‘Little House on the Prairie’ Actress Patty Maloney Passes Away at 89
Patty Maloney, Little House on the Prairie star, dies at 89
More than just a television program, Little House on the Prairie was a tale that impacted generations and left a lasting legacy.
We now learn the devastating news that one of the beloved actors from the show has passed away.
Patty Maloney, who was adored for playing Alice Bates, died at the age of 89.
When she was seven years old, her father died.
Although an icon is no longer with us, her legacy will endure in our hearts. The adored actress Patty Maloney, who was most famous for her part in Little House on the Prairie, died at the age of 89.
The Hollywood Reporter was informed by her brother, Dave Myrabo, that Maloney had died on Monday, March 31. After battling many strokes in recent years, she was in hospice care in Winter Park, Florida.
Born in Perkinsville, New York, on March 17, 1936, Patricia Anne Maloney rose to fame in a variety of television and movie roles.
Maloney, who is just 3 feet 11 inches (119 cm) tall, had her Broadway debut at the tender age of three, marking the beginning of her career in entertainment. She was reared by her mother and stepfather in Winter Park, Florida, after her father passed away when she was seven years old.
During her childhood, Maloney performed in a number of touring shows, including a year with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and summers with carnivals. After receiving keypunch operator training at the University of Florida, she went on to work for National Airlines in New York.
Within her oversized costume
She married Chicago printer Joseph Vitek in 1961 after meeting him there. Before Vitek sadly died of melanoma in 1968, the couple made their home in Chicago.
Maloney returned to the entertainment business after her husband passed away, collaborating with the Krofft brothers on their puppet show Fol-de-Rol.
She won hearts as Lumpy, Chewbacca’s offspring, in the 1978 Star Wars Holiday Special and became well-known for her role as Honk on Far Out Space Nuts.
Maloney looked back on her role with fondness in an interview with Scott Kirkwood in 2008, which marked the special’s 39th anniversary:
In addition to being a lot of labor, it was also a lot of fun. Being a part of all the other characters was fantastic as well.
She also revealed some intriguing information regarding her Lumpy outfit, including the fact that it was created from actual human hair:
It was just incredibly warm—very, very warm—but not particularly uncomfortable. Because the mouth had to be shut most of the time, there wasn’t much room to actually breathe.
I can recall a few instances where I had to flee from the basement while being pursued, up the tree’s steps, and into my chamber. To allow me to breathe and get some clean, pure oxygen, they had a person waiting there who would open my mouth and insert a straw.
Little House by Alice Bates
She appeared on Donny & Marie, Charlie’s Angels, The Love Boat, and Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, where she portrayed the robot waitress Tina, among other television series. Maloney’s portrayal of Alice Bates in the ninth and last season of the historical drama in 1982, however, is what many people will remember most positively.
Ernest Saves Christmas (1988), The Lord of the Rings (1978), Under the Rainbow (1981), and The Ice Pirates (1984) were among her cinematic credits. In the animated adaptation of The Little Rascals, Maloney also provided the voice of Darla Hood.
According to her brother Dave Myrabo, “she did everything she wanted to do for a little person growing up in a big world.”
When Patty Maloney was diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in 2010, her health started to deteriorate.
According to the National Eye Institute, aging-related damage to the macula, the area of the eye that provides sharp, central vision, results in this disorder. Because of this, people with AMD have hazy central vision, which makes it extremely difficult to do daily tasks that call for sharp vision.
Maloney’s nieces Jennifer and Laura, as well as her brother and brother-in-law Vic, survive her.
Those who appreciated Patty Maloney’s work will always cherish her voice and her remarkable performances.
She left a lasting impact via her skill, generosity, and commitment to her work. We shall never forget you, Patty. Rest in peace.
