Updated — Valerie Perrine, best known for starring alongside Christopher Reeve in Superman (1978), has died from sudden cardiac arrest, according to her death certificate. Parkinson’s disease and dementia were listed as contributing factors.
Her friend Stacey Souther shared the heartbreaking news, revealing that Perrine passed away peacefully at her home on March 23, 2026, surrounded by loved ones after battling Parkinson’s disease for more than 15 years.
Perrine rose to fame with her Oscar-nominated role in Lenny (1974) alongside Dustin Hoffman and later became widely recognized for playing Eve Teschmacher in Superman and Superman II. She also appeared in films including The Electric Horseman and Can’t Stop the Music.
A GoFundMe fundraiser was created to help fulfill her final wish of being laid to rest at Forest Lawn Cemetery after years of medical struggles exhausted her finances.