After decades in the spotlight, this beloved former child star made bold, life-altering decisions that have allowed her to age gracefully, far from the pressures of Hollywood. At 60, her recent photos reveal a woman who has embraced authenticity, letting go of modern beauty standards in favor of self-acceptance and natural aging.
Known for her iconic role as Laura Ingalls Wilder in Little House on the Prairie, she made a stunning transformation that surprised many. After years of navigating Hollywood’s bright lights and the constant pressure to maintain a youthful appearance, she opted for a radically different path.
Leaving Los Angeles behind, she gave up beauty procedures and moved to a peaceful mountain home. Far from fame and glamor, she reconnected with herself and embraced the aging process, a bold shift that allowed her to focus on her well-being and redefine what it means to grow older.
From Child Star to Hollywood Icon
Her journey in the entertainment industry began early. Born in Los Angeles, she started acting as a toddler, appearing in commercials before landing the role of a lifetime at just nine years old—Laura Ingalls on Little House on the Prairie. The show, which premiered in the mid-1970s, became a cultural phenomenon, and her fame catapulted her into the glittering world of Hollywood.
Throughout the ’80s, she was a fixture on the red carpet, mingling with top stars and dating notable figures like Billy Idol and Rob Lowe. Her personal life was equally captivating, including her marriage to actor and director Bo Brinkman in 1988. Their relationship, though short-lived, produced a son before their divorce in 1994. She went on to marry Bruce Boxleitner, another actor, with whom she shared a 16-year marriage before their split in 2011.
While Hollywood brought her fame, it also brought challenges. As she aged, the pressures of maintaining a youthful appearance weighed heavily on her, leading to decisions she would later regret.
Breaking Free from Hollywood’s Pressure
In her younger years, she felt the intense pressure to conform to Hollywood’s narrow beauty standards. This led her to undergo various cosmetic procedures, including breast implants, fillers, and Botox. For a while, it seemed like a necessary part of the industry. But over time, the physical and emotional toll became undeniable.
“I looked at myself in the mirror several years back,” she admitted. “I had overfilled my face and my lips. My forehead didn’t move. I was still dyeing my hair red and driving a Mustang convertible. I was a size two in an unhealthy way. I looked like a frozen version of my younger self, and that’s not who I was.”
Realizing that she had lost touch with her true self, she made a life-changing decision in 2013: leave Los Angeles behind. This choice was more than just a geographical shift—it marked the beginning of her journey to embrace aging on her own terms.
A New Life in Michigan
In 2013, she married actor Timothy Busfield, and together they moved to the Midwest, seeking a life free from Hollywood’s scrutiny. The fresh start allowed her to reconnect with herself, and she credits Busfield as a crucial support during this time.
Living away from the constant spotlight gave her the freedom to stop relying on cosmetic procedures. By 2015, she had removed her breast implants and stopped dyeing her hair, letting her natural gray shine.
“In Michigan, everything stopped,” she shared. “I focused on being physically and emotionally healthy.” She began to view aging not as a curse but as a blessing, embracing the process with gratitude and joy.
Finding Peace in the Catskill Mountains
After five peaceful years in Michigan, she and Busfield made another bold move in 2018—to a rustic retreat in the Catskill Mountains. They purchased a fixer-upper cottage, lovingly nicknamed The Cabbage, and dove into renovations. The couple embraced the challenge, putting in their own heating system and restoring the space to make it their own.
Living in the Catskills further deepened her connection to nature and her commitment to a simpler, more authentic life. She began growing her own food, raising chickens, and embracing self-sufficiency. “It’s not glamorous at all,” she says with a smile, “but it’s exactly what we wanted.”
Her daily routine now centers around the farm—tending to chickens, gardening, and spending quiet evenings with Busfield. She has learned to embrace the simple joys of life, free from the pressures of beauty standards and celebrity life.
Launching Modern Prairie: Empowering Women to Embrace Aging
In 2021, she co-founded Modern Prairie, a lifestyle brand dedicated to empowering mature women. The brand offers a supportive space for women to celebrate aging, focusing on health, wellness, and creativity.
She and co-founder Nicole Haase designed the brand to provide a community where women can share their stories and embrace the changes that come with age. “We support one another through this phase of life—physically, emotionally, and mentally,” she explained.
Modern Prairie’s offerings reflect her own lifestyle, from home goods to wellness products, but it’s the community-focused workshops and events that truly set it apart. The brand also champions causes close to her heart, such as pancreatic cancer awareness, with proceeds going to organizations like PanCAN.
A Deepened Love and a New Role as Grandmother
As her life has evolved, so has her relationship with Busfield. Their move to the Catskills brought them closer than ever. “We’ve just fallen more and more in love with one another,” she shared. This deepened connection has been one of the greatest gifts of her later years.
In addition to her fulfilling marriage, she has embraced the role of grandmother, and it fills her heart with joy. “I have nine extraordinary grandchildren,” she beams. “They are a huge part of my happiness.”
Though she’s cherished her time away from Hollywood, she hasn’t abandoned acting completely. “I’m thoroughly enjoying my life,” she says. And while her famous character, Laura Ingalls, may have matured, that plucky, feisty spirit is still very much alive inside her.
Her journey from child star to empowered woman has been filled with ups and downs, but through it all, she has found peace in authenticity, love, and family. At 60, she is living proof that aging gracefully is about embracing who you truly are, not who others expect you to be.
