valerie perrine, Oscar-nominated for her role in Lenny and widely known for playing Lex Luthor’s girlfriend in Superman, has died at her home in Beverly Hills on Monday (ET) after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. Filmmaker Stacey Souther announced the death and said Perrine’s finances were exhausted after years of care, asking the public to donate to a fundraiser to cover funeral costs and to honor her final wish to be laid to rest at Forest Lawn Cemetery. Her 2015 diagnosis left her with progressive disability in later years and a 45-minute documentary by Souther chronicled her care and courage.
Valerie Perrine: Career and major roles
valerie perrine began her public life as a Las Vegas showgirl and moved into film in the early 1970s. She had a credited role in the screen adaptation of Slaughterhouse-Five and appeared opposite Jeff Bridges in The Last American Hero. Her breakthrough came in 1974 when she played Honey Bruce in Bob Fosse’s Lenny, winning the best actress prize at Cannes and earning an Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe nod for the performance. Perrine went on to join major studio projects, appearing as Eve Teschmacher in Superman and its 1980 sequel, and in films including The Electric Horseman and The Border. She acknowledged later that one film she took — Can’t Stop the Music — hurt her career, saying, “It ruined my career. ” The arc of her screen life moved from high-profile acclaim to reduced output over subsequent decades.
Immediate reactions
Stacey Souther, filmmaker and longtime friend, wrote in a public post: “It is with deep sadness that I share the heartbreaking news that Valerie has passed away. ” Souther continued with a public appeal, writing that Perrine had “faced Parkinson’s disease with incredible courage and compassion, never once complaining” and describing her as “a true inspiration who lived life to the fullest. ” Souther, who produced a documentary about her struggle and served as a caregiver for Perrine and her brother, said their finances were exhausted after years of medical need and urged donations to help cover burial costs and to fulfill her wish to be laid to rest at Forest Lawn Cemetery. Those close to the actress framed the moment as the end of a long, creative life and a private fight against illness.
What’s next: funeral arrangements, fundraising and legacy
The immediate next steps outlined by friends center on fundraising for funeral and burial arrangements. Souther asked supporters to contribute to the fundraiser established to meet Perrine’s final wish; he noted her desire to be interred at Forest Lawn Cemetery. The 45-minute documentary that premiered in 2019 and Souther’s caregiving role are expected to shape public remembrances and any memorial planning. As the family and caretakers finalize arrangements, tributes will likely reflect both her Cannes-winning turn in Lenny and her pop-cultural visibility in Superman.
In the days ahead, those handling practical matters for valerie perrine will determine timing for a memorial and burial, and the fundraising appeal will indicate whether her stated wish to be laid to rest at Forest Lawn Cemetery can be fulfilled. The world remembers an actress whose work ranged from art-house acclaim to mainstream blockbuster visibility; conversations now shift from her final years to the enduring marks of her performances and the needs of those she left behind. valerie perrine’s life and the campaign to honor her final wish will drive the next public developments.
