BEVERLY HILLS: Valerie Perrine, the Oscar-nominated actress known for her role in Lenny and her appearance in the Superman films, has died at the age of 82.
Her death was confirmed by filmmaker and longtime companion Stacey Souther, who said she passed away at her home after battling Parkinson’s disease, a condition she had been diagnosed with in 2015.
“She faced Parkinson’s disease with incredible courage and compassion, never once complaining,” Souther said in a statement. “The world feels less beautiful without her in it.”
Perrine rose to prominence in the 1970s, earning critical acclaim for her portrayal of Honey Bruce in the 1974 film Lenny, opposite Dustin Hoffman. The performance earned her the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival and an Academy Award nomination.
She later became widely recognized for her role as Eve Teschmacher in Superman (1978) and its sequel, starring alongside Christopher Reeve and Gene Hackman. Her character, both glamorous and conflicted, became a memorable part of the franchise.
At a Los Angeles film set in the late 1970s, Perrine once described her acting approach as instinctive, saying she relied on personal experiences to deliver emotional performances rather than formal training.
Born in Galveston, Texas, Perrine spent part of her childhood traveling due to her father’s military career. She later became a Las Vegas showgirl before transitioning into acting, eventually landing her breakout role in Slaughterhouse-Five (1972).
Her career included roles alongside major Hollywood names such as Robert Redford, Jeff Bridges and Jack Nicholson. While she experienced both critical success and setbacks, including her widely criticized role in Can’t Stop the Music (1980), Perrine remained a recognizable figure in film and television.
In later years, her public appearances became less frequent as her health declined. A documentary released in 2019 highlighted her life and battle with Parkinson’s disease, as well as the support she received from close companions.
Despite her illness, Perrine continued to be remembered for her performances and her presence in one of Hollywood’s defining cinematic eras.
