Biography

Hersha Parady (born May 25, 1945, in Berea, Ohio; died August 23, 2023 in Norfolk, Virginia) was an American actress best known for her portrayal of teacher Alice Garvey in the series Little House on the Prairie. She died in 2023 at the age of 78 from complications of a brain tumor. Hersha Parady initially appeared under her birth name, Betty Sandhoff. She began her career in theater and later moved to television. She made her first TV appearance in 1972 on the series Mannix. – She is best known for the role of Alice Garvey, which she played in more than 30 episodes of the popular series Little House on the Prairie starting in 1976. This role made her famous worldwide. Prior to that, she had already made a guest appearance as Charles Ingalls’ sister-in-law in the same series. In addition to Little House on the Prairie, Parady also appeared in various other series and films, including: a guest role on The Waltons (1975), Mannix (1972), The $5.20 an Hour Dream (1980), The Phoenix (1981), Devil’s Temptation (1995), and Kenan & Kel (1997). At the same time, she continued to work in theater, appearing in a touring production of “A Streetcar Named Desire” alongside Jon Voight, among other roles. Parady was married to Oscar-winning producer John Peverall. Together they had a son named Jonathan Peverall. In 2023, it was revealed that Parady had been diagnosed with a brain tumor (meningioma). Despite undergoing surgery, her condition worsened due to pneumonia. In August 2023, she died at her son’s home in Norfolk, Virginia.