Melissa Gilbert Spills on Her Tumultuous '80s Romance with Rob Lowe
Melissa Gilbert Spills Tea on Her Torrid Romance with Rob Lowe
Get ready for a juicy dose of nostalgia and drama as Little House On The Prairie vet Melissa Gilbert opens up about her infamous six-year relationship with 80s heartthrob Rob Lowe!
The 61-year-old actress, who rose to fame as Laura Ingalls in the classic TV series that aired from 1974 to 1982, dished out all the deets on her tumultuous romance with the actor, now 61. Speaking on the I Choose Me With Jennie Garth podcast, Melissa revealed that their relationship was a wild ride, filled with drama, heartbreak, and even some not-so-subtle boundary-pushing by Lowe's adoring fans!
"It was like I didn't exist," Melissa confessed about the intense media attention and fan frenzy surrounding their relationship. "They'd just push right past me and stick phone numbers in his pockets... it was disconcerting, to say the least."
Melissa and Rob met when she was 17, while he was still a relatively new face in Hollywood (he made his debut in Class and St Elmo's Fire). Their romance spanned six years, from 1981 to 1987, with multiple breakups and makeups along the way. But despite the drama, Melissa credits their relationship with helping her learn valuable lessons about what she wouldn't stand for in future relationships.
"I think I learned a lot about what didn't work for me," Melissa said. "I wasn't prepared for all of having to go to premieres and things and award shows... but I wasn't prepared for the fandom, frankly, or the girls."
Melissa's comments come after she revealed in 2022 that she went through a period of self-destruction following her split from second husband Bruce Boxleitner in 2011. She admitted to getting Botox and fillers, buying a Mustang (because, why not?), and even dating a younger French boyfriend who wore a "Snatch" T-shirt to brunch at her mom's house.
"It was like I lost my mind," Melissa told Page Six. "One of my friends said, 'You know, every once in a while we all have to go to the zoo... and you went and now you're back.'"
But it seems that Melissa has since found her way out of that chaotic period and into a more peaceful existence in the Catskills, where she lives with current husband Timothy Busfield. Her book Back to the Prairie detailed her journey from Hollywood fame to country living, and she's spoken publicly about leaving behind plastic surgery and the expectations of Tinseltown for a simpler life.
Melissa has also been open about her struggles with addiction and mental health in the past, revealing that she turned to substances as a teenager to cope with the pressures of fame. Her memoir, which came out in 2010, provided a raw and unvarnished look at her experiences in Hollywood, including her relationships with Tom Cruise and other high-profile stars.
Now, it's clear that Melissa is ready to share more of her story – and spill all the tea on her past romantic exploits. With Rob Lowe being one of the most iconic heartthrobs of the 80s, we can't wait to see what else she has in store for us!
