Los Angeles – Beloved actress Valerie Mahaffey, renowned for her varied performances across stage, film, and television, passed away at the age of 71 after a courageous battle with cancer. Her publicist confirmed the sad news on Saturday.
According to publicist Jillian Roscoe, Mahaffey died on Friday in Los Angeles. Her husband, fellow actor Joseph Kell, expressed his profound sorrow, stating, “I have lost the love of my life, and America has lost one of its most endearing actresses. She will be missed.” The couple is survived by their daughter, Alice Richards.
With a career spanning more than four decades, Mahaffey’s extensive repertoire included roles in the classic soap opera “The Doctors,” as well as more contemporary series like “Young Sheldon” and “Desperate Housewives.” Her film work featured a notable role in “Sully” alongside Tom Hanks, under the direction of Clint Eastwood, and a memorable performance as Madame Reynard in “French Exit” with Michelle Pfeiffer.
In recognition of her talents, Mahaffey was awarded an Emmy for outstanding supporting actress in a drama series due to her role as the hypochondriac Eve on the popular 1990s show “Northern Exposure.” Her television credits further included appearances in series such as “The Powers That Be,” “Big Sky,” “Seinfeld,” “Wings,” and “ER.” On the big screen, she was featured in films like “Jungle 2 Jungle,” “Senior Trip,” and the acclaimed “Seabiscuit.”
Her early life saw Mahaffey residing in diverse locales including Indonesia, Nigeria, England, and Texas, which undoubtedly influenced her extraordinary ability to portray a wide array of characters.