LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE Actress Hersha Parady Dies at 78
By Movieguide® Contributor
LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE star Hersha Parady has died at the age of 78.
Parady, known for playing Alive Garvey on the popular show, died from a brain tumor last week. She is survived by her son, Jonathan Peverall, and her three grandchildren.
Peverall had been keeping fans updated on Parady’s condition on a GoFundMe page, where he was raising money to improve her “quality of life” and get her the help and support she needed.
“This illness has robbed her of her strength, her memory, and sadly, her vibrant personality,” he wrote. “She has become largely bedridden, and it is very difficult to see my mom, who was once full of life and energy, now struggling with basic daily activities.”
LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE released a statement about Parady’s death via Instagram, writing, “Her incredible range as an actress truly shone through in her portrayal of Alice, and we will always remember the depth and heart she brought to the role. Our hearts go out to her family, friends, and fans during this difficult time. Rest in peace, Hersha Parady. You will be deeply missed.”
A friend remembered Parady as a “dedicated, selfless, driven and a remarkable friend” with a “passion for theater.”
“We will all miss her terribly,” the friend continued. “Rest in peace, lovely Hershey. We are all the richer, having known you.”
Melissa Gilbert, who played Laura Ingalls on LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, recently shared that the cast saw each other as family.
“We were together for so long, and it was an intense experience,” she explained. “We were a family there.”
Movieguide® previously reported on how Gilbert’s time on LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE instilled a love of nature in her:
LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE star Melissa Gilbert shared details about her new book, “Back to the Prairie” and her appreciation for a simpler life.
The actress and her husband, actor and director Timothy Busfield, made a home in the Catskills, leaving Hollywood behind and embracing nature.
“I grew up on a set that was a farm,” Gilbert laughed. “I got to play it out quite a bit and then go to our nice home in Encino at the end of the cul-de-sac with all of our modern conveniences. But I’ve always loved being in the outdoors. I’ve always loved being around animals. I think this was who I always was at my core. I just happened to grow up in urban cities.
“Once we got up here, once we got our land and started to look at all the things we could do with it, and then when lockdown happened, it unleashed all of this stuff inside me,” she continued. “There was a person who was dying to have this [new life]. I still can’t believe this is what my life is like now. It’s heaven. I’m just so blessed.”
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