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Alison Arngrim

With an acting career spanning over five decades, American Actress Alison Arngrim rose to fame as a child star in Little House on the Prairie. Arngrim portrayed Nellie Oleson on the legendary NBC television series from 1974 to 1981, and over seven seasons Arngrim’s iconic character became the archetype and cultural reference for the “spoiled bad girl” in the 1970s. Arngrim is the author of critically acclaimed autobiography Confessions of a Prairie Bitch, which drew praise for her ability to mix the personal tragedy of early abuse from her brother Stefan with humour. She also wrote a stage version of the book, which she performed at New York’s Club Fez and has since become a global phenomenon. Born in New York to Hollywood manager Thor Arngrim and renowned voice actress Norma MacMillan, Arngrim made her television debut aged 12 in Little House on the Prairie. She was cast as antagonist Nellie Oleson after originally auditioning for the parts of Laura Ingalls and Mary Ingalls, and the role catapulted the young star to international fame. After leaving Little House in 1981 Arngrim appeared frequently in guest roles in hit television series including Fantasy Island and The Love Boat, and starred on the game show Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour on NBC as a frequent panellist. She has also enjoyed a successful career on stage, becoming a star of French theatre alongside her friend and director/author/comedian Patrick Loubatière. Away from acting and performing, Arngrim is an activist for AIDS awareness and helps raise the profile of several other issues including childhood abuse. Read more