Valerie Perrine, the actress best known for her role in the Christopher Reeve “Superman” movies, has died. She was 82.
The late actress passed away at her home in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Monday morning following a “courageous” battle with Parkinson’s disease, her friend Stacey Souther announced on Facebook.
“It is with deep sadness that I share the heartbreaking news that Valerie has passed away,” Souther began. “She faced Parkinson’s disease with incredible courage and compassion, never once complaining.”
Valerie Perrine (pictured here in 1978’s “Superman”) has died at the age of 82.
Perrine passed away at her home in Beverly Hills on Monday following a battle with Parkinson’s disease. ©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection
He remembered Perrine as a “true inspiration who lived life to the fullest” and noted that the “world feels less beautiful without her in it.”
“I love you, Valerie,” Souther ended his touching message. “I’ll see you on the other side.”
Souther also launched a GoFundMe page to raise $35,000 to give Perrine the “farewell she deserves.”
Perrine (pictured here in New York City in 1981) was best known for “Superman” and “Superman II.” Getty Images
The actress (seen here in “Silver Skies” in 2016) was remembered as a “true inspiration who lived life to the fullest.” Courtesy Everett Collection
Born in Galveston, Texas, on Sept. 3, 1943, Perrine began as a showgirl at the Stardust Resort and Casino in Las Vegas in 1968.
It wasn’t until 1972, when she was cast as Montana Wildhack in the film adaptation of Kurt Vonnegut’s 1969 novel “Slaughterhouse-Five,” that Perrine began acting.
“Acting wasn’t something I pursued,” she shared during an interview published in July 2025. “I was at a small dinner party where an agent was looking for someone to play the role of Montana Wildhack in George Roy Hill’s film production of ‘Slaughterhouse-Five.’”
She added, “The agent saw something in me and thought I would be perfect for the part. That’s how I became an actress.”
Perrine (pictured here in New York City in 1970) began as a showgirl in Las Vegas in 1968. Getty Images
Perrine’s first film (seen here) was the 1972 film adaptation of Kurt Vonnegut’s novel “Slaughterhouse-Five.” Courtesy Everett Collection
Perrine went on to star in 1973’s “The Last American Hero” and scored an Oscar nomination for best actress for her role as the troubled wife of Lenny Bruce (Dustin Hoffman) in 1974’s “Lenny.”
However, it wasn’t until she was cast as Eve Teschmacher in 1978’s “Superman: The Movie” that Perrine became popular with general audiences across the country.
Her character served as the personal assistant and love interest to Gene Hackman’s Lex Luthor, and Perrine reprised the role for 1980’s “Superman II.”
The same year that she starred with Reeve and Hackman in “Superman II,” Perrine appeared in the disco comedy “Can’t Stop the Music” alongside the Village People and Caitlyn Jenner.
Perrine (pictured here in 1987’s “Maid to Order”) scored an Oscar nod for best actress for her role as Lenny Bruce’s wife in 1974’s “Lenny.” ©New Century Vista Film/Courtesy Everett / Everett Collection
The actress (seen here in Hollywood in 1974) was cast as Eve Teschmacher in 1978’s “Superman: The Movie.” Bettmann Archive
“Can’t Stop the Music” was received so poorly that it was one of the two films that inspired the Golden Raspberry Awards, and Perrine once blamed the movie for “ruining” her career.
“I moved to Europe after, I was so embarrassed,” she said after the film’s poor reception, per the Hollywood Reporter.
Beyond “Lenny” and the “Superman” films, Perrine also starred in 1976’s “W. C. Fields and Me” and 1979’s “The Electric Horseman.” She appeared with Rod Steiger in the former and Robert Redford in the latter.
Perrine (pictured here posing for a portrait in New York City in 1979) also starred in 1976’s “W. C. Fields and Me” and 1979’s “The Electric Horseman.” Getty Images
Perrine (seen here in “Superman: The Movie”) was widely regarded as an American sex symbol and was photographed several times for Playboy. Getty Images
Perrine had an impressive TV career as well, and she became the first woman to intentionally show her breasts on TV when she appeared in the 1973 telefilm “Steambath” on PBS.
Widely regarded as an American sex symbol, Perrine was photographed several different times for Playboy and described as a “Hollywood sex kitten” in a 1974 article by the New York Times.
“I have a lot of great memories from my career, and I was fortunate enough to work with some of the greatest people in the business at the time, in the ’70s,” Perrine said during one of her final interviews. “It was a lot of hard work but a lot of fun, too.”
