Hollywood is a weird place for a toddler. One minute you’re learning to walk, and the next, you’re on a set in Simi Valley being handed to Michael Landon while millions of people watch from their living rooms. This was the reality for Wendi and Brenda Turnbaugh. They shared the role of Baby Grace Ingalls on Little House on the Prairie starting in 1978.
They were just eight months old. Basically, their entire infancy was documented on celluloid.
But what happened when the cameras stopped rolling? Most child stars end up in a spiral or, at the very least, spend their lives trying to recapture that "glory." Not these two. Wendi and Brenda Turnbaugh now have built lives that are remarkably grounded, even though one of them faced a health battle that sounds like something straight out of a TV script.
The Kindergarten "Retirement"
Most actors "retire" after decades of work. Wendi and Brenda retired to go to kindergarten. Seriously. Once the show wrapped and the Ingalls family moved away from Walnut Grove, their mom made the call to pull them out of the industry entirely. It was probably the smartest move she could have made.
They grew up in the San Fernando Valley. They did normal things. They went to school, played sports, and lived a life that was surprisingly disconnected from their early fame. Honestly, for a long time, they were just sisters, not "those twins from the show."
Wendi Lou Lee: A Fight for Life and Faith
If you look for Wendi today, you’ll likely find her under her married name, Wendi Lou Lee. She’s the twin who has remained the most visible to the public, but not for the reasons you’d expect.
In 2015, Wendi’s life took a terrifying turn. She started getting these brutal headaches. Not just "I need an aspirin" headaches, but the kind that make you dizzy and confused. After weeks of seeing different doctors, the news came back: she had a brain tumor. It was a meningioma, and it was growing.
She had to undergo surgery immediately.
"This book was like a big therapy session after brain surgery," Wendi shared during a recent retrospective. "I saw grace in a different way. I defined it in a different way."
She’s now a brain surgery survivor, and that experience changed everything. She turned to writing. She has released several books, including A Prairie Devotional and Red Tail Feathers. Today, she spends a huge amount of her time connecting with fans. She isn't just signing autographs; she’s praying with people and hosting a Bible study group. It’s pretty clear that for Wendi, the "Grace" she played on TV became a literal theme for her actual life.
Brenda Turnbaugh: The Quiet Life of a Teacher
Brenda is the more private of the two. While Wendi is out there writing memoirs and speaking at events, Brenda has stayed mostly out of the spotlight.
She didn't want the Hollywood life. At all. Brenda eventually became a high school history teacher. Think about that for a second—your history teacher was literally a part of one of the most famous historical dramas in television history. Does she tell her students? Probably not often.
She’s married, has two kids, and by all accounts, loves the normalcy of her life. She still shows up for the big cast reunions, like the massive 50th-anniversary festival in 2024, but she isn't chasing the "influencer" lifestyle.
The Reality of Being a "Prairie" Twin
People always ask if they remember Michael Landon.
The truth? They were toddlers. Most of their "memories" are actually stories told to them by their mom or the older cast members like Melissa Gilbert and Karen Grassle. Wendi has mentioned that Karen Grassle (Ma Ingalls) was incredibly natural with them—they felt safe in her arms.
There’s also that famous story about the oatmeal. To get the babies to make certain faces or react, the crew would sometimes put things like pepper in their food. It sounds a bit harsh by today’s standards, but it was 1970s television.
Where They Stand in 2026
As of early 2026, both sisters are in their late 40s. They are healthy, they are active in their communities, and they remain close.
- Wendi Lou Lee is currently focusing on her ministry and her "Prairie Fans" community. She often does weekly live videos where she chats with fans about specific episodes and how the lessons from the show apply to real life today.
- Brenda Weatherby (Turnbaugh) continues her career in education, maintaining a much lower profile than her sister.
It’s interesting how two people who started in the exact same spot—sharing the same face and the same role—found such different ways to be happy. One found it in the public eye through faith and writing; the other found it in the quiet routine of a classroom.
Lessons from the Turnbaugh Sisters
If you’re looking for a takeaway from the lives of Wendi and Brenda Turnbaugh, it’s basically this: your beginning doesn't have to define your middle or your end.
They could have been "where are they now" tragedies. Instead, they are just... normal people. One survived a life-threatening illness and used it to help others. The other shaped the minds of the next generation.
Actionable Insight for Fans:
If you want to keep up with them, Wendi is the one to follow. You can find her through her website, Wendi Lou Lee, where she posts updates on her health scans (she still gets checked every August) and new writing projects. If you're looking for Brenda, your best bet is to catch her at one of the official Little House cast reunions, as she rarely does solo press.
Check out Wendi's latest book, Story by Story, if you want a deeper look at how she processed her time on the show through her adult perspective. It’s a lot more than just behind-the-scenes gossip; it’s actually a pretty raw look at what it means to grow up.