Hollywood laments the loss of beloved actors and stuntmen Jack LillyHe passed away on Thursday at the age of 91.
He is known for his work at “The Little House of Prairie” and Mel Brooks The comedy “Burning Saddle,” Jack Lilly leaves behind a legacy woven into classic American television and films.
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My beloved Wrangler Jack Lily has passed away
His granddaughter, Savannah Dawn Lily, confirmed the news in an emotional Instagram tribute. According to US every week“The guy who started it all. Figic and literally… Card shark, horse trader, Wrangler… He always knew someone who could help him if he couldn’t.
“Jack went with his bride, Irene, tonight, and he couldn’t stand another second without her,” she continued. “You’ve left one mark in this world, Daddy.”
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Melissa Gilbert pays homage to the “little house” Wrangler
Lily’s “Little House” co-star Melissa Gilbert, who played Laura Ingalls (“Half Pinto”) in the long-running NBC drama, also took to Instagram to remember her dear friend and mentor.
“The ‘little house’ family lost one of our own. Jack Lily has passed away. He was 91 years old,” wrote Gilbert. “He happened to be one of my favorite people on earth.”
Gilbert reflects on the important role Lily played in her life, both on-screen and off-screen. “He taught me how to ride a horse when it was a little bit of a problem. He got me so patient… He didn’t say to me that I was tied up by him and ‘Can we ride? Please?’ ”
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Melissa Gilbert recalls sweet memories with Jack Lily after her death at 91
Long before Gilbert and Lily’s path crossed on the new western set, Gilbert explained that Jack not only doubled the photo of Victor French in “The Little House of Prairie,” but also left his mark already as a scene styler in countless roles including the unforgettable “Burning Saddle.”
Gilbert also recalls his reunion with Lily, and the moment in Full Serkil, when he brought her back to the same location where “Small House” was originally filmed, on the set of an ABC pilot called “Then Come Jones” a few years later.
“I stepped onto the set and heard the familiar cry of voices. It was Jack,” she recalled. “He was our Wrangler on that pilot… and at that moment I knew I was home.”
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“It was a joy to film, and when it wasn’t picked up, I was so mad,” she continued. “It was all very synchronous. Our first read was Paramount Studios, where we filmed “little houses” for the first four years. It was also Michael Landon’s birthday Halloween.
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Jack Lily remembered as her beloved friend and devoted husband on the last day
As tributes continue to be poured into Jack Lilly, a graduate of “The Little House of Prairie,” his son Clint Lilly shares personal memories of the surprising life and legacy of the late actor.
In a statement from Fox News Digital, Clint confirmed that his father died of his retirement from the Film & Television Fund in Calabasas, California on Wednesday, March 19th in sleep.
“He was kind of one person,” Clint said. “We got a glimpse into old Hollywood… because he came out of it and saw the transition. He saw so many changes in the industry, and we grew up like little kids.”
Jack Lily was recalled by his son Clint
Clint shares that he grew up on a set like “The Little House of Prairie” and his father saw work and learned an irreplaceable lesson from him along the way. “He told me we had to work for it, and I didn’t want you to get anything, you had to get it… he made sure,” Clint said with a laugh.
“He wanted to make sure we were grounded, so I’m grateful for that,” he added, reflecting on the discipline and humility his father had passed by.
According to the Lily family, a service ceremony to celebrate his life will be announced in the coming days.