Shannen Doherty Says ‘Little House on the Prairie’ Co-Star Michael Landon “Spurred” Her Passion for Acting

Shannen Doherty and Michael Landon

Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for Hallmark Channel; Getty Images

Shannen Doherty credits her passion for acting to her late Little House on the Prairie co-star Michael Landon.

The actress looked back at the early days of her career in Hollywood on a recent episode of the Let’s Be Clear with Shannen Doherty podcast, alongside her mother, Rosa Elizabeth Doherty. At 11 years old, Doherty landed the role of Jenny Wilder on the show’s final season, from 1982-83.

“That show, Little House, shaped me in so many ways and it still is the best experience of my entire career,” the Charmed star said.

She also noted her close bond with Landon, who played Charles Ingalls, the family patriarch. He died in 1991. “I adored him. He was a mentor. He taught me so much,” Doherty recalled.

Even decades later, the Beverly Hills, 90210 actress said she still notices the influence Landon had on her.

“It’s kind of amazing because, when I think about the long span of my career, but also how rough some jobs were — and unenjoyable to be a part of, a little bit toxic — it was really the experience on Little House that spurred that passion on for being an actor,” Doherty explained. “And it was having a mentor like Michael Landon — and I don’t care what anybody else’s experience was like, I know the truth about that man, and he was just unbelievable.”

She added that the Bonanza actor was “so, so, so talented, so kind, so considerate, and it really helped shape me. And he was incredibly caring for my entire family.”

Following Little House on the Prairie, Doherty went on to star in dozens of TV shows and movies, notably, Our House, Beverly Hills, 90210, Charmed and Heathers.