Actress Valerie Perrine, who had career-making roles in films like the Bob Fosse-helmed Lenny alongside Dustin Hoffman and in Superman, has died at 82, per Variety. She passed away at home in Beverly Hills, California.
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The sad news was conveyed by Perrine's friend, Stacey Souther. She wrote on
Facebook, "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...The world feels less beautiful without her in it."Perrine hailed from Galveston, Texas. She was diagnosed with Parkinson's eleven years ago.
A GoFundMe Has Been Established for Perrine's Funeral Expenses
She added, "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."
The GoFundMe identified the glamorous star as an "actress, icon, and fighter." Furthermore, to date as of March 23, $5,604 has been raised. The goal is $35,000. Eighty-six donations have been received thus far.
'Lenny' Was a Key Milestone in Her Career
The intense 1974 biopic, which focused on controversial, boundary-breaking comic Lenny Bruce, earned half a dozen Academy Award noms. In fact, Perrine landed one for Best Actress. (She lost to Ellen Burstyn.) The late film critic Roger Ebert, while not exactly outright rhapsodizing about Perrine's performance, did give her ample credit. He wrote in his review of the movie, "But she does project a certain tarnished sexuality, and she gives us at last a stripper without a heart of gold."
She Appeared in Two 'Superman' Movies
Perrine was in two Superman films in 1978 and 1980. The role she played was Miss Teschmacher, the girlfriend of Lex Luthor. Her other film credits include The Electric Horseman, W.C. Fields and Me, Mr. Billion, What Women Want, Silver Skies and Slaughterhouse Five. Additionally, Perrine also appeared on TV on occasion. She had parts in shows including The Practice, Nash Bridges, Northern Exposure, among others.
