Perrine gained notoriety for a naked TV role and was acclaimed for her roles opposite Gene Hackman, Dustin Hoffman and Jeff Bridges
Valerie Perrine, who was Oscar nominated for her performance in Bob Fosse’s 1974 Lenny Bruce biopic and played Lex Luthor’s girlfriend in the Richard Donner Superman films, has died aged 82.
Writing on Facebook, the film-maker Stacey Souther announced her death, saying: “It is with deep sadness that I share the heartbreaking news that Valerie has passed away.”
He continued by asking readers to donate to a GoFundMe fundraiser to help cover her funeral costs. “Her final wish is to be laid to rest at Forest Lawn Cemetery,” he wrote, “but after more than 15 years of fighting Parkinson’s, her finances are exhausted. Let’s come together to make her last wish a reality – she truly deserves it.”
Perrine was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2015, and her experience of the condition became the subject of a 45-minute documentary made by Souther, which premiered in 2019. In the face of the illness, wrote Souther, she showed “incredible courage and compassion, never once complaining. She was a true inspiration who lived life to the fullest – and what a magnificent life it was. The world feels less beautiful without her in it.”
