Patrick Labyorteaux, best known for his role as Andrew Garvey on Little House on the Prairie, has opened up about a tragic on-set incident during his time on The Love Boat. The 60-year-old former child actor described the event as one of the worst experiences of his career.
A Harrowing Memory
Labyorteaux appeared in two episodes of the classic comedy-drama series, which aired from 1977 to 1986. He was 13 when he played Bobby Trymon in 1979 and 16 when he returned as Todd Andrews in 1981. Recalling the latter episode on his podcast, The Patrick LabyorSheaux, he admitted it was a deeply troubling experience.
He remembered being fascinated by the rear projection techniques used during filming. However, his curiosity turned to horror when he witnessed a crew member operating the equipment suddenly collapse. “I was watching the guy who was doing this rear projection unit and then he acts like he’s electrocuted, falls down, and acts like he’s dead. Well, it wasn’t an act,” Labyorteaux said. “Sadly, tragically, he was truly electrocuted. I watched this man get electrocuted, have a heart attack.”
After rushing to get help, he was initially told the man was fine, but later learned he had passed away. “It is the worst experience that I’ve had on a set,” Labyorteaux stated.
Reflecting on the Performance
Looking back at his performance in the episode, Labyorteaux was self-critical, saying he felt “horrible” about his acting and dancing. “On top of the fact that my acting was so horrible, I was an absolute worst dancer. As we’ve discussed, I can’t dance. And here is physical proof,” he added.
Career Highlights
Despite this traumatic event, Labyorteaux went on to have a successful career. He is best known for playing Andrew “Andy” Garvey on Little House on the Prairie from 1977 to 1981. He later appeared in single-episode roles on shows like 21 Jump Street, Hope & Gloria, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Living Single, and Yes, Dear. From 1995 to 2005, he starred as Bud Roberts Jr. on the military drama JAG.
In recent years, Labyorteaux has appeared in Castle, For All Mankind, and NCIS. His latest credits include the 2025 slasher film The Jolly Monkey and the 2026 apocalyptic drama Ice-Pocalypse.
