“Little House on the Prairie” Actor Says Being a 'Teen Idol' Was a 'Blast,' Insists Anyone Who Says Otherwise Is a 'Faker'

On April 8, 2026, Patrick Labyorteaux released a video reflecting on his time as a "teen idol"

NEED TO KNOW

• The Little House on the Prairie actor recalled both he and his brother, Matthew, being featured in magazines like Tiger Beat in the '70s

• Instead of being embarrassed, the now 60-year-old fully embraces his past, saying he “loved doing it”

Patrick Labyorteauxbecame widely recognized for his role as Andy Garvey onLittle House on the Prairie,and as a young actor coming up in the '70s, he often found himself at the center of teen magazine culture.

Alongside his brother, Matthew, who also appeared onLittle House on the Prairieas Albert Ingalls, Labyorteaux became a familiar face not just on television screens, but on glossy pages lining supermarket shelves.

That exposure launched him into a category reserved for a select few young stars of the era and looking back, he doesn’t shy away from the label — in fact, he embraces it.

“I was a teen idol. I can't believe it when I say it, but yeah, I was a teen idol. I was in the magazines, I was in16 Magazine,Tiger Beat,” the actor said onThe Patrick LabyorSheauxon April 8. “My brother and I were both in them, and I was just the perfect age to be in them.”

In the video, Labyorteaux spoke candidly about how much he genuinely enjoyed the experience, pushing back against the idea that teen idol status was anything less than thrilling.

“We were onLittle House on the Prairie, and they put us in magazines, and I swear to you, I absolutely loved it,” he admitted. “I mean, come on, what's better than being a teen idol?”

“You get all of these pictures of you in magazines. All these girls are going crazy for you, and it was awesome,” Labyorteaux added.

Still, the now 60-year-old is quick to clarify that his experience didn’t reach the chaotic heights often associated with other teen idols and global pop sensations.

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“It wasn't like the Beatles for me. It wasn't like the Beatles at all,” he explained, noting that while there was fan mail and occasional recognition, “it wasn't like we were chased down.”

"And again, these areLittle Housefans. So they'd what? Storm into the house and offer to churn your butter? This was not like a dangerous fandom," he noted.

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Instead, Labyorteaux remembers having a “really good time” with other young actors who were also featured in the magazines, likeOne Day at a Time's Glen Scarpelli andAll in the Family'sDanielle Brisebois.

“We'd go bowling, or we'd have these events where you'd meet up with the other celebrities,” he recalled. “It was really, really fun.”

What stands out most is his refusal to downplay the joy of that era. “Do not believe those fakers who say, ‘Oh, it wasn't that great.’ Yeah, it was. It was awesome,” he emphasized.

Labyorteaux said he "hates" when people act like the title is "so stupid" and "try to act cool." Instead, for Labyorteaux, being a teen idol isn’t something to outgrow with embarrassment — it is a moment in time he still appreciates to this day, calling it “a blast.”

After making himself known onLittle House on the Prairie, Labyorteaux went on to play Bud Roberts onJAGand three episodes ofNCIS, among other credits.

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