‘Pioneering’ child actress who shared role with her twin as the mischievous little sister in iconic family drama seen out in LA… guess who?

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This former child actor, recognizable for her straight-across bangs and braided pigtails, was one of the daughters on a very popular American TV family show.

She often shared the role with her identical twin sister, and the two would easily switch places while filming.

You know, I always love a good story about how talent gets discovered! These sisters first caught someone’s eye in a TV movie, and luckily, the director remembered them. When he heard about a new family sitcom in the works – one that would become hugely popular – he immediately suggested they audition. It’s a great reminder that being seen, and being remembered, can really open doors!

They practically grew up on the television set, starting when they were just three years old, and had millions of people watching them grow up.

After the show finished and the twins were still in high school, they stopped getting acting roles and ultimately left Hollywood to pursue careers in the business world.

Surprisingly, one of the sisters eventually married a man who used to sneak onto the movie set as a child, just to be near the actors and crew.

Can you guess who?

It’s Rachel Lindsay Greenbush!  

Melissa Gilbert, known for her role on Little House on the Prairie, was seen in Los Angeles with her husband, Danny Sanchez.

Lindsay, also known as Rachel, and her partner were seen running errands together this month. She dressed comfortably for the outings in a red V-neck shirt with flowers on it, black yoga pants, and sneakers, completing her look with a white leather backpack and glasses.

Sanchez complemented her companion’s relaxed look with a vintage Harley-Davidson tee, dark jeans, and suede boots as they ran errands, from the grocery store to a craft shop.

Both Rachel, 55, and her twin sister Sidney, who goes by Robyn, grew up in Los Angeles as the daughters of actors. Their father was best known for playing sheriffs and state troopers in classics such as M*A*S*H (1972), Gunsmoke (1973) and Electra Glide in Blue (1973). 

The twins’ acting careers began with a shared role as Jill Hayden in the TV movie *Sunshine*. This led to their well-known parts as Carrie Ingalls on *Little House on the Prairie*.

When she was three years old, the director of Sunshine suggested her for the part of Carrie to Michael Landon, who was then casting the TV show Little House on the Prairie.

A memorable moment from the show, surprisingly, happened in the opening credits. Carrie, played by one of the twins, trips and falls in a field. Rachel later revealed to People magazine that this wasn’t planned – it was an accident! However, Landon liked it so much, they decided to keep it in the final version.

Once their roles on the show ended during high school, Rachel appeared in a single episode of the crime drama *Matt Houston*.

She and her sister also appeared in commercials for companies like Double Mint Gum, Mattel and KFC.

As for Robyn, she appeared in the 1983 movie Hambone and Hillie. 

Becoming successful wasn’t easy for the twins. They ultimately chose to leave acting to concentrate on school, and both graduated from Santa Monica High in 1988.

I’ve always admired Rachel’s dedication! While she went back to school and got her accounting degree from California Lutheran University, she never gave up on acting. It was amazing to see her reunite with Alison Arngrim – you know, Nellie Oleson from Little House – in a 2016 performance of Eve Ensler’s *The Vagina Monologues*. She’s truly multi-talented!

Sidney, her sister, worked as a sales system administrator for a home builder and married William ‘Rocky’ Foster, a horse breeder. They were married for nine years, ending when Rocky died just a few days after Sidney filed for divorce.

Rachel and Sanchez first became friends many years ago, when they met on the set of ‘Little House.’ Rachel was seven years old at the time, and Sanchez was fourteen. This friendship eventually blossomed into a love story.

Rachel recalled during a 2015 Hallmark Channel reunion that a neighbor who lived nearby would often come to the set. Michael allowed him to stay because he was always quiet and never interfered with filming or the production schedule.

He started spending time with the ship’s crew, and after that, we didn’t hear from him for thirty years. We finally reunited in 2007.

Years after reconnecting, the couple married in 2014, choosing to exchange vows under the same tree where their love story began – a spot right by Plum Creek, famously featured in the television show.

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2025-09-25 22:19