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The Office star Melora Hardin gushes over Michael Landon directing her on Little House on the Prairie set

BBG News

Actress Melora Hardin, known for her role in The Office, affectionately reminisced about her days working alongside the late Michael Landon during filming of Little House on the Prairie.

In the period between 1974 to 1983, Landon, who sadly succumbed to pancreatic cancer at the age of 54 in 1991, not only graced our screens as an actor but also contributed behind the scenes as a writer and director.

I was fortunate enough to secure a part in the fifth season, portraying Belinda – a schoolmate of Albert Ingalls, who is the son of my character, Charles Ingalls, played by Matthew Labyorteaux, in the beloved series.

I couldn’t help but be smitten by his charm,” I gushed during my chat on the Still Here Hollywood with Steve Kmetko podcast. “He was absolutely delightful. He made everyone feel as if they were his favorite, and he gave us the freedom to shine.

Hardin returned for the 1983 TV movie Little House: Look Back to Yesterday as Michele.

She went on to say, “When he guided you, it never felt like reprimanding. Instead, he came across as delightful. Moreover, Landon is great with children.”

Or, more concisely:

“His guidance didn’t feel like scolding; he was always pleasant. And Landon has a knack for communicating with kids.

She also praised the Highway to Heaven star for creating a ‘community feeling’ on set. 

Reflecting on her portrayal as Belinda, Hardin recalled the instances where her character endured Nancy’s mischievous behavior – a constant source of trouble for Little House on the Prairie’s notorious character, Nellie Oleson.

In the podcast, Hardin stated that my role was Belinda, and she found herself trapped inside an icehouse by none other than New Nellie, or Nancy, who turned out to be just as unkind as the original Nellie.

In the character of Michele, she reached an unforgettable moment – her initial on-screen kiss with fellow actor, Matthew Labyorteaux.

‘In the role, I was his romantic partner, and interestingly enough, it was our initial on-screen kiss that Matthew and I shared,’ Hardin disclosed.

‘And he’s still a very good friend of mine and the godfather of my second daughter.’

Hardin is primarily recognized for portraying Jan Levinson in The Office, where she skillfully infused a blend of ambition and discomfort into the character of Michael Scott’s fluctuating romantic interest.

Additionally, she portrayed Trudy Monk, Adrian Monk’s spouse, on the popular series Monk, lending a charmingly peculiar vibe to her role.

Over time, she’s been featured in numerous productions, such as 24, The Bold Type, and Hannah Montana: The Film.

The podcast was released following her announcement that there might be a US Office movie in the works, as she shared news about the show’s status this week.

The popular television series starring Steve Carell, airing from 2005 to 2013 across nine seasons, is rumored to make a return to our screens as creators Matthew Belloni and Jonathan Handel have hinted that its creator, Greg Daniels, is developing a comeback for the show.

Currently, it’s been revealed that Melora, known for her role as Jan Levinson in the show, has disclosed that she’s shared certain concepts with Greg.

In an exclusive chat with The U.S. Sun, I eagerly expressed: “It’s all in Greg’s hands, as he’s our maestro. Count me in! I believe many of us fans would be there too.

I’d really enjoy producing a movie, as it would streamline the process and speed things up significantly. I believe we could gather everyone together for such a project.

She mentioned: ‘I’ve discussed some concepts with Greg, and it struck me as amusing to portray Jan as a self-help guru given her somewhat imperfect nature.’

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2025-01-15 06:37

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