Man, I could watch an episode of Little House On The Prairie right now!  R.I.P. Katherine MacGregor (a.k.a. Mrs. Olsen). 

 

 

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— Arngrim (@Arngrim) November 14, 2018

 

 

 

 

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I just got word that Katherine MacGregor passed away yesterday. This woman taught me so much... about acting... vintage jewelry... life. She was outspoken and hilariously funny. A truly gifted actress as she was able to play a despicable character but with so much heart. Her Harriet Oleson was the woman our fans loved to hate. A perfect antagonist. The thing people outside of our prairie family didn’t know, was how loving and nurturing she was with the younger cast. I really loved her and I find great comfort knowing that she is at peace and, per her beliefs, her soul has moved on to its next incarnation. Farewell Scottie. I hope with all my heart we meet again next time.

A post shared by Melissa Gilbert (@melissaellengilbertbusfield) on Nov 14, 2018 at 6:29am PST

Mrs. Olsen could be a real cow, but MacGregor played her with such humor and vulnerability. It was a caricature much of the time, but it really worked. She was one of the best parts of the show. 

20 minutes ago, DRW50 said:

Mrs. Olsen could be a real cow, but MacGregor played her with such humor and vulnerability. It was a caricature much of the time, but it really worked. She was one of the best parts of the show. 

 

She and Nellie provided some straight-up comedy gold, especially when both faced their comeuppance.  The icing on that comedy cake was when Nels finally lost his cool and really told Harriet off!

You couldn't help loving Mrs. Oleson, even when she was a real bitch, and even more when she on occasion showed a human side. 

My favorite scene. when she defended Todd Bridges to the racist clown after their trip to the new blind home in WG. she changed. and by the end of the series, even though she still had her ways, she was a truly good person. RIP Katherine.

 

 

 

Edited November 14, 20187 yr by victoria foxton

A character that was more than a villain, she had a true heart but hid it behind so much nastiness. Katherine was a true talent, no one else could have played Harriet so well

 

I'm gonna have to watch some LHOTP on Hallmark Drama now

I only watched LHOTP because I had a crush on Michael Landon.

But I liked Mrs.Oleson....lol

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 14, 20187 yr by reallyhateskateonlost

MacGregor was a revelation as Mrs. Oleson. We were lucky to have her on the show for so much of its run.

 

With so many viewing choices available to us nowadays, I rarely watch any series a second time, but there's something about LHOTP that enchants me, and I never tire of watching it. I can only say that about LHOTP, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the Mary Tyler Moore Show, I Love Lucy, and vintage soap episodes.

 

Rest in Peace, Katherine MacGregor. You brought us joy for many years!

 

I'm off to watch her terrorize the citizens of Walnut Grove!

I didn't realize y'all had made a thread about her passing. I've been a huge LHOTP fan for a long time, and Katherine MacGregor's performance as Harriet Oleson is a big reason why. Like all of you have already said, she was just the right combination of real bitch (especially early on - the way she used to look down on the Ingalls family was just PAINFUL) and real human to make the character the perfect antagonist. I hesitate to call her a villainess because she never really meant to be anything more than a catty, uppity cnt to people, and the loads of slapstick they had her do made her less frightening.

LHOTP is one of those shows that I love dearly but would never want to really live in because it always seemed hot as hell in Walnut Grove.

On 11/20/2018 at 2:14 AM, All My Shadows said:

LHOTP is one of those shows that I love dearly but would never want to really live in because it always seemed hot as hell in Walnut Grove.

 

Probably because Walnut Grove was built on a hell mouth, LOL. The amount of tragedy and death that hit the town was proof of that!

 

People always say how warm and loving LHOTP was, and that's true, but many of its episodes were sick and vicious, LOL. The fire at the school for the blind? Oy vey. Watching Alice Garvey and Mary's baby engulfed in flames was the stuff of nightmares.