Melissa Gilbert was born in Los Angeles in 1964 and was adopted when she was only a day old by Barbara Crane and Paul Gilbert. Her biological parents, David Darlington and Kathy Wood, were unable to raise another child while pursuing their own lives, so they placed their daughter for adoption.
Melissa grew up believing a different story about her biological parents. Her adoptive family told her that her father had been a Rhodes Scholar and that her mother was a prima ballerina. She eventually discovered that much of what she had been told was untrue. Her biological mother had been a dancer, while her father worked as a stock car racer and sign painter.
Her adoptive parents had not originally planned to adopt either. When Barbara received a call saying a baby girl was available, she and Paul were reportedly surprised. Barbara later explained that they had been undergoing fertility treatments but had never seriously discussed adoption before receiving the unexpected call.
