Valerie Perrine Dies: Superman & Lenny Actress Passes Away at 82

Valerie Perrine, the actress celebrated for her roles in the “Superman” films and her Academy Award-nominated performance in “Lenny,” has died at the age of 82. Her death occurred Monday morning at her home in Beverly Hills, California, following a years-long battle with Parkinson’s disease, according to an announcement from her friend and caregiver, Stacey Souther.

Perrine rose to prominence after beginning her career as a showgirl at the Stardust Resort and Casino in Las Vegas in 1968. She transitioned to film with a role in George Roy Hill’s 1972 adaptation of Kurt Vonnegut’s “Slaughterhouse-Five,” but achieved critical acclaim for her portrayal of Honey Bruce in Bob Fosse’s 1974 biopic, “Lenny.” Her performance opposite Dustin Hoffman earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Actress, as well as wins at the Cannes Film Festival and a BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer.

While Perrine enjoyed a diverse career spanning several decades, she became widely recognized for her portrayal of Eve Teschmacher, the endearing accomplice to Lex Luthor, in Christopher Reeve’s “Superman” (1978) and “Superman II” (1980). Souther, in a Facebook post announcing Perrine’s death, described the actress as a “true inspiration who lived life to the fullest,” adding, “The world feels less beautiful without her in it.”

Born on September 3, 1943, in Galveston, Texas, Perrine continued to perform steadily in film and television throughout her career. Her film credits include “The Last American Hero,” “The Electric Horseman,” “The Cannonball Run,” and “What Women Want.” She also appeared in numerous television series, including “Homicide: Life on the Street,” “ER,” “The Practice,” “Nash Bridges,” and “Walker, Texas Ranger.”

In a 2025 interview, Perrine reflected on the serendipitous nature of her entry into acting, stating, “Acting wasn’t something I pursued…I was at a minor dinner party where an agent was looking for someone to play the role of Montana Wildhack in ‘Slaughterhouse-Five.’”

Souther has initiated a GoFundMe campaign to aid cover the costs of Perrine’s funeral, stating that the actress’s final wish was to be laid to rest at Forest Lawn Cemetery. The campaign was launched as Perrine’s finances had been depleted after more than 15 years of managing the expenses associated with her Parkinson’s disease, which impacted her mobility, speech, and ability to eat.