When she was a newborn, his celebrity’s biological parents placed her for adoption.
Because their occupations meant more to them than raising a child, the star’s birth parents didn’t want her when she was born.
Up until the truth was revealed, the actress’ adoptive parents had been lying about her background.
The French Hospital in Los Angeles, which is now defunct, was the hospital where the future celebrity was born on May 8, 1964. The actress was adopted by Barbara Crane and Paul Gilbert, who took her in when she was just 24 hours old.
Jonathan, her younger brother, was also adopted by the couple. Barbara was a twentysomething actress whose career was cut short, and Paul was a stand-up comedian, actor, and dancer who began as an aerialist with a family circus from Buenos Aires. Barbara and Paul parted ways when the young child was six years old, but his daughter remembered him with affection, saying:
“I have never known a more brilliant, energetic, humorous, loving, and fair person than my father.”
When Paul passed away in 1976, many believed he had suffered a stroke while in bed. Her adoption was made public. The celebrity claimed in her book “Prairie Tale: A Memoir” that she was informed when she was a young kid that her father, David Darlington, had been a Rhodes Scholar and that her biological mother, Kathy Wood, was a prima ballerina.
Her birth parents reportedly had no desire to give up their occupations in order to raise her, according to her adopted parents. The timing of the celebrity’s birth was allegedly incorrect, and as a result, they had to give up their daughter because her father was in the middle of a project.
She learned the whole truth about her biological parents when she was old enough. Although not a prima ballerina, her birth mother was a dancer, and David was a stock car racer and sign painter.
Kathy and David had three children between them when they were first married to other people. After running away, becoming pregnant, and moving in with their kids, the couple realized they couldn’t support a seventh child.
Parents Who Adopted Her Didn’t Want Her
The actress was stunned to learn more about her adoption after the death of her adopted father. Mitzi, her godmother, talked about the day she was picked up from the hospital by her adoptive parents.
She acknowledged that when the Gilberts returned with their new baby, it came as a shock. This astonished the actress, who looked to Barbara, along with other family members, and she confessed:
“Well, we weren’t planning on adopting a kid.”
When Barbara and her husband received a call informing them that the little girl will be available, they replied they weren’t seeking for a kid. When the celebrity’s adoptive mother phoned her out-of-state spouse, he instructed her to “go get it.”
She said to the journalist that she wouldn’t subject her kids to the burden of such a dark secret.
She was taken aback to hear herself referred to as a “it,” but Barbara clarified that she hadn’t even been born yet. Later, after learning of her upcoming arrival, Barbara revealed to her that they had been attempting to conceive.
Barbara claims that although the Gilberts were undergoing fertility treatments, they had not brought up the subject of adoption until they got the call. The actress discussed the secrecy of her adoptive family in an interview from July 2020.
The Secrets of the Family
The famous person disclosed to “CBS Sunday Morning” that she learned at the age of 11 that her father had passed away due to a stroke. But she found out at 45 that he had committed suicide.
The actress concealed the secret from everyone in her life, even herself. She informed the interviewer that she would never subject her children to the harm that such deep secrets do to families.
To learn the truth about what had happened to her adopted father, the actress engaged a detective. The detective learned that the deceased World War II veteran had threatened to take his own life while receiving care from the VA and was in excruciating pain.
She fought the anguish of losing her father in this way for approximately six months after learning the truth about Paul. During that time, she was unable to eat or sleep. She has since come to terms with it, though, and now works to preserve his memory by supporting mental health awareness and suicide prevention.
On January 23, 1982, an actress was spotted in Santa Monica at the Santa Monica Bowling Alley | Source: Getty Images
The actress also accepted and forgave Barbara for her decision to conceal the truth, even though she had been angry and betrayed for a long time. The next chapter reveals the celebrity’s name and her current way of life.
Who Is the Star Who Got Abandoned and Went on to Become a Famous Actress?
Melissa Gilbert is the actress, best known for her role as Laura “Half-Pint” Ingalls Wilder on the adored television program “Little House on the Prairie,” which ran from 1974 to 1983. She published her memoir, “Back to the Prairie,” in July 2022, and she is currently spending time with her family.
The celebrity acknowledged that she is “blessed” and mentioned that she is in a different place from her deceased adoptive father. She wants Paul to have felt the happiness that comes with having grandkids and the value of having a life partner who makes you feel listened, safe, and loved.
Timothy Busfield, Melissa’s third husband, and she became grandparents to a total of eight grandchildren in May 2022. While going through his second divorce, Busfield observed the actress waiting for a buddy at an empty pub in 2012.
On June 20, 2023, in Monte-Carlo, Monaco, Melissa Gilbert and her spouse Timothy Busfield attended a photocall for the 62nd Monte Carlo TV Festival | Getty Images
In April 2013, the pair got married in an intimate ceremony in Santa Barbara, California, with Melissa donning a dress by Morgane Le Faye. When Barbara’s daughter couldn’t determine what she wanted, Barbara suggested the brand’s Santa Monica store.
She disclosed in her book “Back to the Prairie” that Busfield, dressed in a blue suit, was alone at the private event; no guests were present. After nearly a lifetime in Hollywood, the famous person had her first kid, a son named Dakota Paul Brinkman, from her first marriage to the actor Bo Brinkman.
Michael Garrett Boxleitner is Melissa’s second child, born after her marriage to Bruce Boxleitner. Along with being a father, Busfield raised three children: Wilson, Daisy, and Samuel. He and his wife currently reside peacefully in a 14-acre cottage in the Catskill Mountains of New York.
My Stepmom Made Me Sleep in a Shed and Gave My Room to Her Kids — My Mom Immediately Brought Her Back Down to Earth
When my father’s new wife kicked me out of my room and into the shed, I thought I’d hit rock bottom. But Mom’s surprise visit and shocking revelation about the house turned everything upside down, leaving me to wonder if I’d ever feel at home with Dad again.
I arrived at Dad’s house with a knot in my stomach. Something felt off. Kim, my stepmom, opened the door with a fake smile.
“Michelle, honey, come in,” she said, her voice sickeningly sweet.
I stepped inside, dragging my suitcase. Sam and Leo, my college-age step brothers, lounged on the couch, barely acknowledging me. They were both glued to their shiny new laptops – the same ones Dad said he couldn’t afford to buy for me.
“Where’s Dad?” I asked, trying to keep the bitterness out of my voice.
“Working late,” Kim replied. She fidgeted with her necklace. “Listen, Michelle, we need to talk about sleeping arrangements.”
My heart sank. “What about them?”
Kim glanced at her sons. “Well, with Sam and Leo home for the holidays, we’re a bit short on space.”
“Short on space?” I echoed. “But I have my room.”
“Had,” Sam muttered under his breath, not looking up from his laptop.
I whirled to face him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Kim cleared her throat. “Michelle, dear, we had to give your room to the boys. They need a proper place to sleep and study.”
“And where am I supposed to sleep?” I demanded, my voice rising.
Kim avoided my eyes. “We’ve set up a nice space for you in the shed.”
“The shed?” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “You’re kidding, right?”
“It’s only temporary,” Kim said quickly. “Just until the boys go back to university.”
I looked around, hoping to see some sign that this was all a cruel joke. But Sam and Leo just smirked, and Kim stood there, lips pressed into a thin line.
“Where’s Dad?” I asked again, my voice cracking. “I want to talk to him.”
“He’ll be home late,” Kim repeated. “Why don’t you get settled in? I’m sure you’re tired from the trip.”
Defeated, I trudged out to the shed, lugging my suitcase behind me. The inside was musty and cramped, with a rickety cot squeezed between boxes of junk. A single bare bulb hung from the ceiling, casting harsh shadows.
I sat on the cot, trying not to cry. How had it come to this? Dad used to dote on me, but ever since he married Kim, everything changed.
A disconsolate teenage girl sitting on a cot in a garden shed | Source: Midjourney
He’d promised to buy me a laptop for school, then said he couldn’t afford it. But he bought new ones for Sam and Leo without hesitation. I remembered the excitement in his voice when he told them about the “surprise” he had for them.
“You boys need good computers for your studies,” he’d said, beaming with pride.
When I’d reminded him about his promise to me, he’d just shrugged. “Times are tough, Michelle. Maybe next year.”
Then there was the lake trip. Dad had planned a father-daughter weekend, just the two of us. I’d been looking forward to it for weeks.
“Sorry, kiddo,” he’d said, not meeting my eyes. “Something came up at work. We’ll do it another time.”
A week later, I saw photos on social media of him, Sam, and Leo at the lake, fishing and laughing. When I confronted him about it, he brushed it off.
“The boys were only home for a short time,” he’d explained. “I wanted to do something special with them.”
And now this. Kicked out of my own room, and banished to the shed like some unwanted pet.
I tossed and turned all night, the cot creaking with every movement. In the morning, my phone buzzed with an incoming video call. It was my mom.
“Hi, sweetie,” she said when I answered. “How’s everything at your dad’s?”
I tried to sound upbeat. “Oh, you know. Same old.”
A girl looking at her cell phone, sitting on a cot in a shed | Source: Midjourney
Mom frowned. “Michelle, where are you? Is that… is that the shed?”
I nodded, unable to speak past the lump in my throat.
Mom’s face darkened. “Why on earth are you in the shed?”
“Kim said there’s no room in the house,” I mumbled. “Sam and Leo are using my room.”
“They are WHAT?” Mom exploded. “Oh, hell no. I’m coming over right now.”
“Mom, no, it’s fine,” I protested weakly. But she’d already hung up.
An hour later, I heard tires screeching in the driveway. Mom burst into the shed, her face like thunder.
“Get your things,” she ordered. “We’re going to have a little chat with your father and his wife.”
I trailed after Mom as she stormed into the house. “John!” she yelled. “Get out here right now!”
Dad appeared from the kitchen, looking startled. “Helen? What are you doing here?”
“Why is our daughter sleeping in a shed?” Mom demanded.
Kim rushed in. “Helen, this isn’t your house. You have no right to barge in here making demands.”
Mom turned on her, eyes blazing. “Oh, I have every right. Didn’t John tell you? This house belongs to Michelle.”
The room went dead silent. I stared at Mom, then at Dad, who’d gone pale.
“What are you talking about?” Kim sputtered.
Mom smiled coldly. “When we divorced, we put the house in Michelle’s name. In a year, she’ll own it outright.”
Kim whirled on Dad. “Is this true? You knew about this?”
Dad nodded miserably. “I… I didn’t think it was important.”
“Not important?” Mom scoffed. “You let your daughter sleep in a shed in her own house!”
Sam and Leo appeared in the doorway, looking confused.
“What’s going on?” Leo asked, still clutching his new laptop.
Mom addressed them all. “Listen up. From now on, Michelle sleeps in her room. In her house. End of discussion.”
“But…” Kim started to protest.
A woman reacts in surprise, while a teenager stands in the background | Source: Midjourney
“But nothing,” Mom cut her off. “Unless you want Michelle to kick you all out when she turns eighteen, I suggest you show her some respect.”
She turned to me, her voice softening. “Come on, honey. Let’s get your things. You’re coming home with me.”
As we packed up my stuff, I could hear Dad and Kim arguing in the other room.
“Why didn’t you tell me about the house?” Kim demanded.
“I didn’t want to complicate things,” Dad replied weakly.
“Complicate things? You let me treat your daughter like garbage!”
Their voices faded as Mom and I walked out to her car. As we drove away, I felt a mix of emotions: relief, vindication, and a little sadness.
“You okay, sweetie?” Mom asked, glancing over at me.
I nodded. “Yeah. Thanks for coming to get me.”
“Always,” she said firmly. “I’ll always have your back.”
We rode in silence for a while. Then I asked, “What happens now?”
A woman drives, talking to the girl seated beside her | Source: Midjourney
Mom sighed. “That’s up to you, honey. If you want to keep visiting your dad, we’ll make sure things change. If you don’t, that’s okay too.”
I thought about it. “I think… I think I want to try. But only if things are different.”
“They will be,” Mom assured me. “Your father may be an idiot sometimes, but he loves you. He just needed a wake-up call.”
Over the next week, I stayed with Mom. Dad called every day, apologizing profusely. He promised things would be different, that he’d make it up to me.
Finally, I agreed to go back for a visit. As we pulled up to the house, I saw Dad waiting on the porch.
“Ready?” Mom asked, squeezing my hand.
He nodded, looking chastened. “I know. Come inside, please?”
We followed him in. The house was quiet – no sign of Kim or the boys.
“Where is everyone?” I asked.
A teenage girl addressing an older man | Source: Midjourney
“I asked them to give us some space,” Dad explained. “We need to talk.”
We sat in the living room, the tension palpable.
Dad cleared his throat. “Michelle, I messed up. Big time. I got so caught up in trying to make Kim and her boys happy that I forgot what was really important.”
“Me,” I said quietly.
He nodded, his eyes glistening. “You. My daughter. The most important person in my life.”
“Doesn’t feel like it lately,” I muttered.
Dad winced. “I know. I’ve been a terrible father. But I want to make it right. If you’ll let me.”
I glanced at Mom, who nodded encouragingly.
“What about Kim and the boys?” I asked.
“They know things have to change,” Dad said firmly. “Your room is yours, always. And I’ve made it clear that you’re my priority.”
“And the laptop?” I couldn’t help asking.
Dad smiled sheepishly. “It’s in your room. Along with an apology letter from Sam and Leo.”
I felt a glimmer of hope. “Really?”
“Really,” Dad confirmed. “And I was hoping… maybe we could still do that lake trip? Just the two of us?”
I hesitated, then nodded. “I’d like that.”
Dad’s face lit up. He opened his arms, and after a moment, I stepped into his embrace.
It wasn’t perfect. There was still a lot to work through. But it was a start.
As we hugged, I caught Mom’s eye over Dad’s shoulder. She smiled, giving me a thumbs up. I knew then that no matter what happened, I had people in my corner. And I’d never sleep in a shed again.
A man hugging a teenager girl in a living room | Source: Midjourney
What would you have done? If you enjoyed this story, here’s another one for you about a stepmother and her daughters who kicked a girl out of the house after hearing her father fell into a coma.
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
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