A Beloved Star Bids Farewell

Little House on the Prairie was more than a TV show—it shaped generations and created lasting memories. Now, fans mourn the loss of one of its cherished stars.

Patty Maloney, known for playing Alice Bates, has died at 89.

Confirmed by Family

Her brother, Dave Myrabo, confirmed the sad news to The Hollywood Reporter. Maloney passed away on March 31, while in hospice care in Winter Park, Florida. In recent years, she had suffered multiple strokes.

From Broadway to the Big Screen

Born March 17, 1936, in Perkinsville, New York, Patricia Anne Maloney stood just 3 feet 11 inches tall. Her career began at age 3 on Broadway.

After her father passed when she was seven, Maloney moved with her family to Winter Park. Raised by her mother and stepfather, she soon found her place in entertainment.

A Life in Performance

As a young girl, Maloney performed in traveling shows and carnivals. She even spent a year with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

Later, she attended the University of Florida and trained as a keypunch operator, eventually working for National Airlines in New York.

There, she met and married Joseph Vitek, a Chicago printer. The couple settled in Chicago until Vitek tragically died of melanoma in 1968.

A Return to Acting

After her husband’s death, Maloney returned to entertainment. She worked with the Krofft brothers on Fol-de-Rol and played Honk in Far Out Space Nuts.

In 1978, she portrayed Lumpy, Chewbacca’s son, in the Star Wars Holiday Special. Despite the challenges of the heavy costume, she recalled the role fondly.

“It was a lot of hard work, but also a lot of fun,” she said in a 2008 interview.

Her Lumpy costume, made with real human hair, required helpers to open the mouth so she could breathe through a straw.

Iconic TV and Film Roles

Maloney appeared on Donny & Marie, Charlie’s Angels, The Love Boat, and Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (as robot waitress Tina).
However, fans remember her best as Alice Bates in the ninth season of Little House on the Prairie (1982).

Her film credits include:

• The Lord of the Rings (1978)

• Under the Rainbow (1981)

• The Ice Pirates (1984)

• Ernest Saves Christmas (1988)

She also voiced Darla Hood in the animated Little Rascals.

Challenges in Her Final Years

In 2010, Maloney was diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This eye condition blurred her central vision, making daily life harder.

Remembering Patty

Her brother, Dave, said,

“For a little person growing up in a big world, she did everything she wanted to do.”

Patty Maloney is survived by her brother, brother-in-law Vic, and nieces Jennifer and Laura.

A Lasting Legacy

Patty’s voice, performances, and kind spirit touched many lives. Her dedication to her craft will never be forgotten.

Rest in peace, Patty. Your light lives on.