‘Little House On The Prairie’ Actress Passed Away At 89
Patty Maloney, beloved actress known for her role on Little House on the Prairie, passed away on March 31 at the age of 89. Her brother, Dave Myrabo, confirmed she died in hospice care in Winter Park, Florida, after suffering multiple strokes in recent years.
Born on March 17, 1936, in Perkinsville, New York, Maloney began performing on Broadway at age 3. After her father’s death, she moved to Florida, where she was raised by her mother and stepfather. Throughout her youth, she performed in traveling shows and even worked with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
She later studied at the University of Florida and worked as a keypunch operator for National Airlines, where she met her husband, Joseph Vitek. They married in 1961 and lived in Chicago until his death in 1968.
Maloney returned to entertainment, working with the Krofft brothers and appearing in various TV shows, including Far Out Space Nuts, the Star Wars Holiday Special (as Chewbacca’s son, Lumpy), Buck Rogers, and Little House on the Prairie. She also voiced Darla Hood in the animated Little Rascals and had roles in films like Under the Rainbow and Ernest Saves Christmas.
In 2010, she was diagnosed with macular degeneration, affecting her central vision. Despite health challenges, she remained a cherished figure in television and film.
