Entertainment community devastated: Legendary Wrestler Terry Funk (79) and Actress Hersha Parady (78) have passed away. See the touching tributes
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The Seniors Discount Club joins the rest of the global wrestling community in mourning the passing of one of the greatest professional wrestlers who ever lived—Terry Funk.Funk passed away at 79 on Thursday, after his battle with dementia in recent years.
He came onto the scene in the 1970s and rose to prominence in the US in the 1980s, with stints in the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), World Championship Wrestling (WCW), Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) and World Wrestling Federation (WWF). He went on to pick up multiple world titles.
Funk was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame alongside his brother Dory in 2009.
Upon news of the wrestling icon's passing spreading online, tributes have been pouring in from around the wrestling world.
Ric Flair took to the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) to say: 'In My Entire Life, I've Never Met A Guy Who Worked Harder. Terry Funk was a great wrestler, entertainer, unbelievably fearless, and a great friend! Rest in peace, my friend Terry Funk, knowing that no one will ever replace you in the world of professional wrestling!'
The WWE posted: 'WWE is saddened to learn that WWE Hall of Famer Terry Funk has passed away at the age of 79. WWE extends its condolences to Funk’s family, friends and fans.'
Bully Ray Dudley's heartfelt tribute said: 'There are no words. God Bless Terry Funk.'
Terry Funk had a way of leaving an unforgettable impact when it came to professional wrestling. His battles against Mick Foley will live on in wrestling folklore for years to come.
As wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer said, 'It goes without saying he was one of the greatest wrestlers who ever lived.'
You might like to watch the tribute video put together by WWE below:
Key Takeaways
- Wrestling legend Terry Funk has passed away at the age of 79 after battling dementia.
- Throughout his career, Funk worked with prominent wrestling organisations such as the NWA, WCW, ECW, and WWF and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2009.
- Tributes for the wrestler poured in from industry figures, with many recognising his hard work, talent, and contribution to the sport.
- Little House on the Prairie actress Hersha Parady passed away at the age of 78 after battling a brain tumour.
- Parady's son confirmed her passing, which took place at his home in Norfolk, Virginia. She had been dealing with meningioma, a type of brain tumour.
- She had a successful career in television, with one of her most notable roles being Alice Garvey in Little House on the Prairie.
- The actress is survived by her son, Jonathan, and three siblings.
It's with great sadness that we also report the passing of beloved television icon Hersha Parady, best known for portraying Alice Garvey in the classic family drama Little House on the Prairie.
The 78-year-old actress died on Wednesday at her son's home in Norfolk, Virginia, after a period of ill health. A GoFundMe account had been set up to cover medical costs when it became known that Hersha had been suffering from a brain tumour.
After the tumour was found to be a type of meningioma, the former star underwent a successful operation to mitigate its effects. Sadly, the actress then contracted pneumonia and had to be re-admitted to a hospital, where she was placed in the ICU and attached to a ventilator.
Although fans of the star had hoped for a full recovery, in the end, this wasn't the case.
Hersha was born Betty Sandhoff in Berea, Ohio, in 1945, and from a young age, had been interested in theatre and performing.
Her first step into professional acting came in 1971 when she played a guest role in the series Bearcats!, and from there, she managed to book more guest appearances on iconic shows such as The Waltons and Mannix.
She then auditioned for the role of Caroline Ingalls in Little House on the Prairie. Although Hersha wasn't selected for the part, she was eventually cast as Alice Garvey in 1977 and remained with the show for three seasons.
You can watch some of her performances below:
Afterwards, Hersha took on guest roles in a number of additional shows, including The Phoenix and ABC Weekend Specials, and her last ever on-screen role was as Principal Dimly in Kenan & Kel, in which she appeared a total of three times.
Today, tributes to the stalwart actress have poured in from across the entertainment industry.
Director Fred Glynn said: 'Hersha was a beautiful human being who was loved by all who knew her. From her first audition, she was a special actress who had a gift for connecting with the material.'
These sentiments were echoed by friend and former co-star Tarah Schaeffer, who commented that 'Hersha was truly an angel on Earth and will be greatly missed by all.'
Indeed, though Hersha's light may have gone out, her spirit shall forever be remembered by her fans.
Our thoughts are with Hersha's son Jonathan and her siblings Kenny, Bobby and Patty at this difficult time.
May Terry Funk and Hersha Parady rest in peace.