You know that opening sequence of Little House on the Prairie? The one where the little girl in the pink dress takes a spectacular tumble while running down a hill? If you grew up in the 70s or 80s, that image is basically burned into your brain. Most people see that clip and think, "Oh, there's Carrie Ingalls." But honestly, there is a whole lot more to the story of the actress—or rather, actresses—behind that iconic fall.
When we talk about lindsay greenbush movies and tv shows, we are actually talking about a tag-team effort. Lindsay and her identical twin sister, Sidney Greenbush, shared the role of Carrie for nearly a decade. They were tiny. Like, three-years-old tiny when they started. Because child labor laws were (and still are) pretty strict about how many hours a kid can be on set, casting twins is the ultimate Hollywood life hack. One gets tired or cranky? Swap 'em out.
The Sunshine Start (Before the Prairie)
A lot of fans assume Little House was their first gig. Nope. In 1973, the twins actually made their debut in a made-for-TV movie called Sunshine. They played Jill Hayden. It was a heavy drama—basically a tear-jerker about a young mother dying of cancer—and it was a huge hit at the time. Their dad, Billy "Green" Bush, was an established actor himself (you might recognize him from Five Easy Pieces or MASH*), and a friend of his suggested the girls for the part.
That one role basically paved the way for everything else. Michael Landon saw them, liked what he saw, and the rest is TV history.
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Breaking Down the Lindsay Greenbush Movies and TV Shows List
If you look at the raw data of their filmography, it looks pretty short. That’s because they spent the bulk of their childhood in Walnut Grove. But there are some deep cuts that most casual viewers totally miss.
- Little House on the Prairie (1974–1982): This is the big one. They played Carrie Ingalls for eight seasons. For most of that time, the credits didn't even mention they were twins. It just said "Lindsay Sidney Greenbush," which led a lot of people to think it was one girl with a really long name.
- The Godsister (1978): This is a legendary episode for Greenbush fans. Usually, you only saw one twin at a time. But in this episode, Carrie creates an imaginary friend named Alyssa because she’s lonely. This allowed both Lindsay and Sidney to be on screen together.
- Matt Houston (1983): After Little House ended, the twins started taking separate roles. Lindsay appeared in an episode titled "Butterfly." She played a victim of abuse, which was a massive departure from the wholesome prairie life.
- Hambone and Hillie (1983): While Lindsay was doing Matt Houston, Sidney was off filming this movie about a lost dog.
- Commercials: Don't forget the 70s commercials! They were the faces of Doublemint Gum (obviously, because... twins), Mattel Toys, and even Kentucky Fried Chicken.
Why Did She Walk Away?
By the time 1983 rolled around, the girls were entering their teens. They’d been working since they were toddlers. Imagine your entire childhood being scheduled in 15-minute increments under hot studio lights. Lindsay has been pretty open in recent years about how leaving the show felt like a "tragic loss." She described it like a divorce—one day you have this huge "family" of cast and crew, and the next, everyone just goes their separate ways.
They decided to just be normal kids. They went to public high school in Santa Monica. They did the graduation thing in 1988. Lindsay eventually became a horse trainer and an accountant. She’s also really into amateur boxing now, which is a wild and awesome pivot from the girl in the pinafore.
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The Big Sky Reunion
One of the coolest "full circle" moments happened recently. Back in 2014, Lindsay got married to a guy named Daniel Sanchez. Here’s the kicker: they actually met on the set of Little House when they were kids. He lived near the filming location at Big Sky Ranch in Simi Valley and used to watch them film. They reconnected decades later and got married under the exact same oak tree where they first met as children. You literally couldn't write a better script than that.
What You Should Watch First
If you’re looking to dive into the lindsay greenbush movies and tv shows catalog, don't just stick to the highlight reels.
- Watch "The Godsister" (Little House, Season 5, Episode 6): It’s the best way to see the twins' different personalities on screen at the same time.
- Find the "Sunshine" TV movie: It’s harder to track down, but it shows they actually had acting chops before the Landon era.
- Check out the 50th Anniversary Podcast: Lindsay has been very active in the 50th-anniversary celebrations recently, and hearing her talk about the "behind the scenes" reality of being a child star is fascinating.
The reality of being Carrie Ingalls wasn't always easy. Michael Landon was known for being a perfectionist, and Lindsay has mentioned being "petrified" of making mistakes on set. But she’s also clearly proud of the legacy. She still shows up for fan events and keeps the memory of the show alive for the millions of people who still watch it in syndication every single day.
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If you want to explore the history of 70s television, looking at the career of the Greenbush twins is a great place to start. It’s a perfect example of how the "Golden Age" of family TV actually functioned behind the camera.
Go back and watch that Season 1 opening. Now that you know it was actually Lindsay (or maybe Sidney?) who took that tumble, it feels a little more personal, doesn't it?
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Stream with Intention: Most of the Little House episodes are available on Peacock or Amazon Prime. Look for the middle seasons where Carrie actually gets more dialogue.
- Support Local Events: Lindsay frequently appears at the "LHP" reunions in Simi Valley. If you're a superfan, those are the best places to hear the unedited stories.
- Research the Dad: To get a feel for the "acting family" vibe, look up Billy Green Bush's work in Five Easy Pieces. It’s a completely different world from Walnut Grove.