on the show to appear throughout the entire series.

The Riches of Jonathan Gilbert

How rich is Jonathan Gilbert? As of mid-2024,, sources inform us of a net worth that is close to $ 3 million, earned through success in his various endeavors. While he earned income for his acting work, the majority of his wealth came later on, when he became a stockbroker. As he continues his career, it is expected that his wealth will also continue to increase.

Early Life

There is very limited information about Jonathan’s life before his rise to fame on television, but it’s known that he was adopted by actors Paul Gilbert and Barbara Cowen, and became the adopted brother of actress Sara Gilbert. Their father made appearances in television shows such as “The Duke”, “The Spike Jones Show”, and “Perry Mason”. Jonathan grew up alongside future actress Melissa Gilbert, and the two later starred together in the television program “Little House on the Prairie”.

Both of his siblings were child actors, with Melissa continuing to find success as an adult, doing voice work for “Batman: the Animated Series’, and competing in the reality dance competition show “Dancing with the Stars”. Sara Gilbert on the other hand became a part of the sitcom “Roseanne”, and had the recurring role of Leslie Winkle in the television series “Big Bang Theory”. On the other hand, Jonathan only acted through childhood up to his teenage years, before moving away from the craft.

Jonathan Gilbert

Little House on the Prairie

In 1974, Gilbert was cast in the NBC television series “Little House on the Prairie”, in which he played the character Willie Oleson for the next nine years, one of only six actors to remain for the entire show. The western drama series follows a family living on a farm during the 1870s, and is an adaptation of the book series by Laura Ingalls Wilder called “Little House”. The film was preceded by a two hour pilot movie, then many of the episodes focused on the maturation of the family’s second daughter, as well as other issues involving the family and the community.

The show tackled themes of adoption, alcoholism, and prejudice, and proved so successful that it spawned several movie specials, and a spin-off show. Many of the cast members and crew of the show would win Emmy Awards for the work, or Young Artist Awards in the case of Melissa Gilbert. The show has remained popular, airing in the US continuously in syndicated re-runs since its original airing.

Movie Specials and Retirement

While working on the show, Jonathan became a part of several “Little House” specials, including “The Little House Years”, a three-hour film showing the family reminiscing their past episodes, showcasing clips from the series.

Around the same time, Jonathan had the opportunity to work on the film “The Miracle Worker”, a biopic based on the play of the same name by William Gibson, which depicts the life of Helen Keller and the struggles of her teacher Annie Sullivan.

During the final year of “Little House on the Prairie”, he also appeared in “Little House: Look Back to Yesterday”; the 95-minute movie is the final appearance of Matthew Labyorteaux as Albert. The following year, Jonathan worked on “Little House: The Last Farewell”, also aired as a 95-minute movie, which would be his last appearance.

Since then, he’s quietly moved away from the entertainment industry, not taking any more projects while his siblings continued with their careers. According to an autobiography by Sara Gilbert, he moved away to California during his early 20s, then to New York City where he started working as a stockbroker, which he continues to do today.

Personal Life and Social Media

For his personal life, not much is known in terms of Gilbert’s romantic relationships. He hasn’t been public about this aspect of his life, leaving the spotlight with his retirement from acting. It’s known that he’s married to Keren, and that they don’t have children, but that’s all. He doesn’t often communicate with his siblings, with both expressing that things have drifted apart since they reached adulthood.

One of the reasons why there is very limited information about him is due to the lack of any strong online presence. He doesn’t have accounts on any of the major social media websites such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. There is an unofficial page dedicated to him on Facebook, but he’s not involved with it in any way. He’s been working in the stock market since 2003, and has presumably found success there as many brokers do. Time will tell if any more information is revealed or if he will continue to live in obscurity out of the public eye, with only the fans of his show to remember him.

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As a Freelance Writer at Biography Pedia, I oversee the full writing process, from in-depth research to the development of compelling narratives, ensuring accuracy and excellence in our output. Our goal is to produce insightful profiles that deeply explore the lives of prominent figures in business, entertainment, and other fields. Through meticulous research and engaging storytelling, we spotlight the significant journeys and achievements of individuals who captivate and inspire our readers.

2 Comments

  1. DONALD CARPENTER Reply

    How is that Jonathon Gilbert???
    Did his eye color change?

    • that picture is not before and after- it’s a picture of two different people in the same picture

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