Little House on the Prairie aired from 1974 to 1983 and delighted millions of fans around the world. There were a total of 210 episodes across 10 seasons.
Michael Landon was one of the most popular actors on the series alongside Melissa Gilbert. On the show, he was a family man but also something of a heartthrob — and it turns out he played up his sexuality to compete with a certain person.
Little House: Michael Landon's rivalry with Burt Reynolds
Landon secretly held a grudge against acting legend Burt Reynolds. Karen Grassle, who played "Ma Ingalls," has revealed to the New York Post: "In the '70s, Burt topped the list as the most desirable man in Hollywood. Mike was resentful and wanted to take his place."
In the spring of 1972, Reynolds posed nude for an issue of Cosmopolitan. The Smokey and the Bandit star suddenly became one of the hottest men in Hollywood and was a top sex symbol.
Reynolds's popularity angered Landon, according to Grassle. For this reason, the actor, who also wrote and produced Little House, made sure to go shirtless and show his muscles at every opportunity on his show.
Grassle has written a new memoir in which she'll open up about conflicts with Landon on the set of Little House, and she's been making comments about the "Pa Ingalls" actor ahead of its release.
In the book, due out Nov. 16, Grassle will get into a range of claims against Landon, including that he opposed paying her fairly, was a sexist bully, and openly mocked her with crude language.
Landon died of cancer in 1991 at the age of 54.
There are too many to count!
A match made in royal heaven!
Tough times on 'Little House'
Karen Grassle Makes Troubling Claims About 'Little House' Co-Star Michael Landon
