Valerie Perrine, Oscar-Nominated Superman and Lenny Star, Dies at 82
Valerie Perrine, the celebrated actress renowned for her Oscar-nominated performance in Bob Fosse's 1974 biopic Lenny and her memorable role as Lex Luthor's girlfriend in the Richard Donner Superman films, has passed away at the age of 82. The film-maker Stacey Souther confirmed her death in a heartfelt Facebook post, expressing deep sadness and requesting donations to a GoFundMe fundraiser to cover her funeral expenses.
A Courageous Battle with Parkinson's Disease
Perrine was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2015, and her courageous struggle with the condition became the focus of a 45-minute documentary by Souther, which premiered in 2019. Souther praised her resilience, noting she showed incredible courage and compassion without complaint, living life to the fullest despite her illness. Her finances were exhausted after more than 15 years of fighting the disease, prompting the fundraiser to fulfill her final wish of being laid to rest at Forest Lawn Cemetery.
From Showgirl to Hollywood Star
Perrine's journey to stardom began as a showgirl in Las Vegas, but she left after a tragic incident where her gun importer fiancé accidentally shot himself. Moving to Los Angeles, she had an affair with celebrity hairdresser Jay Sebring, who was later murdered by the Manson Family. Her big break came when a talent agent spotted her at a dinner party, leading to roles in Slaughterhouse-Five (1972) and The Last American Hero (1973).
In 1973, she made history as the first female actor to appear intentionally nude on US TV in a PBS play called Steambath, a scene that later served as a lucrative fundraising tool for the broadcaster.
Acclaimed Performances and Career Highlights
Her role as stripper Honey Bruce in Lenny opposite Dustin Hoffman earned her the best actress award at Cannes, along with Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations. In the late 1970s, she gained widespread fame as Miss Teschmacher in Superman (1978) and its 1980 sequel, playing the moll of Gene Hackman's Lex Luthor.
Other notable roles included:
- The mistress of WC Fields in a biopic with Rod Steiger, whom she later described as full of hate for everything.
- The ex-wife of Robert Redford's rodeo champion in The Electric Horseman (1979).
- Jack Nicholson's wife in The Border (1982).
- A retired supermodel in the cult classic Can't Stop the Music (1980), which she regretted, saying it ruined my career and led her to move to Europe.
Later Career and Legacy
In her later years, Perrine worked less frequently but appeared in films like Water (1985), where she praised co-star Michael Caine as the nicest human being I've ever worked with, and What Women Want (2000) as a vapid office assistant. Her legacy endures through her groundbreaking performances and her inspiring battle with Parkinson's, leaving a lasting impact on Hollywood and fans worldwide.
