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It's no secret that Michael Landon had a major hand in running Little House on the Prairie. The series wouldn't have been the same without him, both in front of and behind the camera. But even while working on Little House, Landon had other projects brewing. One such venture was a Western drama series he proposed to NBC in the early 1980s. Titled Father Murphy, this show got its start because of the network's previous partnership with Landon on Little House, though the actor wasn't the star of the show this time around. No, that honor went to Merlin Olsen, a former NFL defensive tackle-turned-actor who had played Jonathan Garvey for four seasons on Little House.

Little House on the Prairie featured legendary actors in guest and main roles, leaving impressive legacies in the industry. Notable stars like Jason Bateman, Melora Hardin, and Jonathan Banks appeared on the beloved family Western show. The cast members who have passed away, such as Michael Landon and Katherine MacGregor, left lasting impacts on the TV industry.

The Little House on the Prairie cast who have died in real life include some legendary and prolific actors whose filmographies comprise decades of work. The classic Western historical drama premiered on NBC in 1974 and lasted for nine seasons and three TV movie specials that premiered afterward, all following the Ingalls family who live on a farm in Minnesota in the 1870s-90s. Based on the novels by Laura Ingalls Wilder, Little House on the Prairie famously featured a large ensemble cast of recurring characters as well as a guest list of notable stars.

Hersha Parady, known for her role as Alice Garvey on NBC‘s Little House on the Prairie, has died at the age of 78. She passed away on August 23 in her son Jonathan Peverall’s home in Norfolk, Virginia, according to Peverall. The actress suffered from a brain tumor, and her son set up a GoFundMe account in order to help pay the expenses. Parady and former NFL star Merlin Olsen were introduced in Season 4 of the series as husband and wife Alice and Jonathan Garvey in September 1977. She took on the role for 35 episodes. Her Walnut Grove schoolteacher character was tragically killed during a Season 6 episode, “May We Make Them Proud,” a two-hour episode, which saw Alice race to save some children inside a burning school for the blind, including Mary and Adam’s (Melissa Sue Anderson & Linwood Boomer) infant son. Alice finds the baby and tries to escape through an upstairs bedroom window,...

Hersha Parady, who played schoolteacher Alice Garvey on the beloved show “Little House on the Prairie,” has died after a long struggle with a brain tumor. She was 78.

The actress’ death was first confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter by her son, Jonathan Peverall, who did not immediately respond to messages sent Thursday. Peverall had started a GoFundMe page to help with her medical expenses.

“Hersha, who has always been an active and outgoing woman, is battling a tough medical condition – a brain tumor known as meningioma,” he wrote in July.”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.”

Parady played Walnut Grove schoolteacher Mrs. Garvey from 1977-1980, and the Garveys (Merlin Olsen played Jonathan Garvey...

Hersha Parady, whose three-season run as Walnut Grove schoolteacher Alice Garvey on Little House on the Prairie came to an unforgettable, dark end for fans of the beloved NBC drama, has died. She was 78.

Parady died Wednesday in the Norfolk, Virginia, home of her son, Jonathan Peverall, he told The Hollywood Reporter. She had been dealing with a brain tumor, and he had set up a GoFundMe page to help with expenses.

Parady and former NFL star Merlin Olsen were introduced as wife and husband Alice and Jonathan Garvey on the Michael Landon-created Little House on the Prairie during the season-four opening episode, “Castoffs,” in September 1977.

On the sixth-season installment “May We Make Them Proud,” which aired as a two-hour episode during a sweeps ratings period in February 1980, Alice races into the School for the Blind, which has caught fire, to save some children inside, including Mary and Adam’s (Melissa Sue Anderson,...