‘Little House on the Prairie’ star says brutal filming conditions left cast members unconscious

Alison Arngrim, who played Nellie Oleson on “Little House on the Prairie”, has recalled cast members fainting during filming in extreme heat. Her account came during a podcast conversation with former cast members, highlighting the difficult conditions behind the family drama.

Arngrim said she passed out on her first day on location in Simi Valley and later described Sean Penn also losing consciousness and leaving work for the day. She recalled teacher character actor Charlotte Stewart blacking out while seated during a long shoot in hot bleachers. Cast members said the heat was especially difficult for women wearing dresses, petticoats, stockings and sometimes wigs; Michael Landon allowed Pamela Roylance to loosen her costume for one scene.