“Beloved ‘Little House on the Prairie’ Star Patty Maloney Passes Away at 89”

Patty Maloney, celebrated for her portrayal in Little House on the Prairie, has passed away. She was 89 years old.

Her sibling Dave Myrabo confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that Maloney’s death occurred Monday, March 31. The actress had been receiving hospice care in Winter Park, Florida, following multiple strokes in recent years.

“Despite her stature in a world designed for taller people, she conquered every ambition,” Myrabo reflected.

Health challenges began for Maloney in 2010 with an age-related macular degeneration diagnosis, as reported by Men’s Journal. This eye condition damages central vision control by affecting the macula’s function, according to the National Eye Institute.

Beyond her work on Little House on the Prairie, Maloney left memorable marks portraying Lumpy (Chewbacca’s son) in the Star Wars Holiday Special and voiceless alien Honk in Sid & Marty Krofft’s Far Out Space Nuts.

Television historian Hal Erickson noted in his 2007 book Sid and Marty Krofft: A Critical Study: “Through dance and pantomime mastery, she expressed complex emotions for Honk despite obscured facial features and no spoken lines.”

Her career spanned diverse mediums, including TV films like Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark and features such as Ernest Saves Christmas and Goldie Hawn’s Swing Shift.

Maloney’s television appearances ranged from Charlie’s Angels to modern comedies like My Name Is Earl, with a notable stint showcasing her singing in The Brady Bunch Variety Hour.

Before entering show business, Maloney toured with circus troupes including Ringling Bros. She left carnival life upon marrying Joseph Vitek in 1961, only returning to entertainment after his 1968 passing.

Her post-widowhood career revival began with puppetry work in Fol-de-Pol (1972), adapting the Krofft brothers’ live puppet showcase for film.

Maloney is survived by brother Dave Myrabo, nieces Jennifer and Laura, and brother-in-law Vic.