Little House on the Prairie is still one of the most iconic television shows of all time, and among its most unforgettable characters was Nellie Oleson, played with over-the-top villainy by Alison Arngrim. For seven seasons, Arngrim brought Laura Ingalls’ rival to life, earning both laughs and boos from viewers who loved to hate her. But by the early 1980s, Arngrim quietly left the series, feeling she had outgrown the role that made her famous and was ready to move away from the character and the show.