Rest in piece Richard Bull (Mr. Oleson)

[Wise4671]

Lost another great actor Monday. When I was younger I watched Little House on the Prairie with my Mom all the time and now I watch it with my kids. He was always one of my favorite characters on Little House (the old in times corner store owner with the candy and goods )

He had a lot of other great roles and played them all well.

R.I.P. Mr.Bull

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20783239,00.html

[supes]

RIP Nels, he was one of the good ones. My wife has little house on almost everyday, great show

[Earth 2 Chris]

Is it wrong, that as a kid, I wanted him to smack the living crap out of his wife and kids. I NEVER condone domestic violence, but in this case, I'd make an exception.

It's not easy to make hen-pecked likable, but he did it. I really liked him on the show.

Chris

[Sideshow Spock]

Is it wrong, that as a kid, I wanted him to smack the living crap out of his wife and kids. I NEVER condone domestic violence, but in this case, I'd make an exception.

Check out the 3rd season episodes, "Nels Revenge", where he finally snaps. Takes the belt to Willie and Nellie, but saves the best for his wife. As she counts money and mutters criticisms of him after the mercantile closes, he throws several bags of flour and seed corn at her, then smashes apart a butter churn and approaches her menacingly with the plunger as she cowers in the corner. Fade to commercial..

Later, he shows up at the church during Sunday mass, and falls to his knees in front of the congregation, begging them and Rev. Alden for forgiveness. Several tense beats pass as the camera slowly sweeps across the townspeople's judgmental faces, but then there's the sound of one man starting to clap. It's Mr. Edwards. The clapping spreads and soon the whole church is applauding Nels, who rises to his feet, a single tear streaming down his face. Rev Alden descends from his pulpit and gives Nels a hearty embrace, says something about Nels having the sort of patience even St. Paul would envy.

Mrs. Olsen and the kids are also in the church (all appear in good health, tho Harriet's hair is oddly unkempt), and their faces are a mix of humiliation and pride. Eventually they too join the clapping. Camera pans out from the church as music plays, credits.

[Earth 2 Chris]

^After reading that, I do kind of remember that episode. They had it coming.

Chris

[HardyGirl]

That's really sad. I love Little House, and I still watch it. He was also the doctor in Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (series). RIP Richard Bull. You will be missed.