Patty Maloney, the actress fondly remembered for her role on Little House on the Prairie, has passed away at the age of 89.
Her brother, Dave Myrabo, confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that Maloney died on Monday, March 31. She had been receiving hospice care in Winter Park, Florida, following a series of strokes over the past several years.
Patricia Anne Maloney, born on March 17, 1936, in Perkinsville, New York, was an American actress renowned for her diverse roles across television and film. Standing at 3 feet 11 inches (119 cm), Maloney began her entertainment journey at the tender age of three on Broadway. At seven, following her father’s passing, she relocated with her family to Winter Park, Florida, where she was raised by her mother and stepfather.
During her youth, Maloney showcased her talents with various traveling shows, spending summers performing with carnivals and a year with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. She pursued education at the University of Florida, becoming a keypunch operator, and later worked for National Airlines in New York. It was there she met her future husband, Joseph Vitek, a printer from Chicago. The couple married in 1961 and settled in Chicago until Vitek’s untimely death from melanoma in 1968.
Following her husband’s passing, Maloney returned to the entertainment industry, collaborating with the Krofft brothers on their puppet show, “Fol-de-Rol.” She gained prominence for her portrayal of Honk on “Far Out Space Nuts” and endeared herself to audiences as Lumpy, Chewbacca’s son, in the 1978 “Star Wars Holiday Special.” Additionally, she voiced Darla Hood in the animated adaptation of “The Little Rascals.”
Maloney’s television appearances were extensive, including roles on “Donny & Marie,” “Charlie’s Angels,” “The Love Boat,” and “Buck Rogers in the 25th Century,” where she portrayed the robot waitress Tina. In 1982, she guest-starred as Alice Bates on “Little House on the Prairie.” Her film credits encompass “The Lord of the Rings” (1978), “Under the Rainbow” (1981), “The Ice Pirates” (1984), and “Ernest Saves Christmas” (1988).
In 2010, Maloney was diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration, impacting her central vision.