Valerie Perrine, the Las Vegas showgirl turned Oscar-nominated actress, has died at 82 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. Her death was confirmed by close friend Stacey Souther, director of the 2019 documentary Valerie, which chronicled her health struggles.
Born in Galveston, Texas, Perrine became a lead performer in Las Vegas, appearing in up to 12 shows a week. A chance visit to Los Angeles led to a screen test and her transition into Hollywood, landing roles in films like The Last American Hero.
Her breakthrough came in 1974 with Lenny, portraying Honey Harlow alongside Dustin Hoffman, earning her a Cannes Best Actress award and an Academy Award nomination. She is also known for playing Eve Teschmacher in Superman (1978) and Superman II (1980). Perrine embraced her image as a sex symbol but maintained her independence and personal philosophy, continuing to act until around 2010.
In later years, she publicly shared her Parkinson’s diagnosis, documented in Valerie, showing her humor, resilience, and larger-than-life spirit despite the challenges she faced.