Actress Valerie Mahaffey, who won an Emmy and was renowned for her roles in shows like “Northern Exposure,” “Big Sky,” and “Desperate Housewives,” as well as movies such as “Sully” and “Seabiscuit,” has sadly passed away. She was 71 years old.
Mahaffey’s husband, actor Joseph Kell, shared the sad news of her passing on May 30, in Los Angeles, following a long fight against cancer.
Kell stated that he’s lost his cherished partner, and America has also lost one of its most beloved actresses. She is deeply mourned.
In 1992, Mahaffey was awarded the Emmy for Best Supporting Comedy Actress due to her portrayal of a hypochondriac character named Eve in the television series “Northern Exposure.” This show, a mix of comedy and drama, was set in a fictional Alaskan town and aired on CBS from 1990 to 1995.
More recently, Mahaffey has appeared in the Apple TV+ series “Echo 3” and the 2020 independent film “French Exit,” acting alongside Michelle Pfeiffer and Lucas Hedges. For her performance as the optimistic Madame Reynard in Azazel Jacobs’ dark comedy, she received a nomination for an Independent Spirit Award.
In 2020 and 2021, she appeared alongside others in David E. Kelley’s detective drama series “Big Sky,” which was broadcast on ABC. Her role in this series was Lorna Harding, a character known for her grandeur. Additionally, from the first two seasons of Netflix’s dark comedy “Dead to Me,” she portrayed her character opposite Christina Applegate.
Mahaffey spent her first eleven years in Indonesia before moving to diverse locations like Nigeria, Texas, and England. Her theatrical journey commenced on the stages of New York City. She graced six Broadway productions, among them “Dracula” opposite Raul Julia in the late 1970s and the 1984 production of “Play Memory,” directed by Harold Prince, which had a limited run.
Mahaffey has also shone in numerous Off-Broadway and regional productions. She received two Obie Awards, one for her role in “Top Girls” at the Public Theatre, and another for her performance in Alan Bennett’s “Talking Heads” at the Minetta Lane. Some of her other theater roles include playing opposite Morgan Freeman in “Othello” and acting alongside Tom Hulce in “Romeo and Juliet.
Mahaffey’s adaptability regularly put her at the top of the list for TV guest roles and character development. With over two dozen series to her credit, she’s worked on productions such as “The Powers That Be” (produced by Norman Lear), “Seinfeld”, “Wings”, “ER”, “Young Sheldon”, “Man in the High Castle”, “The Mindy Project”, “Devious Maids”, “Glee”, “Grey’s Anatomy”, “Hannah Montana”, “Boston Legal” and “Private Practice”. Prior to this, she made appearances on shows like “Cheers”, “Newhart”, “Quantum Leap”, “Dream On”, “L.A. Law”, “Caroline in the City”, “Ally McBeal”, “Judging Amy”, “Law & Order: SVU” and “CSI”.
This actor’s filmography features “Jungle 2 Jungle,” “No Pay, Nudity,” “My First Wedding,” and an upcoming release in 2025 titled “The 8th Day.” In the year 2010, Mahaffey took on a dual role as producer and star in the family drama “Summer Eleven,” which she filmed alongside her daughter Alice Richards. The screenplay for this movie was penned and directed by Kell.
Friends said Mahaffey was naturally kind-hearted and exuded a warm and infectious energy.
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2025-05-31 09:16