Little House On The Prairie: Then & Now

Katherine MacGregor as Harriet Oleson

Katherine MacGregor is an actress who is best known for her comedic portrayal of Harriet Oleson, the mother of Willie and Nellie Oleson and the wife of Nels Oleson. She appeared on the show from 1974 to 1983 for a total of 153 episodes. Before appearing on Little House on the Prairie, Katherine had a number of film, television, and theater credits. She started her acting career on and off Broadway in the 1950s and began her film career in an uncredited role in On the Waterfront, which starred Hollywood heartthrob Marlon Brando portraying the part of “a longshoreman’s mother.”