Hersha Parady's son had to open a fundraiser to support her cancer treatment before she died

Hersha Parady, renowned for her portrayal of Alice Garvey on the beloved TV series Little House on the Prairie, has passed away at the age of 78. On August 23, the actress died due to a brain tumor, as confirmed by her son, Jonathan Peverall, in an interview with TODAY.com.

He wrote:

'This illness has robbed her of her strength, her memory, and sadly, her vibrant personality. She has become largely bedridden, and it is very difficult to see my mom, who was once full of life and energy, now struggling with basic daily activities.'

A special campaign against meningioma

In a GoFundMe campaign that Peverall set up for his mom in July, Jonathan shared that his mother was in her battle against a formidable medical condition, specifically a meningioma. He praised her unwavering strength, stating, 'Even in her struggle, she continued to inspire us with her strength and resilience.'

According to Jill Weinberger, a longtime neighbor and close friend of Parady who also serves as a producer on the TV show NCIS, Parady underwent surgery to partially remove the brain tumor, a procedure that she successfully emerged from. However, her health took a downturn when she contracted pneumonia during her stay at a rehabilitation facility. Following a prolonged period in the intensive care unit, Parady passed away.

A look back at Hersha Parady's career

Born as Betty Sandhoff in 1945 in Berea, Ohio, Parady's journey from regional theater to iconic television roles has been nothing short of remarkable.

Parady graduated from Berea High School in 1963. Despite facing disapproval from her grandparents, she made the bold decision to relocate to Los Angeles in pursuit of her dreams. She decided to adopt the name Hershey, inspired by the chocolate bar, even though she wasn't particularly fond of sweets. However, her agent modified it to Hersha.

Parady's career began to flourish in the 1970s when she set her sights on Hollywood. Her big break came when she landed the role of Stella opposite Jon Voight in a touring production of A Streetcar Named Desire. This early success showcased her acting prowess, propelling her onto the small screen. In 1971, she made her onscreen debut on an episode of Bearcats! and subsequently appeared in series like Mannix and The Waltons, reports Sky News.

Little House on the Prairie: A Legacy

However, it was her introduction to the world of Little House on the Prairie that catapulted her into the hearts of millions. In 1976, Parady made her first appearance on the show during its third season as Eliza Ingalls, the sister-in-law of Michael Landon's Charles Ingalls. Her role as Alice Garvey, which spanned 35 episodes, solidified her place in television history.

One of the most memorable moments of Parady's career came during a two-hour episode of Little House on the Prairie in February 1980. Titled May We Make Them Proud, this installment featured Alice's heroic attempt to rescue children trapped in a fire at the School for the Blind.

Beyond her iconic role, Parady's versatility shone through in her filmography. She graced the silver screen with performances in films like Raw Courage (1984) and The Break (1995).

According to The Hollywood Reporter, she was married to British film producer and director John Peverall, who won the best picture Oscar in 1979 for The Deer Hunter.

In addition to her son, survivors include her siblings, Patty, Kenny and Bobby.

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