Before she took on the role of Miss Beadle in *Little House on the Prairie*, Charlotte Stewart was quite the free spirit. She spent unforgettable days and nights alongside the legendary Jim Morrison.
Now, at 84, the actress reminisces about those early years, especially her time with the Doors lead singer. They first crossed paths when Stewart owned a quirky clothing shop named Liquid Butterfly, situated right across from Elektra Records, where she crafted unique cowboy shirts and peasant dresses.
It all began when Morrison noticed her peering into the store. They quickly became friends.
“We hung out quite a bit,” she shared. “He drank a lot and would often drive me home. He trusted me enough to ask me to drive him in return.” She clarified that she didn’t seek a romantic relationship; all she wanted was friendship. “We drank the same way back then, I suppose,” she added with a hint of nostalgia.
Things took a turn in 1969 when the Dade County Sheriff’s Office issued an arrest warrant for Morrison. He faced serious charges from a concert in Miami, which included lewd conduct and intoxication.
Initially, when those charges came up, it seemed more like a joke to him, but they soon became very real as the situation escalated.
When Morrison returned to California, he reached out to Stewart for assistance.
“This was serious,” Stewart remarked. “He was facing a trial, and he needed to leave town. When he asked if I wanted to go with him, I jumped at the chance.” They hit the road along Highway 1, making their way up the Pacific coast, stopping at bars and motels along the journey.
Stewart reflected on those four days of travel. “He had faith in me during one of my lowest points,” she admitted. “There he was, expecting a long prison sentence, and he still chose to stick by me.”
They filmed their adventure on Super 8, although much of it was mundane — just long stretches of road with the ocean beside them. “We went to Hearst Castle, where I even captured photos of him munching on hot dogs,” she recalled, chuckling. It’s amusing because at that moment, most people had no idea who he really was, especially since he looked quite disheveled.
Eventually, they needed to return to Los Angeles. “He drove me to the store and that was it; I never saw him again,” she said, a hint of sadness in her voice.
The trial commenced in 1970, where Morrison turned down a plea bargain that would have given the Doors a complimentary concert in Miami. He ended up with a conviction and a six-month prison sentence, along with a fine.
Tragically, Morrison didn’t live long to face the consequences. He passed away in Paris in 1971 at just 27. While no autopsy was performed, authorities cited heart failure as the cause of death.
In 2010, he received a posthumous pardon.
“I’ll forever treasure the fact that he believed in me during such a tough time,” Stewart reflected. “He knew the gravity of going back to Florida to face the trial, and then he was gone.” Her tone shifted, as she recalled learning about his death while in a recording studio. “We didn’t have cell phones back then, so the news just swept through. I left and cried on the stairs.”
She added, “Maybe it sounds strange, but I wasn’t surprised he drank himself to death. He was only 27, and I was 33 at the time.” Stewart always insisted their bond was platonic. “I think what mattered was that he knew I wanted nothing from him but friendship.” A bit of laughter escaped her as she dubbed their dynamic a friendship with perks.
In 1973, she auditioned for a role that she assumed would be in a Western. Arriving in jeans and a tie-dyed t-shirt, she felt out of place among actresses donned in traditional attire. “I thought, ‘Oh boy, I messed up here,’” she chuckled.
Stewart read in front of a panel of men, one of whom was Michael Landon. At one point, she boldly asked if she could sit at the desk. The men exchanged puzzled looks as she took charge, slapping her hand down like a teacher would and demanding silence. “I think that freaked them out enough they gave me the part,” she laughed. “If I could command a room full of guys, surely I could handle kids!”
She felt right away that this was a significant turning point for her career. “I knew I was part of something special with *Little House*,” she expressed.
Stewart held deep respect for Landon’s dedication. “He treated all the kids wonderfully. He faced his own struggles but remained committed to us.” She admired how he would often draft scripts right on set, emphasizing how passionate he was about the show. “I feel really fortunate to have collaborated with such talented colleagues,” she concluded, a glint of gratitude in her eyes.
