Albert From 'Little House On The Prairie' Gets More Dapper Every Year

Dec 22, 2020

Matthew Labyorteaux first captured the hearts of millions of Americans in the late 70s with his portrayal of Albert Quinn Ingalls in the classic television show, Little House on the Prairie. Now 56 years old, Labyorteaux has made a name for himself with an incredibly diverse career, spanning from acting to video games to charity, but has generally shied away from the spotlight since departing from the show. We're looking back at the fantastic work he's done over the years and what the beloved former child actor is up to these days. 

Matthew Labyorteaux and his elder brother Patrick were adopted at a young age by interior designer and talent manager Ronald Labyorteaux and his actress wife, Frances Marshall. According to their mother, both boys were deemed 'unadoptable' by doctors. Patrick was diagnosed with psychosis at less than a year old, although this diagnosis would later prove false. Matthew, on the other hand, was born with a hole in his heart.

"The hole closed before he was a year old," Marshall told the Tuscon Arizona Daily Tribunal in 1978. Although his heart had since healed, the doting mother knew there was still something "wrong" with her son. "He had terrible tantrums. It just wasn't the normal crying babies do," she explained. 

As the years went by, his issues began to take a toll on his development. His mother says Matthew only started walking aged three and couldn't communicate until he was 5, which led doctors to believe he might be on the spectrum – with some even suggesting he should be institutionalized. At six years old, the family finally got answers; Matthew was hypoglycemic. After a few elaborate diet changes, Matthew's problems "disappeared."

Matthew began acting at age 5, starring in various commercials before he was discovered two years later while accompanying his brother at a casting call. In 1974, Matthew landed his first role on the big screen in  A Woman Under the Influence, in which he portrayed one of Peter Falk and Gena Rowlands' children. The film was later preserved by the National Film Registry for its cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance. 

Four years after the film's release, Matthew would make his debut on Little House on the Prairie as Albert Quinn Ingalls, a year after his brother joined the show. Both Patrick and Matthew left the series 1983, but would appear as guests in future episodes even after their departure. After that, Matthew continued taking up minor roles on the small screen and making a name for himself as a voice actor. 

In an interview to mark the 40th anniversary of Little House on the Prairie, Matthew admitted working with Michael Landon had him starstruck.

"I did quite a little bit of work before Little House so it wasn't my first show. I think if it had it been my first television show or acting role that i had done it might have been a little more intimidating just because Michael Landon was Michael Landon in Bonanza," he said.

As a teenager, Matthew took a keen interest in video games, even being crowned the national 'Pac-man champion' of 1981, according to Softline. That interest would lead Matthew to take up roles as a voice actor in many high-profile video games, including Star Wars: The Old Republic, Gangstar Vegas, and Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links.

In 1981, Matthew and Patrick joined forces and founded the 'Youth Rescue Fund,' an organization that aimed to help runaway youth. 

"We want to show our gratitude for the kind of home and parents that Pat and I have," Matthew told the Cedar Rapids Gazette at the time, according to littlehouseontheprairie.com. "The best way to show how much we care is to try to help others who aren't lucky enough to have a home and parents like ours."

Their organization would help match at-risk youths with peer councilors, who would "assist runaways, homeless or abused teenagers and those with drug or alcohol problems." The brothers also $11 million to build shelters for their organization by asking for donations, selling highway safety kits, staging dances, and holding celebrity rodeos. While they've discontinued their work with the fund, the National Network of Runaway and Youth Services, Inc, in Washington, DC, has since taken over the brothers' important work. 

Have you been nostalgically watching old reruns of Little House on the Prairie? Who is you favorite character on the show? Let us know in the comments, and make sure you pass this along to your friends and family!