‘Little House’ Star Katherine MacGregor Dies at 93

Katherine “Scottie” MacGregor, who is remembered for her nine-season stint as uppity shopkeeper Mrs. Oleson on NBC family drama “Little House on the Prairie” (later “Little House: A New Beginning”) died Tuesday in Woodland Hills, California. She was 93

MacGregor played the gossipy, mean-spirited Harriet Oleson in the 1974 to 1983 NBC drama, who was married to kindly husband Nels (Richard Bull) and mother to bratty Nellie (Alison Arngrim) and Willie (Jonathan Gilbert).

Born Dorlee Deane MacGregor in 1925 in Glendale, California, MacGregor grew up in Colorado and changed her name to “Scottie” after relocating to New York for work as a stage actress. She moved to California and appeared in 1954 theatrical “On the Waterfront” in an uncredited role, then began to travel the guest roster route in series like “Mannix!,” “Emergency!,” “Ironside” and “All in the Family.” After “Little House on the Prairie,” MacGregor withdrew from screen productions in favor of local theater.

She dedicated herself to the Hindu religion, and to teaching acting to children at the Wee Hollywood Vedanta Players, before finally retiring in the early 2000s.