Hersha Parady, who played Alice Garvey on 'Little House on the Prairie,' dies at 78

Actress Hersha Parady, best known for her role as Alice Garvey on "Little House on the Prairie," has died. She was 78.

Parady died Wednesday in Norfolk, Virginia, following her battle with a brain tumor, Parady's son Jonathan Peverall confirmed to USA TODAY in an email Friday.

Peverall previously opened up about Parady's medical condition on a GoFundMe page he created to raise funds for the actress’s care. He said his mother was suffering from meningioma, a tumor that originates from the meninges, the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord.

Meningioma is the "most common type of tumor that forms in the head," according to Mayo Clinic.

"This illness has robbed her of her strength, her memory, and sadly, her vibrant personality," Peverall wrote at the time. "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."

Born in May 1945, Parady made her foray into television in the early '70s with a guest role on the action-adventure series "Bearcats!" in 1971, according to the actress's IMDb page. She followed up her showbiz debut with appearances on the series "Mannix," "The Waltons" and "The Quest."

Parady became a household name on TV when she landed the role of Alice Garvey on the family drama "Little House on the Prairie." Co-starring alongside Melissa Gilbert, Michael Landon and Karen Grassle, Parady appeared on the Emmy-winning show from 1976-1980.

Following her four-year stint on "Little House," Parady set her sights on feature film stardom in the '80s and '90s with roles in the 1984 thriller "Courage," the 1986 sci-fi flick "Hyper Sapien: People from Another Star," the 1995 sports drama "The Break" and the 1996 TV movie “The Babysitter’s Seduction.”

Parady's last recorded role was in the 2015 comedy short "Product," per IMDb.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hersha Parady dead: 'Little House on the Prairie' star was 78