‘Little House On The Prairie’ Actor Jack Lilley Dies At 91

Hollywood is mourning the loss of beloved actor and stuntman Jack Lilley, who passed away at the age of 91 on Thursday.

Known for his work on "Little House on the Prairie" and in the Mel Brooks comedy "Blazing Saddles," Jack Lilley leaves behind a legacy deeply woven into classic American television and film.

His granddaughter, Savanah Dawn Lilley, confirmed the news in a touching Instagram tribute. According to Us Weekly, she wrote, “The man who started it all. Figuratively and literally... the card shark, the horse trader, the wrangler... he always knew someone who could help if he couldn’t. Known to many as friend, storyteller, joker, and a heck of a horseman — and his favorite, PAPA.”

“Jack went to be with his bride, Irene, tonight. He just couldn’t bear another second without her,” she continued. “You left one heck of a mark on this world, Papa.”

Lilley’s "Little House" co-star Melissa Gilbert, who played Laura Ingalls (“Halfpint”) on the long-running NBC drama, also took to Instagram to remember her dear friend and mentor.

“The 'Little House' family has lost one of our own. Jack Lilley has passed away. He was 91 years old,” Gilbert wrote. “He also happened to be one of my favorite people on the planet.”

Gilbert reflected on the pivotal role Lilley played in her life both on and off screen. “He taught me how to ride a horse when I was just a wee little thing. He was so patient with me… he never said no when I would bound up to him squealing, ‘Can we go ride? Please, please, please?’”

Long before Gilbert and Lilley's paths crossed, on a new western set, Gilbert explained that Jack had already left his mark, not just as Victor French’s photo double on "Little House on the Prairie," but as a scene-stealer in countless roles, including the unforgettable "Blazing Saddles."

Gilbert also recalled reuniting with Lilley years later on the set of an ABC pilot called "Then Came Jones," a full-circle moment that brought her back to the same locations where "Little House" was originally filmed.

“I stepped onto the set and heard a familiar voice holler, ‘Hey Halfpint, you old rat-a--!!!’ It was Jack,” she remembered. “He was our wrangler for that pilot... and in that instant, I knew I was home.”

"It was a joy to shoot and I was so bummed when it didn’t get picked up," she continued. "It was all very synchronistic. Our first read though was at Paramount Studios, where we had shot 'Little House' the first four years. It was also on Halloween, which is Michael Landon’s birthday. That day, I also found out we would be shooting at Big Sky Ranch, where we had shot 'Little House."

As tributes continue to pour in for "Little House on the Prairie" alum Jack Lilley, his son Clint Lilley is sharing personal memories of the late actor’s remarkable life and legacy.

In a statement to Fox News Digital, Clint confirmed that his father passed away peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday, March 19, at the Motion Picture & Television Fund retirement home in Calabasas, California.

“He was one of a kind,” Clint said, reflecting on the honor of being part of a three-generation Hollywood family. “We got a glimpse of the old Hollywood… because he came out of that… and seen the transition. He’s seen so much change in the industry and we were kind of raised around it as little kids.”

Clint shared that he grew up on sets like "Little House on the Prairie," watching his father work and learning invaluable lessons from him along the way. “He taught us we had to work for it and nothing was going to be handed to you, you have to go get it… he made sure [of] that,” Clint said with a laugh, remembering how his father instilled a strong work ethic.

“I’m thankful for that, because he wanted to make sure that we were grounded,” he added, reflecting on the discipline and humility his father passed down.

A memorial service celebrating his life will be announced in the coming days, according to the Lilley family.