Patty Maloney obit

Patty Maloney, ‘Far Out Space Nuts’ and ‘Star Wars Holiday Special’ Actress, Dies at 89

She appeared with Billy Barty in ‘Under the Rainbow’ and many other projects and worked often with Sid & Marty Krofft, too.

 She was not on the list.

Patty Maloney, the 3-foot-11 actress who played the alien Honk on the Sid & Marty Krofft family show Far Out Space Nuts and Chewbacca’s son, Lumpy, on the long-lamented Star Wars Holiday Special, has died. She was 89.

Maloney had suffered several strokes over the years and died Monday in hospice care in Winter Park, Florida, her brother, Dave Myrabo, told The Hollywood Reporter. “For a little person growing up in a big world, she did everything she wanted to do,” he said.

Maloney did lots of work alongside the 3-foot-10 Billy Barty. The two appeared together in the Wizard of Oz feature Under the Rainbow (1981), starring Chevy Chase, and on episodes of Little House on the Prairie, Charlie’s Angels, The Love Boat, Trapper John, M.D. and more.

Far Out Space Nuts, starring Bob Denver and Chuck McCann as bumbling maintenance workers turned accidental space travelers, aired for one season (1975-76) on CBS. Maloney’s furry Honk couldn’t speak but communicated through a horn on the top of its head.

“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,” an impressed Hal Erickson noted in his 2007 book, Sid and Marty Krofft: A Critical Study of Saturday Morning Children’s Television 1969-1993.

Few were impressed with anything or anyone having to do with The Star Wars Holiday Special, which aired the week before Thanksgiving in 1978 on CBS and featured Star Wars actors alongside the likes of Bea Arthur, Art Carney and Harvey Korman.

A few years after it ran, George Lucas reportedly said, “If I had the time and a sledgehammer, I would track down every bootlegged copy of the program and smash it.”

Maloney was central to the family-friendly plot as the son of Chewbacca, played by Peter Mayhew, who had originated the role in the first Star Wars film. (The special also introduced Chewbacca’s father and wife.)

Her Lumpy costume “was made of all human hair, which made it very, very warm,” she recalled in a 2008 interview. “I remember I was doing something on The Towering Inferno, doing a stunt on that, and I had to go over after shooting all day to Stan Winston’s for the face, because he did the head — he did the make-up and the electronics in the head.”

Patricia Ann Maloney was born on March 17, 1936, in Perkinsville, New York. After her father died when she was 7, she was raised in Winter Park by her mother, Kay, and her stepfather, Jerry, an accountant.

Maloney performed with a carnival and with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and attended the University of Florida.

In 1961, she married Joseph Vitek, a printer from Chicago, but after his death from melanoma in 1968, she was urged by friends to return to performing as a way to overcome her grief.

She served as a puppeteer in Fol-de-Pol, a 1972 filmed version of a live Krofft brothers puppet show set at a medieval fair. Barty also worked in that, and in 1976, the two were cast in a pilot for a CBS sitcom called Don’t Call Us that starred Jack Gilford and Marty King as owners of a talent agency.

She and Barty also were regulars on a 1978-79 NBC variety show hosted by The Bay City Rollers — the Kroffts produced that — before teaming again on a 1982 CBS special headlined by Cheryl Ladd.

She also appeared for the Kroffts on Brady Bunch and Donny & Marie variety shows.

Maloney’s résumé included the films The Ice Pirates (1984), Swing Shift (1984) and Ernest Saves Christmas (1988) and the series Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman; Rhoda; Buck Rogers in the 25th Century; Married … With Children; Star Trek: Voyager; Nash Bridges; and My Name Is Earl.

She also did voice work and operated the Crypt Keeper puppet on HBO’s Tales From the Crypt.

In addition to her brother, survivors include her nieces, Jennifer and Laura, and her brother-in-law, Vic.

Patty was born in Perkinsville, New York. At age 7 she moved with her family to Winter Park, Florida. Her family loved her and didn't treat her any differently from her brother or her sisters. Patty began her show business career as a featured dancer at Edith Royal's newly opened studio in Winter Park. During high school she spent a summer traveling with a carnival and, later, a year with the Ringling Brothers Circus. She soon became aware that she could lead a cosmopolitan life, and her family realized that Patty had become an adult. At her mother's insistence, Patty attended the University of Florida and became a keypunch operator. Patty returned to her home state of New York and worked for National Airlines, where she met her future husband: Joseph Vitek, a 4-foot-8-inch printer from Chicago. They exchanged letters and Patty traveled to Europe and Latin America; soon they were wed at the Actors' Chapel in New York. They moved back to Chicago and had a blissful but short marriage...Patty's sorrow was deep, as Joseph soon died, and she lost her premature baby at the same time. Patty's friends forced her to return to show business. She was most grateful for this, as the Krofft Brothers were producing a new TV show: "Far Out Space Nuts". She promptly accepted the role of Honk and moved to Los Angeles.

Patty performed two TV cartoon voices for Hanna-Barbera: Darla Hood of the "Little Rascals" (1982), and Tanis in the 1988 TV movie "Scooby-Doo and the Ghoul School".

Actress

Jason Lee, Jaime Pressly, Ethan Suplee, Eddie Steeples, and Nadine Velazquez in My Name Is Earl (2005)

My Name Is Earl

7.8

TV Series

Woman with Chimney

2005

1 episode

 

Michele Hicks in Twin Falls Idaho (1999)

Twin Falls Idaho

7.1

June

1999

 

Don Johnson and Cheech Marin in Nash Bridges (1996)

Nash Bridges

6.8

TV Series

Tricia

1998

1 episode

 

Tara Strong, Kevin Conroy, Loren Lester, and Mathew Valencia in The New Batman Adventures (1997)

The New Batman Adventures

8.4

TV Series

Mrs. Segar (voice)

1997

1 episode

 

Malcolm McDowell, Carol Kane, Lucy Liu, Kevin Corrigan, and Rhea Perlman in Pearl (1996)

Pearl

5.8

TV Series

Maggie

1997

1 episode

 

Robert Beltran, Jennifer Lien, Robert Duncan McNeill, Kate Mulgrew, Robert Picardo, Jeri Ryan, Roxann Dawson, Ethan Phillips, Tim Russ, and Garrett Wang in Star Trek: Voyager (1995)

Star Trek: Voyager

7.9

TV Series

Little Woman

1996

1 episode

 

A.J.'s Time Travelers (1995)

A.J.'s Time Travelers

6.9

TV Series

B.I.T.

B.I.T

1995

33 episodes

 

Richard Dean Anderson and John de Lancie in Legend (1995)

Legend

7.6

TV Series

Zorelda Tombs

1995

1 episode

 

Christina Ricci, Raul Julia, Christopher Lloyd, Anjelica Huston, Christopher Hart, Judith Malina, Carel Struycken, and Jimmy Workman in The Addams Family (1991)

The Addams Family

6.9

Lois Addams

1991

 

Christina Applegate, David Faustino, Katey Sagal, and Ed O'Neill in Married... with Children (1987)

Married... with Children

8.1

TV Series

Alien

1990

1 episode

 

Billy Barty, Jimmy Briscoe, and Patty Maloney in Short Ribbs (1989)

Short Ribbs

TV Series

Various

1989

 

Ronald McDonald in McDonaldland (1963)

McDonaldland

7.3

TV Series

Birdie

1988

1 episode

 

Jim Varney in Ernest Saves Christmas (1988)

Ernest Saves Christmas

5.7

Thisbe

1988

 

Casey Kasem, Patty Maloney, Don Messick, and Pat Musick in Scooby-Doo and the Ghoul School (1988)

Scooby-Doo and the Ghoul School

6.8

TV Movie

Tanis the Mummy (voice)

1988

 

Circus

4.8

TV Movie

Maggie

1988

 

Joe Alaskey, Maureen Flannigan, Doug McClure, and Donna Pescow in Out of This World (1987)

Out of This World

7.3

TV Series

Baby Neil (voice)

1987

1 episode

 

The Mother Goose Video Treasury (1987)

The Mother Goose Video Treasury

8.0

Video

Betty Botter

Townsperson of Gooseberry Glen

1987

 

Diana Canova and Jonathan Prince in Throb (1986)

Throb

6.7

TV Series

Little Woman

1987

1 episode

 

Forrest Gardner, Sandey Grinn, Karen Hartman, Michael B. Moynahan, Gary Schwartz, Stevie Louise Vallance, and Ben Vereen in Zoobilee Zoo (1986)

Zoobilee Zoo

8.1

TV Series

Ergo

1986

1 episode

 

Burt Lancaster and Hanna Schygulla in Barnum (1986)

Barnum

6.4

TV Movie

Older Tom Thumb

1986

 

Dumbo's Circus (1985)

Dumbo's Circus

7.5

TV Series

Dink the Koala Bear

1985–1986

81 episodes

 

Kevin Costner, Harvey Keitel, Charlie Sheen, Christopher Lloyd, and John Lithgow in Amazing Stories (1985)

Amazing Stories

7.4

TV Series

Alien

1985

1 episode

 

Too Smart for Strangers (1985)

Too Smart for Strangers

5.1

Video

1985

 

Lucille Bliss, Danny Goldman, Don Messick, and Alan Oppenheimer in The Smurfs (1981)

The Smurfs

7.2

TV Series

Blue Eyes

Additional Voices (voice)

1984

2 episodes

 

Richard Pryor in Pryor's Place (1984)

Pryor's Place

7.0

TV Series

Dumb #1

1984

1 episode

 

Goldie Hawn, Kurt Russell, and Fred Ward in Swing Shift (1984)

Swing Shift

5.9

Laverne

1984

 

Robert Urich, Mary Crosby, Michael D. Roberts, and Bruce Vilanch in The Ice Pirates (1984)

The Ice Pirates

5.6

Waitress

1984

 

Pernell Roberts in Trapper John, M.D. (1979)

Trapper John, M.D.

6.6

TV Series

Megan

1984

1 episode

 

The Little Rascals (1982)

The Little Rascals

4.6

TV Series

Darla (voice)

1982–1983

31 episodes

 

Phil Baron, Ron Gans, Will Ryan, Hal Smith, and Kim Christianson in Welcome to Pooh Corner (1983)

Welcome to Pooh Corner

7.8

TV Series

(1983-1984)

1983–1986

 

Wayland Flowers in Madame's Place (1982)

Madame's Place

6.6

TV Series

Patty

1982

1 episode

 

Melissa Sue Anderson, Melissa Gilbert, Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, Richard Bull, Sidney Greenbush, Jonathan Gilbert, Rachel Lindsay Greenbush, and Katherine MacGregor in Little House on the Prairie (1974)

Little House on the Prairie

7.5

TV Series

Alice Bates

1982

1 episode

 

Under the Rainbow (1981)

Under the Rainbow

5.3

Rosie

1981

 

Side Show (1981)

Side Show

6.4

TV Movie

Thelma Tiny

1981

 

Gil Gerard and Erin Gray in Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1979)

Buck Rogers in the 25th Century

6.9

TV Series

Twiki

Tina

1979–1980

3 episodes

 

Eric Faulkner, Billie Hayes, Alan Longmuir, Derek Longmuir, Leslie McKeown, Stuart 'Woody' Wood, Bay City Rollers, and The Krofft Puppets in The Bay City Rollers Show (1978)

The Bay City Rollers Show

6.6

TV Series

Telephone Lady

(credit only)

Patty ...

1978

13 episodes

 

Fred Grandy, Bernie Kopell, Ted Lange, Gavin MacLeod, and Lauren Tewes in The Love Boat (1977)

The Love Boat

6.3

TV Series

Dottie Warren

1978

1 episode

 

Harrison Ford, Anthony Daniels, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Kenny Baker, and Peter Mayhew in The Star Wars Holiday Special (1978)

The Star Wars Holiday Special

2.2

TV Movie

Lumpy

1978

 

The Lord of the Rings (1978)

The Lord of the Rings

6.2

Character Actor (voice)

1978

 

The Bay City Rollers Meet the Saturday Superstars (1978)

The Bay City Rollers Meet the Saturday Superstars

7.8

TV Movie

1978

 

Valerie Harper in Rhoda (1974)

Rhoda

6.8

TV Series

Witch

1977

1 episode

 

Farrah Fawcett, Kate Jackson, and Jaclyn Smith in Charlie's Angels (1976)

Charlie's Angels

6.6

TV Series

Tinkle Belle

1977

1 episode

 

Florence Henderson, Susan Olsen, Robert Reed, Christopher Knight, Mike Lookinland, Maureen McCormick, Geri Reischl, and Barry Williams in The Brady Bunch Variety Hour (1976)

The Brady Bunch Variety Hour

3.7

TV Series

Pizzeria Customer

Disco Duck

Dancing Bear

1976–1977

2 episodes

 

Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman (1976)

Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman

7.9

TV Series

Skipper

1977

5 episodes

 

Don't Call Us

TV Movie

Sylvia

1976

 

Bob Denver, Patty Maloney, Chuck McCann, and The Krofft Puppets in Far Out Space Nuts (1975)

Far Out Space Nuts

6.1

TV Series

Honk

1975

9 episodes

 

Punch and Jody (1974)

Punch and Jody

5.5

TV Movie

Mrs. Stilts

1974

 

Kim Darby in Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (1973)

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark

6.5

TV Movie

Creature

1973

 

Additional Crew

Brad Garrett, Joe Alaskey, Joe Nipote, and Malachi Pearson in Casper (1995)

Casper

6.2

crypt keeper puppeteer

1995

 

Tales from the Crypt (1989)

Tales from the Crypt

8.0

TV Series

puppeteer: Crypt Keeper

crypt keeper puppeteer

1989–1993

5 episodes

 

Fol-de-Rol (1972)

Fol-de-Rol

7.5

TV Movie

puppeteer

1972

 

Thanks

Farrah Fawcett, Kate Jackson, and Jaclyn Smith in Charlie's Angels (1976)

Charlie's Angels

6.6

TV Series

thanks (Our thanks to the many actors and actresses in the previous segments.)

1979

1 episode

 

Soundtrack

The Bay City Rollers Meet the Saturday Superstars (1978)

The Bay City Rollers Meet the Saturday Superstars

7.8

TV Movie

performer: "Be Bop a Lula", "Jailhouse Rock"

1978

 

Magic in Midtown: The World of Sid & Marty Krofft (1976)

Magic in Midtown: The World of Sid & Marty Krofft

TV Special

performer: "Yankee Doodle Dandy" (uncredited)

1976

 

Self

Hanlet: Episode 4 & 1/2 - Attack of the Phantom Special

Self

2011

 

The F.B.I. Files (1998)

The F.B.I. Files

7.9

TV Series

1999

1 episode

 

Pac Preview Party

6.9

TV Special

Darla Hood (voice)

1982

 

Cheryl Ladd: Scenes from a Special (1982)

Cheryl Ladd: Scenes from a Special

7.8

TV Special

The Incredible Hulk

1982

 

Donny Osmond and Marie Osmond in Donny and Marie (1975)

Donny and Marie

6.2

TV Series

Self

1976

1 episode

 

Magic in Midtown: The World of Sid & Marty Krofft (1976)

Magic in Midtown: The World of Sid & Marty Krofft

TV Special

The Miniature Follies Performer (uncredited)

1976

 

Archive Footage

Flimflam and Gorky in The Flimflam and Gorky Show (2020)

The Flimflam and Gorky Show

TV Series

Lumpy (Lumpawarrump) (archive footage)

2021

1 episode

 

Mondays with Marty (2021)

Mondays with Marty

TV Series

Dancer (archive footage)

2021

1 episode