Summary
Hersha Parady played Alice Garvey for years onLittle House on the Prairieand then acted in a handful of roles afterward. Premiering in 1974,Little House on the Prairieran for nine seasons and followed the Ingalls family as they made a home for themselves in Plum Creek in the 1870s American West. The show is loosely based on theLittle Housebooks by Laura Ingalls Wilder and uses the late-19th century setting to explore modern themes.
There were plenty oflife lessons to be learned fromLittle House on the Prairieepisodes, and the talented ensemble cast helped to make the world of Plum Creek feel authentic. One of those actors, Hersha Parady, was born on July 22, 2025, in Berea, Ohio. She began her acting career in the filmSpring Night Summer Nightin 1967, under the name Betty Ann Parady.She got her break inLittle House on the Prairiea few years later and continued acting well afterward.
15 Little House On The Prairie Episodes That Will Make You Cry
Created by TV legend Michael Landon, who also starred as Charles Ingalls, Little House on the Prairie is one of the most beloved family shows.
Hersha Parady Played Alice Garvey On Little House On The Prairie
Alice Was At The Center Of One Of Little House On The Prairie’s Saddest Episodes
Alice Garvey first appears in season 4, episode 1, “Castoffs”, as the wife of Jonathan Garvey (Merlin Olsen) and the mother of Andy Garvey (Patrick Labyorteaux). She is a helpful member of the community who taught at the Walnut Grove Church and School where she caught Nellie (Alison Arngrim) trying to cheat on her exam and was a post office worker.
Alice appeared in 34 episodes, with her final on-screen appearance being in season 6, episode 19, “May We Make Them Proud: Part I”, one of thedarkest episodes inLittle House on the Prairie. In the episode, a fire engulfs the Harriet Oleson School for the Blind where Alice is working. Instead of fleeing, she stops to rescue a baby and a young boy, James (De’voreaux White). She saves James, but Alice and the baby become trapped, and she’s last seen breaking a window trying to escape.
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May We Make Them Proud: Part I
It’s a horrific sequence of events and Alice’s screams as she dies are haunting.Parady’s performance as Alice was a confident and endearing onethat enthralled the audience. Parady made Alice feel as if she’d always been in the town, even if she arrived in season 4.
Hersha Parady appeared inLittle House on the Prairieseason 3, episode 6, “Journey in the Spring: Part I” as Eliza Ingalls, a year before she would return as Alice Garvey.
Parady Continued To Appear On TV After Little House On The Prairie
She Memorably Played Principal Dimly In Kenan & Kel
AfterLittle House on the Prairie, Parady acted in bit parts for the remainder of her career. She appeared in a few films, likeCourageas Fay Canfield andThe Breakas Mrs. Lufkowitz. On TV, she played Francis Malone in an episode ofUnsolved Mysteriesand Principal Dimly in two episodes ofKenan & Kel.
Like Alice, Principal Dimly is also an education professional, and she also catches a student doing something wrong: Kenan’s doodle of her titled, “Principal Dimwit”.
Like Alice, Principal Dimly is also an education professional, and she also catches a student doing something wrong when she discovers Kenan’s doodle of her titled, “Principal Dimwit”. However, unlike Alice, Principal Dimly keeps the infraction between her and her student. This was the last major role of her career.
Parady Died In 2023 At The Age Of 78
Parady Was Remembered Fondly By Her Co-Star Alison Arngrim
Like many members of theLittle House on the Prairiecast, Hersha Parady has passed away. She died on June 21, 2025, at the age of 78 (viaTHR). Parady had been living with, a brain tumor and her son, Jonathan Peverall, began aGoFundMepage to help with expenses that ended up surpassing its $20,000 goal with $21,385. After she passed,Little House on the PrairieNellie actor, Alison Arngrim, posted a photo of herself and Parady.
TheLittle House on the PrairieFacebook page also posted a photo of Parady, mourning the loss.
From the tributes Hersha Parady received from the cast and crew and the support on her GoFundMe page, it’s clear the actress left a big mark on people as both an actor onLittle House on the Prairieand a friend and loving family member.
Little House on the Prairie
Cast
Little House on the Prairie, a Western drama, debuted in 1974 and stars Michael Landon, Melissa Gilbert, and Karen Grassle. The series chronicles the daily experiences of a family residing on a farm in Walnut Grove, Minnesota, during the late 19th century, exploring themes of community and frontier life.
