Mary Ingalls actor Melissa Sue Anderson grew up in the spotlight on Little House on the Prairie. She was on the wildly popular show for seven seasons and made guest appearances in the eight. But what is she doing today, all these years later? Melissa Sue Anderson as Mary Ingalls on ‘Little House on the Prairie’ Anderson got the role of Mary Ingalls when she was just 11 years old. But before that, she was no stranger to acting. She’d been in various commercials and had scored roles in shows like Bewitched and The Brady Bunch.