Valerie Perrine, the acclaimed actress known for her decades-long career in film and television, has died at the age of 82.
Her friend Stacey Souther shared the sad news in a Facebook post on Monday, March 23.
Souther wrote:
“It is with deep sadness that I share the heartbreaking news that Valerie has passed away. She faced Parkinson’s disease with incredible courage and compassion, never once complaining. She was a true inspiration who lived life to the fullest—and what a magnificent life it was. The world feels less beautiful without her in it.
I love you, Valerie. I’ll see you on the other side.
Please consider donating, sharing, and helping spread the word for her funeral GoFundMe. Her final wish is to be laid to rest at Forest Lawn Cemetery, but after more than 15 years of fighting Parkinson’s, her finances are exhausted. Let’s come together to make her last wish a reality—she truly deserves it.”
According to the GoFundMe fundraiser shared by Souther in the post, Perrine “passed away peacefully at her home on March 23, 2026, surrounded by love, exactly as she had wished.” The fundraiser described the “luminous, vivacious” Oscar nominee as having fought “a quiet, courageous battle against both Parkinson’s disease and debilitating central tremors” for more than 15 years.
Valerie Perrine was an American actress and model best known for her work in 1970s film and television. Born on September 3, 1943, in Galveston, Texas, she was raised in Japan before moving to the United States, where she began her career as a Las Vegas showgirl.
Perrine rose to fame with her breakthrough role as Honey Bruce in Lenny (1974), opposite Dustin Hoffman. Her performance earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress and won her the BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer.
She gained widespread recognition for playing Eve Teschmacher in Superman (1978) and its sequel Superman II (1980), becoming a memorable part of the franchise. Perrine also appeared in films such as The Electric Horseman (1979) and Can’t Stop the Music (1980), as well as numerous television shows.
