Patty Maloney, the versatile actress best known for her roles on “Little House on the Prairie” and as Chewbacca’s son Lumpy in the infamous “Star Wars Holiday Special,” has died at age 89.
Her brother, Dave Myrabo, confirmed that Maloney passed away on Monday, March 31, while in hospice care in Winter Park, Florida, after experiencing several strokes over the years.
“For a little person growing up in a big world, she did everything she wanted to do,” Myrabo told The Hollywood Reporter.
Standing at 3 feet 11 inches tall, Maloney built an impressive four-decade career in entertainment that spanned television, film, and voice acting. Her perseverance and talent allowed her to overcome significant barriers in an industry that often presented limited opportunities for little people.
Before her Hollywood breakthrough, Maloney worked with carnivals and the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus until she married Joseph Vitek in 1961. This early performance experience provided the foundation for her later success in front of the camera.
Following Vitek’s death in 1968, Maloney returned to the entertainment industry, initially working as a puppeteer in “Fol-de-Pol,” a 1972 filmed version of a live Sid and Marty Krofft brothers puppet show. The puppetry work marked the beginning of what would become a lengthy and diverse entertainment career.
Her career gained significant momentum throughout the 1970s when she secured the role of Honk on the Sid & Marty Krofft family show “Far Out Space Nuts.” What made her performance particularly remarkable was her ability to convey emotions without speaking a single word of dialogue.
“Her extensive dancing and mime skills enabled her to convey a full range of emotions for Honk without ever speaking a word of dialogue — and with her facial features utterly obscured,” noted Hal Erickson in his 2007 book about Saturday morning children’s television.
Science fiction fans remember Maloney for her role as Lumpy, Chewbacca’s son, in the 1978 “Star Wars Holiday Special,” a production that has achieved cult status despite being notoriously panned by critics. The special aired only once on television but has been preserved through bootleg recordings, keeping Maloney’s performance alive for generations of Star Wars enthusiasts.
Maloney’s diverse resume included appearances on numerous popular television shows, including “Charlie’s Angels,” “The Love Boat,” “Married… with Children,” and “My Name Is Earl.” She also made guest appearances on the “Brady Bunch Variety Hour” and “Donny & Marie” variety series throughout the 1970s.
Her television work extended to made-for-TV movies such as “Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark” and “Punch and Jody,” showcasing her versatility as a performer in different formats and genres. Regardless of the medium, Maloney brought a distinctive presence to each role.
Film audiences may remember Maloney from her roles in “Ernest Saves Christmas,” “The Ice Pirates,” and “Swing Shift.” She also worked frequently with fellow little person actor Billy Barty, collaborating on projects including “Under the Rainbow,” a feature film loosely based on “The Wizard of Oz.”
Her voice acting talents brought characters to life in animated series like “The Little Rascals,” where she voiced Darla Hood, and “Scooby-Doo and the Ghoul School.” This voice work allowed Maloney to showcase her range beyond physical performance, creating memorable characters for younger audiences.
Maloney first began experiencing significant health challenges in 2010 when she was diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). According to the National Eye Institute, AMD occurs when aging causes damage to the macula, which controls sharp, straight-ahead vision, making central vision blurry. The condition severely limited her ability to read scripts in her later years.
Despite this diagnosis, Maloney continued performing, even presenting a one-woman show called “I’m Right Tonight” in 2005, demonstrating her enduring commitment to her craft and passion for performance.
Born in Perkinsville, New York, in 1936, Maloney was raised in Winter Park, Florida. She began her entertainment career as a dancer in Florida before working for National Airlines in New York, where she met her husband.
Their marriage was tragically short-lived, as Vitek passed away, and Maloney also lost her premature baby. Friends encouraged her to return to acting as a way to cope with her grief, advice that ultimately launched her successful entertainment career.
Maloney is survived by her brother Dave, as well as nieces and a brother-in-law. Her long career in the entertainment industry left an enduring impact on audiences across multiple generations, from children’s programming to sci-fi cult classics.
