Actress Valerie Perrine, known best for her roles in Christopher Reeve’s Superman and the Lenny biopic Lenny; has passed away at the age of 82. Perrine was a pioneer in the film industry who transcended her “blonde bombshell” roots and went on to dazzle the big screen for moviegoers. Her death was confirmed by her close friend Stacey Souther, who had directed a 2019 documentary film about the stunning actress.
Perrine was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2015 and according to Souther, her death was caused by complications due to her disease. Perrine was a former showgirl and Playboy pinup and while she certainly used her body in her filmography, she was often praised for her acting, and praised for being able to properly balance being a sex symbol and a respected, talented actress.
Perrine has over 70 film and TV credits under her belt and has acted opposite great actors like Christopher Reeves, Gene Hackman, and Jack Nicholson. Perrine was also in What Women Want, Walker, Texas Ranger, and much more.
Souther, whose documentary on Perrine brought forth the reality of a beloved actress living with a debilitating disease such as Parkinson’s disease; spoke with us twice about his friendship with Perrine, the wonderful life she lived, and how she navigated everyday life with Parkinson’s.
Perrine is survived by her brother Kenneth; she never married nor ever had children.
A girl with too many fandoms to count.
