Hersha Parady was an actress best known for playing schoolteacher Alice Garvey in the classic TV drama “Little House on the Prairie.”
- Died: August 23, 2023 (Who else died on August 23?)
- Details of death: Died at her son’s home in Norfolk, Virginia, after fighting a brain tumor at the age of 78.
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Hersha Parady’s legacy
Parady joined the cast of “Little House on the Prairie” in 1977 for its fourth season. She played the schoolteacher in Walnut Grove, Minnesota, and the wife of Jonathan Garvey, played by Merlin Olsen (1940–2010). She remained with the series for three seasons, until her character was killed in a two-hours long sweeps week episode as she ran into the burning School for the Blind to save children trapped inside.
Parady’s other TV appearances included “Mannix,” “The Waltons,” “CBS Afternoon Playhouse,” and “Unsolved Mysteries.” She played Principal Dimly in two episodes of “Kenan & Kel.” Parady also made appearances in the movies “Raw Courage” and “The Break,” and she acted on stage.
Parady on filming the fire scene
“Working with the special effects guys and the L.A. fire department was a first for me, and to be surrounded by ‘controlled’ fire and readied fire extinguishers, I was ready to act up a storm. I loved every minute of it.” —from an interview for Little House on the Prairie Memories
Tributes to Hersha Parady
Full obituary: The Hollywood Reporter
