# Richard Bull (actor)
**Richard Bull** (Richard William Bull; June 26, 1924 – February 3, 2014) was an American character actor best known for playing Nels Oleson, the patient frontier shopkeeper of the NBC television drama *Little House on the Prairie*, a role he held for the series' entire run from 1974 to 1983.[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/richard-bull) • [2](https://www.the-independent.com/news/obituaries/richard-bull-actor-who-made-his-name-as-the-kindly-shopkeeper-in-the-homely-and-wholesome-little-house-on-the-prairie-9115913.html) Over a career of more than half a century he appeared in dozens of other film and television productions.[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/richard-bull)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born / died | June 26, 1924, Zion, Illinois; February 3, 2014, Calabasas, California, aged 89[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/richard-bull) |
| Signature role | Nels Oleson on *Little House on the Prairie* (1974–1983), appearing in 147 episodes[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/richard-bull) |
| Earlier regular role | The Seaview's doctor on *Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea* (1964–68), 27 episodes[3](https://littlehouseontheprairie.com/about-richard-bull/) |
| Feature films | *The Thomas Crown Affair* (1968), *The Andromeda Strain* (1971), *High Plains Drifter* (1973), *The Parallax View*[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/richard-bull) |
| Marriage | Married actress Barbara Collentine in 1948; they appeared together on stage and screen for 66 years until his death[3](https://littlehouseontheprairie.com/about-richard-bull/) |
| Training | Goodman Theatre drama school, Chicago, while still in high school[2](https://www.the-independent.com/news/obituaries/richard-bull-actor-who-made-his-name-as-the-kindly-shopkeeper-in-the-homely-and-wholesome-little-house-on-the-prairie-9115913.html) |
## Early life and training
Bull was born in [Zion, Illinois](https://www.edgepedia.org/zion-illinois), about 50 miles north of Chicago, and his family later moved to Chicago, where as a self-described "movie nut" he went to the cinema two or three times a week.[3](https://littlehouseontheprairie.com/about-richard-bull/) While still in high school he enrolled at the Goodman Theatre's drama school, and he said he was "hooked" on acting within weeks.[2](https://www.the-independent.com/news/obituaries/richard-bull-actor-who-made-his-name-as-the-kindly-shopkeeper-in-the-homely-and-wholesome-little-house-on-the-prairie-9115913.html) • [3](https://littlehouseontheprairie.com/about-richard-bull/)
His studies were interrupted by service as a radio operator in the Army Air Forces during the Second World War; discharged in 1946, he resumed his studies at the Goodman.[3](https://littlehouseontheprairie.com/about-richard-bull/) There he met the actress Barbara Collentine, whom he married in 1948. After three years working in Chicago and seven in New York, the couple moved to Los Angeles.[3](https://littlehouseontheprairie.com/about-richard-bull/)
## Television and film career
Bull first appeared on screen in 1956 episodes of the medical drama *Medic*, often playing doctors and other authority figures in guest parts.[2](https://www.the-independent.com/news/obituaries/richard-bull-actor-who-made-his-name-as-the-kindly-shopkeeper-in-the-homely-and-wholesome-little-house-on-the-prairie-9115913.html) His first regular role came as the doctor aboard the submarine Seaview in the science-fiction series *Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea*, in which he appeared in 27 episodes between 1964 and 1968.[2](https://www.the-independent.com/news/obituaries/richard-bull-actor-who-made-his-name-as-the-kindly-shopkeeper-in-the-homely-and-wholesome-little-house-on-the-prairie-9115913.html) • [3](https://littlehouseontheprairie.com/about-richard-bull/)
Through the 1950s and 1960s he accumulated guest appearances on series including *Perry Mason*, *The Fugitive*, *The Alfred Hitchcock Hour*, *The Andy Griffith Show*, *Bewitched*, *Peyton Place*, *I Spy*, *Mannix*, *Mission: Impossible*, and *Bonanza*.[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/richard-bull) • [2](https://www.the-independent.com/news/obituaries/richard-bull-actor-who-made-his-name-as-the-kindly-shopkeeper-in-the-homely-and-wholesome-little-house-on-the-prairie-9115913.html) His feature films included *The Thomas Crown Affair* (1968), *The Andromeda Strain* (1971), *Ulzana's Raid*, *[High Plains Drifter](https://www.edgepedia.org/high-plains-drifter)* (1973), *Breezy*, and *The Parallax View*.[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/richard-bull)
## Nels Oleson
Bull was 50 when he took the role that defined his public reputation: Nels Oleson, owner of Oleson's Mercantile in the frontier town of [Walnut Grove, Minnesota](https://www.edgepedia.org/walnut-grove-minnesota), in *Little House on the Prairie*, adapted from [Laura Ingalls Wilder](https://www.edgepedia.org/laura-ingalls-wilder)'s children's books.[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/richard-bull) • [2](https://www.the-independent.com/news/obituaries/richard-bull-actor-who-made-his-name-as-the-kindly-shopkeeper-in-the-homely-and-wholesome-little-house-on-the-prairie-9115913.html) The series starred [Michael Landon](https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-landon) as Charles Ingalls and Melissa Gilbert as his daughter Laura, and ran on NBC from 1974 to 1983.[4](https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/richard-bull-television-character-actor-dies-at-89/2014/02/04/ff0ce00a-8dbe-11e3-95dd-36ff657a4dae_story.html) Bull appeared in 147 episodes.[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/richard-bull)
The character's defining dynamic was domestic: Nels ran the store with his overbearing wife Harriet ([Katherine MacGregor](https://www.edgepedia.org/katherine-macgregor)) and raised their spoiled children Nellie ([Alison Arngrim](https://www.edgepedia.org/alison-arngrim)) and Willie ([Jonathan Gilbert](https://www.edgepedia.org/jonathan-gilbert)), later adopting a daughter, Nancy (Allison Balson).[2](https://www.the-independent.com/news/obituaries/richard-bull-actor-who-made-his-name-as-the-kindly-shopkeeper-in-the-homely-and-wholesome-little-house-on-the-prairie-9115913.html) Bull recalled that Michael Landon told him at the outset that he did not want Oleson to be a stupid character, and Bull agreed; he played Nels as calm and rational, functioning poorly only around his wife.[2](https://www.the-independent.com/news/obituaries/richard-bull-actor-who-made-his-name-as-the-kindly-shopkeeper-in-the-homely-and-wholesome-little-house-on-the-prairie-9115913.html) • [4](https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/richard-bull-television-character-actor-dies-at-89/2014/02/04/ff0ce00a-8dbe-11e3-95dd-36ff657a4dae_story.html) In one storyline Nels left his wife to run a traveling store and fell for a younger woman before the couple were reunited; Bull initially worried the plot might damage the character's standing with viewers, a concern that proved unfounded.[2](https://www.the-independent.com/news/obituaries/richard-bull-actor-who-made-his-name-as-the-kindly-shopkeeper-in-the-homely-and-wholesome-little-house-on-the-prairie-9115913.html) • [4](https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/richard-bull-television-character-actor-dies-at-89/2014/02/04/ff0ce00a-8dbe-11e3-95dd-36ff657a4dae_story.html)
He defended the show against critics who found it too earnest, saying, "I think its idealism is a good antidote to life as we have to live it."[2](https://www.the-independent.com/news/obituaries/richard-bull-actor-who-made-his-name-as-the-kindly-shopkeeper-in-the-homely-and-wholesome-little-house-on-the-prairie-9115913.html) After the series ended he appeared in the three *Little House on the Prairie* reunion television films (1983–84).[2](https://www.the-independent.com/news/obituaries/richard-bull-actor-who-made-his-name-as-the-kindly-shopkeeper-in-the-homely-and-wholesome-little-house-on-the-prairie-9115913.html)
## Later career and life
After *Little House*, Bull continued in television with appearances on *Knots Landing*, *Hill Street Blues*, *Designing Women*, *Highway to Heaven* (reuniting with Landon and [Victor French](https://www.edgepedia.org/victor-french)), and *ER*, and in 2011 he appeared in the [Kelsey Grammer](https://www.edgepedia.org/kelsey-grammer) series *Boss*.[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/richard-bull) • [2](https://www.the-independent.com/news/obituaries/richard-bull-actor-who-made-his-name-as-the-kindly-shopkeeper-in-the-homely-and-wholesome-little-house-on-the-prairie-9115913.html) • [3](https://littlehouseontheprairie.com/about-richard-bull/) He and his wife appeared together in the 2000 film *A Day in a Life*, and he acted in the 2003 [Steppenwolf Theatre Company](https://www.edgepedia.org/steppenwolf-theatre-company) production of *Man from Nebraska* after the couple moved back to Chicago in 1994.[3](https://littlehouseontheprairie.com/about-richard-bull/) On stage he frequently performed with Collentine in works such as James Goldman's *The Lion in Winter*.[4](https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/richard-bull-television-character-actor-dies-at-89/2014/02/04/ff0ce00a-8dbe-11e3-95dd-36ff657a4dae_story.html)
In 2012 the couple returned to California and took up residence at the [Motion Picture & Television Fund](https://www.edgepedia.org/motion-picture-and-television-fund) retirement home.[3](https://littlehouseontheprairie.com/about-richard-bull/) Bull died there on February 3, 2014, of complications from pneumonia, at the age of 89.[4](https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/richard-bull-television-character-actor-dies-at-89/2014/02/04/ff0ce00a-8dbe-11e3-95dd-36ff657a4dae_story.html) • [5](https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/losangeles/news/little-house-star-richard-bull-dies-at-89/) Alison Arngrim, who played his on-screen daughter Nellie and remained a close friend, described him as "calm, sensible and rational," and [Melissa Gilbert](https://www.edgepedia.org/melissa-gilbert) also paid tribute.[6](https://bbc.com.im/news/entertainment-arts-26047247)
## References
1. [Richard Bull, Television Academy](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/richard-bull)
2. [Richard Bull: Actor who made his name as the kindly shopkeeper in Little House on the Prairie, The Independent (2014)](https://www.the-independent.com/news/obituaries/richard-bull-actor-who-made-his-name-as-the-kindly-shopkeeper-in-the-homely-and-wholesome-little-house-on-the-prairie-9115913.html)
3. [About Richard Bull, Little House on the Prairie (official site)](https://littlehouseontheprairie.com/about-richard-bull/)
4. [Richard Bull, television character actor, dies at 89, The Washington Post (2014)](https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/richard-bull-television-character-actor-dies-at-89/2014/02/04/ff0ce00a-8dbe-11e3-95dd-36ff657a4dae_story.html)
5. ['Little House' Star Richard Bull Dies At 89, CBS Los Angeles/AP (2014)](https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/losangeles/news/little-house-star-richard-bull-dies-at-89/)
6. [Little House on the Prairie actor Richard Bull dies at 89, BBC News (2014)](https://bbc.com.im/news/entertainment-arts-26047247)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Film people and crafts › Film actors and performers › Character actors, B-movie and genre-circuit performers › American performers, mid era › Surnames A to J*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 19, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 19, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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