Dakota Brinkman is the oldest son of actress Melissa Gilbert and filmmaker Bo Brinkman. He was born on May 1, 1989, and followed his parents into acting when he was young.
Dakota appeared in Laws of Deception, Safe Harbour, and the short film Shay. He later worked as a writer outside Hollywood. He is married to Marissa Brinkman, and they have a daughter named Ripley Lou Brinkman.
Dakota Paul Brinkman’s Profile Summary
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Dakota Paul Brinkman |
| Date of birth | May 1, 1989 |
| Age | 37 years old in 2026 |
| Birthplace | New York City, New York, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Actor and writer |
| Mother | Melissa Gilbert |
| Father | Bo Brinkman |
| Half-brother | Michael Boxleitner |
| Wife | Marissa Brinkman |
| Daughter | Ripley Lou Brinkman |
| Known for | Being Melissa Gilbert’s oldest son |
| Net worth | Not reliably known |
Early Life
Dakota Paul Brinkman was born on May 1, 1989, in New York City.
He grew up in a family closely connected to film and television. His mother, Melissa Gilbert, was already a successful actress, while his father, Bo Brinkman, worked as an actor, writer, director, and producer.
His parents separated when Dakota was young and later divorced.
Dakota generally grew up away from constant media attention, although he sometimes attended entertainment events with his mother.
Who Is Melissa Gilbert?
Melissa Gilbert is an American actress best known for playing Laura Ingalls Wilder in the television series Little House on the Prairie.
She began acting as a child and appeared in commercials before getting her famous role on the series.
Her other projects include The Miracle Worker, Sylvester, Sweet Justice, The Diary of Anne Frank, and Dancing with the Stars.
Melissa also served as president of the Screen Actors Guild from 2001 to 2005.
Dakota is her first child.
His Father: Bo Brinkman
Dakota’s biological father is Bo Brinkman, an American actor and filmmaker.
Bo has worked as an actor, writer, producer, and director. His credits include Gettysburg, Gods and Generals, The Last Mark, and Last Man Club.
Melissa Gilbert and Bo married in 1988. They divorced in 1992, when Dakota was still a young child.
Melissa later married actor Bruce Boxleitner and then actor and director Timothy Busfield.
His Brother Michael Boxleitner
Dakota Brinkman has a younger maternal half-brother named Michael Boxleitner.
Michael was born on October 6, 1995, to Melissa Gilbert and her second husband, Bruce Boxleitner.
Melissa named Michael after her Little House on the Prairie costar Michael Landon.
Michael has also worked as an actor and appeared in theatrical productions and television.
Education
Dakota Brinkman’s education has not been publicly documented in reliable sources.
There is no confirmed information about the schools or college he attended or whether he earned a degree.
Dakota Brinkman’s Acting Career
Dakota followed his parents into acting but built a much smaller screen career.
He has three widely documented acting credits: Laws of Deception, Safe Harbour, and Shay.
His acting work covers a long period, but he did not regularly appear in films or television.
Laws of Deception
Dakota’s first known acting credit came in Laws of Deception in 1997.
He played Young Evan.
Dakota Brinkman was still a child at the time. His father, Bo Brinkman, also appeared in the movie.
Safe Harbour
Dakota later appeared in Safe Harbour.
He played Chad MacKenzie, the son of the character played by his mother, Melissa Gilbert.
His character appeared through flashbacks and photographs.
The project gave Dakota an opportunity to work on screen with his mother.
Shay
Dakota returned to acting in the 2016 short film Shay.
He played a character named James Schenker.
This is his most recent widely documented acting credit.
There are no confirmed later film or television roles listed for him.
His Work Outside Acting
Dakota Brinkman later worked outside the film industry.
According to information reported from his LinkedIn profile, he worked as a lead writer for Nights at the Game Table from 2019 to 2020.
Nights at the Game Table produces content connected with tabletop gaming.
His current profession in 2026 has not been clearly confirmed.
Dakota Brinkman’s Wife
Dakota is married to Marissa Brinkman.
The couple were together for several years before becoming engaged. Dakota proposed to Marissa on Christmas Day in 2016.
Melissa Gilbert publicly celebrated their engagement on social media.
Secondary sources report that Dakota and Marissa married on March 25, 2018, at Star Hill Ranch in Bee Cave, Texas.
They have generally kept their marriage outside the public spotlight.
His Daughter Ripley Lou
Dakota Brinkman and Marissa have one publicly known child, a daughter named Ripley Lou Brinkman.
Ripley was born on June 8, 2021.
Her birth made Melissa Gilbert a grandmother for the first time.
Melissa later shared photos of her granddaughter and expressed her happiness about becoming a grandmother.
There are no reports of Dakota and Marissa having other children.
His Relationship With Melissa Gilbert
Dakota Brinkman appears to have maintained a close relationship with his mother.
For his birthday in 2020, Melissa shared childhood and family photos of Dakota.
She described her firstborn as compassionate, funny, loving, kind, and loyal and said she was proud of the man he had become.
Melissa has also shared important moments from Dakota’s adult life, including his engagement and the birth of Ripley.
Public Appearances
Dakota made several public appearances with Melissa when he was younger.
He attended the 8th Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles in 2002.
He was also photographed with his mother and brother Michael at the premiere of The Powerpuff Girls Movie.
Dakota has made fewer public appearances as an adult and generally stays away from celebrity events.
Social Media
Dakota does not have a large public social media presence.
Some information about his life has instead come from posts previously shared by Melissa Gilbert.
His limited public presence is one reason relatively little is known about his daily life and current work.
Where Is Dakota Brinkman Now?
Dakota Brinkman has kept a low profile in recent years.
His last widely documented acting role was Shay in 2016. He later worked as a lead writer for Nights at the Game Table from 2019 to 2020.
There is no reliable public information confirming his current job in 2026.
He is married to Marissa and is the father of Ripley Lou.
Dakota Brinkman’s Net Worth
Dakota Brinkman’s personal net worth is not reliably known.
Some celebrity biography websites estimate his wealth at around $500,000, but there is no dependable financial evidence supporting that figure.
His income, property, investments, and current earnings have not been publicly disclosed.
Facts About Dakota Brinkman
- His full name is Dakota Paul Brinkman.
- He was born on May 1, 1989.
- He is Melissa Gilbert’s oldest son.
- His father is filmmaker Bo Brinkman.
- His younger half-brother is Michael Boxleitner.
- He began acting as a child.
- His first known acting role was in Laws of Deception.
- He appeared with Melissa Gilbert in Safe Harbour.
- His most recent known acting credit is Shay from 2016.
- He later worked as a lead writer for Nights at the Game Table.
- He became engaged to Marissa on Christmas Day in 2016.
- Dakota and Marissa are married.
- They have a daughter named Ripley Lou Brinkman.
- Ripley was born on June 8, 2021.
- His current job and personal net worth are not reliably known.
- He now keeps most of his personal life outside the public spotlight.
More Like This: Erin Angle: Career, Family, Children, and Jon Bernthal’s Wife
