Hersha Parady, an actress best known for her role as Alice Garvey on the popular TV series Little House on the Prairie, passed away on Wednesday, August 23, 2023, at the age of 78. She died in Norfolk, Virginia, following a surgery for a brain tumor that was diagnosed in July.
Parady played Alice Garvey, a schoolteacher and a friend of the Ingalls family, on Little House on the Prairie from 1976 to 1980. Her character met a tragic end in a fire that also claimed the life of Mary and Adam’s baby son in a memorable two-hour episode.
Parady was born Betty Sandhoff on May 25, 1945, in Berea, Ohio. She started acting at a young age and performed at the Cleveland Play House and in regional theater. She moved to Los Angeles and landed roles in TV shows such as Bearcats!, Mannix, and The Waltons. She also starred opposite Jon Voight in a road production of A Streetcar Named Desire.
Parady’s son, Jonathan Peverall, confirmed her death to The Hollywood Reporter and Today.com. He also created a GoFundMe page to raise funds for his mother’s medical expenses and care. He wrote that his mother was suffering from meningioma, a tumor that originates from the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. He said that the illness had robbed her of her strength, memory, and personality.
Parady is survived by her son, daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren.
