Alison Arngrim came from a show business family. Her father, Thor, was a Hollywood talent manager to Liberace, among others, and her mother was Norma Macmillian, a voice-over actress best known to my listeners as the voice of Casper the Friendly Ghost, Gumby and Davey of Davey and Goliath.

Alison worked in show business since she was 6 years old.

Alison was drawn to fellow actress Melissa Gilbert—Laura Ingalls on the show. Both were show business children and they were inseparable on the set, despite being mortal enemies on the show. Alison and Melissa remain friends today.

Alison’s role, Nellie Oleson, was the evil character and comic relief on the show.

While she’s associated with Nellie Oleson’s character in the US, she’s beloved outside the US; particularly in France. Alison claims the French didn’t view the Nellie Oleson character as mean, she was merely French.

Alison told amusing stories about fellow actors Melissa Gilbert, Michael Landon and Melissa Sue Anderson.

Alison’s latest book is titled, Confessions of a Prairie B*tch: How I Survived Nellie Oleson and Learned To Love Being Hated.

Alison is politically and socially active in AIDS-related causes stemming from the early death of her co-star Steve Tracy from HIV/AIDS.

Listen to the entertaining interview below: