Gilbert to Seek Second Term as SAG President

Actress Melissa Gilbert plans to run for reelection in November as president of the Screen Actors Guild, joined by actor James Cromwell as a candidate for secretary-treasurer.

Wednesday’s announcement came after a Gilbert-backed plan to fold SAG into a new super union along with the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists narrowly failed, despite receiving 58% approval from SAG members. The plan needed 60% to pass.

Gilbert, who gained fame starring as a child actress in the 1970s series “Little House on the Prairie,” was elected president of the union last year in a bitter battle with former “Rhoda” star Valerie Harper. Harper represented a more activist wing of the union. Gilbert had to win the election twice because the initial vote in late 2001 was overturned on technicalities.

Cromwell is a director of SAG and has been a strong Gilbert supporter. He was nominated for a best supporting actor Oscar for playing farmer Arthur Hoggett in “Babe.” Cromwell’s recent credits include the film “The Sum of All Fears” and the HBO series “Six Feet Under.”

The officers serve two-year terms. The secretary-treasurer post merges what had been two separate jobs.

The names of Gilbert and Cromwell were submitted by the union’s national nominating committee. Opposition candidates have until July 24 to submit petitions to the union to run.