‘Little House on the Prairie’ Actor and Stuntman Jack Lilley Dies at 91

Lilley, who has over 280 credits to his name, died at a retirement home in California.

A fan looks at memorabilia during the "Little House on the Prairie" 50th anniversary cast reunion and festival in Simi Valley, Calif., on March 23, 2024. Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images

Actor and Hollywood stuntman Jack Lilley, best known for his roles on the TV series “Little House on the Prairie,” has died at 91-years-old.

His son, Clint Lilley, confirmed news of his passing in a shared Instagram post after his father died March 19 at the Motion Picture and Television Fund retirement home in California.

“The man who started it all. Figuratively and literally. The card shark, the horse trader, the wrangler, the man with a story for everything, he always knew someone who could help if he couldn’t,” read the post.

“Known to many as friend, storyteller, joker, and a heck of a horseman, and his favorite, PAPA.”

The Lilley family noted funeral services along with a celebration of life will be announced at a later date.

“Your laugh and spark in your eyes when you saw the ones you loved will stay with us forever,” continued the post. “Thank you to all of our family and friends for reaching out.”

Meanwhile, tributes began pouring in across social media, including from “Little House on the Prairie” co-star Melissa Gilbert, who honored his life, legacy, and talent.

“The little house family has lost one of our own,” she wrote on Instagram.

“He also happened to be one of my favorite people on the planet. ... Jack always felt like home to me. He lived quite a life. I am so lucky that he was my friend. ... All my love and prayers go out to his family.”

Early Career

Born in 1933, Lilley moved from Texas to Los Angeles as a child and was first introduced to the industry when his father got into the business of renting horses to movie studios.

Lilley started out as a stuntman in Westerns due to his background in horses and cattle, and worked as actor Victor French’s photo double, before expanding his on-screen career.

With more than 280 credits to his name and nearly 90 acting credits between television and films combined, Lilley appeared in a number of different roles on “Little House” throughout the 1970s and 1980s.

Nearly two decades after the show ended, Gilbert reunited with Lilley on an ABC pilot called “Then Came Jones,” and despite not being picked up, the experience left lasting memories.

“My first day on set was surreal, getting my hair and makeup done, getting dressed, laced into my corset, boots etc. Such a strange deja vu,” Gilbert recalled.

“Then I walked to the set itself and before I could even focus I heard a familiar voice holler, “Hey Halfpint, you old rat-ass!” It was Jack. He was our wrangler for that pilot and by his side was Denny Allen, who had been our wrangler on ‘Little House.’ In that instant, I knew I was home.”

Other notable Lilley credits include “Sudden Impact” (1983), “Young Guns” (1988), “Planet of the Apes” (2001), and “The Legend of Zorro” (2005).

His final screen appearance was in the 2022 film “No Name and Dynamite Davenport.”

Lilley is survived by his sons Clay, Clint, and Ben, five grandchildren, and six great grandchildren. His wife Irene died in May 2024 at 95.