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Little House on the Prairie<\/a><\/em> star Melissa Gilbert<\/a><\/strong> celebrated Dick Van Dyke’<\/strong>s 100th birthday<\/a> by sharing a throwback clip of her father, Paul Gilbert<\/strong>, on The Dick Van Dyke Show<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n On Saturday, Dec. 13, the former child actress\u2014who played Laura Ingalls Wilder<\/a><\/strong> in the historical drama series\u2014took to Instagram<\/a> the sweet shoutout.<\/p>\n \ud83c\udfac <\/strong>SIGN UP for Parade\u2019s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox<\/strong><\/a> \ud83c\udfac<\/strong><\/p>\n “In honor of @official_dick_van_dyke<\/a>‘s 100th birthday<\/a>, I’m so happy to share this amazing footage with my Daddy,” Gilbert captioned her update. “Thank you for sharing with me such a powerful memory of my dad. On this birthday I wish for you all the happiness<\/a>, love, health, peace<\/a> and LAUGHTER!!!”<\/p>\n The accompanying video featured a clip from a 1964 episode of The Dick Van Dyke<\/a> Show<\/em> titled “My Mother Can Beat Up My Father.” Her dad, Paul, played a character named Mr. Cavendish.<\/p>\n In the comments, Instagram users delighted in the throwback featuring the newly-minted centenarian and Gilbert’s father.<\/p>\n One follower declared, “What an amazing memory!”<\/p>\n Another fan shared, of Paul, “I remember him in Cat Ballou<\/em> too. He was a great character actor \ud83d\udc9c.”<\/p>\n Someone else wrote, “HBD Dick Van Dyke! Melissa, it must be heartwarming to be able to see and hear your dad, captured on film forever.”<\/p>\n A different follower commented, “A true legend. What an amazing man. Happy \ud83d\udcaf Birthday \ud83c\udf82 \ud83e\udd73 \ud83c\udf89.”<\/p>\n Meanwhile, yet another Instagram user wrote, “Ditto!!! \ud83e\udd73\ud83e\udd70\ud83d\ude4f\ud83c\udffc\ud83d\udc99\ud83c\udf8a\ud83c\udf89\ud83c\udf81\ud83c\udf82 Happiest birthday to him, and I’m happy that you got to see your dad again. \ud83d\ude0a.”<\/p>\n Paul and his actress wife, Barbara Crane<\/strong> (later known as Cowan), adopted Melissa when she was an infant. Paul died in 1976, while Barbara died in 1999.<\/p>\n Next: Little House on the Prairie<\/em>: Dean Butler Addresses Melissa Gilbert Age Gap After Her “I Was 15” Post<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n This story was originally published by Parade<\/a> on Dec 14, 2025, where it first appeared in the News<\/a> section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n