Little House On The Prairie: Then & Now

Dean Butler Now

His role on Little House on the Prairie kicked off a successful and memorable career for Dean, in which he has appeared in numerous films and TV shows. He is perhaps best known to modern audiences for playing the role of Hank Summers, father of Buffy, on smash-hit cult fantasy show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. He also had a foray into theater, appearing on stage in several of Stephen Sondheim’s shows. You might recognize him from Into the Woods or West Side Story if you’re a keen theater-goer! Butler is married to actress Katherine Cannon, whom he met during an audition.

Jason Bateman as James Ingalls

Shannen Doherty isn’t the only big name star to make a start on Little House. Jason Bateman actually had a role on the show in seasons seven and eight, playing the role of James Ingalls. The character was an orphan who was adopted by the Ingalls family, and it was his first acting role, following a short span appearing in advertisements. It was pretty clear, even from Jason’s short stint on the show, that he was destined for big things. In fact, he is arguably the most successful actor to come out of the show, aside from some notable guest stars. Those 21 episodes propelled him to greatness, and his career exploded after the show.