Alison Margaret Arngrim (born January 18, 1962) is an American actress and author. Beginning her television career at the age of twelve, Arngrim is a Young Artist Award–Former Child Star "Lifetime Achievement" Award honoree, best known for her portrayal of Nellie Oleson on the NBC television series Little House on the Prairie from 1974 to 1982.
Early life
Arngrim's father, Thor Arngrim, was a Canadian-born
Hollywood manager. Her mother, Norma MacMillan of Vancouver, British Columbia,
was an actress who provided the voices for characters for: Casper on Casper the
Friendly Ghost, Gumby on Gumby, Davey on Davey and Goliath, Sweet Polly
Purebred on Underdog, and other animated children's programs.
Her brother Stefan (b. 1955) was also a child actor, perhaps
best known for his role as Barry Lockridge on the Irwin Allen science fiction
television series, Land of the Giants.
Arngrim claimed that her brother sexually molested her from the age of six until nine, when he was aged from 13 to 16 years old. She also claimed
that her brother admitted to the abuse but isn't particularly apologetic for
his behavior. Arngrim stated that she no longer has any kind of relationship
with her brother, a decision she reports has bettered her life.
Acting career
After beginning a career as a child model and actress in
television commercials, Arngrim rose to fame as a child star in 1974,
portraying the role of Nellie Oleson on the NBC television series Little House
on the Prairie. She originally auditioned for the role of Laura Ingalls and,
later, Mary Ingalls, but was instead cast in the role of antagonist Nellie
Oleson. Arngrim would play the role of Nellie for seven seasons, and her
portrayal became a cultural reference and camp archetype for the spoiled "bad girl" throughout the 1970s.
Years later, in one of her stand-up routines, Arngrim
described playing Nellie on Little House on the Prairie as "like having PMS for seven years." In 2002, she was
honored by the Young Artist Foundation with its Former Child Star "Lifetime Achievement" Award
for her work as a child actress on Little House. At the 2006 TV Land Awards,
Arngrim tied with Danielle Spencer ('Dee'
on What's Happening!!) as the "Character
Most in Need of a Time-out" for her role as Nellie.
In addition to her role on Little House, Arngrim also
recorded the 1977 comedy record album, Heeere's Amy on Laff Records, where she
impersonates President Jimmy Carter's daughter Amy. Her mother, who voiced the
Kennedy children on the comedy albums of Vaughn Meader, also guest-starred on
the album. After leaving Little House, Arngrim appeared in guest-starring roles
on such television series as The Love Boat and Fantasy Island. She was also a
frequent panelist on the short-lived NBC game show Match Game-Hollywood Squares
Hour.
Starting in 2006, she developed a successful career on stage
in France with her friend, author/director/comedian Patrick Loubatière. In
2017, in Pinehurst, North Carolin, she appeared as Emily Brent in Judson Theatre
Company's production of Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None.
Philanthropy
In addition to performing, Arngrim also devotes her time to
charitable organizations. One of her inspirations for her charity work is the
memory of her friend and fellow actor Steve Tracy, who played the role of
Nellie Oleson's husband, Percival Dalton, on Little House on the Prairie. Tracy
died from complications of AIDS in 1986, after which Arngrim set her sights on
becoming an activist for AIDS awareness, including the organization ACT UP and
working at an AIDS hotline. She also focuses on other issues, such as child abuse,
speaking frequently for and lobbying with the group PROTECT. In 2004, Arngrim
revealed on Larry King Live that she was an incest survivor.
Author
In 2010, Arngrim authored an autobiography titled
Confessions of a Prairie Bitch: How I Survived Nellie Oleson and Learned to
Love Being Hated. In the book, she, for the first time, publicly identified her
then-teenaged brother as her childhood abuser, though the book is mostly
light-hearted and received critical praise for her ability to mix humor and
personal tragedy. She wrote and performed a stage version, which premiered at
Club Fez in New York. She later performed this one-person show at Parliament
House, a gay resort in Orlando, Florida.
Filmography
1974 Throw Out
the Anchor! Stevie Feature film
1974–1982 Little
House on the Prairie Nellie
Oleson Main role
1981 The Love
Boat Becky Daniels Episode: "Tony
and Julie/Separate Beds/America's Sweetheart"
Fantasy Island Lisa
Blake Episode: "Elizabeth's Baby/The Artist and the
Lady"
1983 I Married
Wyatt Earp Amy TV film
1986 Video
Valentino Trixie Short film
2000 For the Love
of May Jude
2002 The Last
Place on Earth Party Toast Feature film
2007 Le deal Edith
2009 Make the
Yuletide Gay Heather Mancuso
The Bilderberg Club: Meet the Shadow One World Government Dr. Samantha Klein Short film
2012 Livin' the
Dream Debbie Sweat
2015 The Comeback
Kids Herself Episode: "Child Star Support Group: Part
2"
CPR Talent Agency Pilot
Life Interrupted Ally
Hughes TV film
2017 The Mephisto
Box Leeza Feature film
2021 Even in
Dreams Debra
Awards
Wins
2002 – Young Artist Award: Former Child Star Lifetime
Achievement Award for (Little House on the Prairie)
2006 – TV Land Award: for "Character Most Desperately in Need of a Timeout" (Little
House on the Prairie)
Nominations
1981 – Young Artist Award: for Best Young Comedienne (Little
House on the Prairie)
2008 – TV Land Award: for "Siblings That Make You Grateful for Your Own Crazy Family"
(Little House on the Prairie)
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