Valerie Perrine Dies: ‘Superman’, ‘Lenny’ Oscar Nominee & ‘Slaughterhouse-Five’ Actor Was 82
She was not on the list.
Valerie Perrine, whose memorable film roles included a porn
actress abducted by aliens in Slaughterhouse-Five, Lex Luthor’s secretary in
two Superman films and an Oscar-nominated performance as the wife of Lenny
Bruce in Lenny, died Monday at her home in Beverly Hills following a 15-year
battle with Parkinson’s disease. She was 82.
Her death was announced by friend Stacey Souther, who has
set up a GoFundMe page to help defray funeral costs.
“Valerie Perrine gave everything she had to her craft, her
fans, and her life — with grace, humor, and an indomitable spirit that
Parkinson’s itself could never fully extinguish,” Souther writes. “Let’s make
sure her final chapter is written with the same dignity and love that she gave
to all of us.”
Born September 3, 1943, in Galveston, Texas, Perrine became
a Las Vegas showgirl in 1968 before moving to the Nevada city. She later
recalled that she met an agent at a dinner party who was looking for someone to
play the character of softcore porn actress Montana Wildhack in George Roy
Hill’s film adaptation of Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five. “That’s how I
became an actress,” she said in a 2025 interview.
In 1973, Perrine was cast in the PBS presentation of Bruce
Jay Friedman’s acclaimed hit Off Broadway play Steambath, a performance that’s
often credited for including the first appearance of naked female breasts in
network TV history.
If Perrine’s performances to that point had been as infamous
as famous, she proved any naysayers wrong in 1974 when she gave an
Oscar-nominated (and Cannes-winning) performance in Bob Fosse’s Lenny, playing
Lenny Bruce’s stripper wife Honey Bruce opposite Dustin Hoffman’s title
character. She followed up that role by appearing two years later in Arthur
Hiller’s well-received W.C. Fields biopic W.C. and Me; she played the classic
comic’s mistress Carlotta Monti opposite Rod Steiger.
In what would become a signature role, Perrine took on the
role of Miss Eve Teschmacher, girlfriend of villain Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman),
in the wildly popular Superman (1978) and its sequel Superman II, both starring
Christopher Reeve in the title role.
Perrine next played Charlotta Steele, ex-wife of Robert
Redford’s rodeo champ in The Electric Horseman (1979).
Perrine’s winning streak hit a wall in 1980 when she
appeared in the notorious Village People flop Can’t Stop the Music, a
performance that earned her a Razzie Award nomination. “It ruined my career,”
she later said. “I moved to Europe after, I was so embarrassed.”
If Can’t Stop the Music stalled Perrine’s appearances in
top-line projects — as it did with most others associated with it — she
nonetheless continued working. Subsequent credits included The Border with Jack
Nicholson, NBC miniseries The Secrets of Lake Success and the short-lived CBS
sitcom Leo & Liz in Beverly Hills with Harvey Korman. In 2000 she had a
small role in the Mel Gibson film What Women Want.
Rest in Peace to the original Eve Teschmacher, Valerie
Perrine. pic.twitter.com/O7qPLmrX8L
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn)
March 23, 2026
On television, Perrine also appeared in a 1995 episode of
Homicide: Life on the Street as an ex-girlfriend of Richard Belzer’s Detective
John Munch who displays a large nude photo of him taken decades earlier in an
art exhibit near the police station. Other TV credits include appearances on
Northern Exposure, ER, Nash Bridges, The Practice, Just Shoot Me! and Third
Watch, among others.
In 2020, Perrine’s friend Souther directed a 36-minute
documentary, title Valerie, that chronicled Perrine’s carrer and battle with
Parkinson’s disease.
She is survived by her brother Kenneth, who also has been
diagnosed with Parkinson’s.
Actress
Barbara Bain, George Hamilton, Jack Betts, Mariette Hartley,
Jack McGee, Valerie Perrine, and Alex Rocco in Silver Skies (2016)
Silver Skies
6.4
Ethel
2016
Holt McCallany in Lights Out (2011)
Lights Out
8.0
TV Series
Mae
2011
2 episodes
Redirecting Eddie (2008)
Redirecting Eddie
6.6
Gloria Vassick
2008
Illeana Douglas, Noah Wyle, and Kate Mara in The
Californians (2005)
The Californians
4.8
Lenora Tripp
2005
Michael Beach, Eddie Cibrian, Kim Raver, Jason Wiles, Coby
Bell, Amy Carlson, Molly Price, Anthony Ruivivar, and Skipp Sudduth in Third
Watch (1999)
Third Watch
8.0
TV Series
Merlene
2005
1 episode
The Amateurs (2005)
The Amateurs
6.2
V
2005
The End of the Bar
7.2
Mrs. Duncan
2002
Grounded for Life (2001)
Grounded for Life
7.5
TV Series
Maureen Bustamante
2002
1 episode
Jason Gedrick, Frank Langella, Naveen Andrews, Wendy
Crewson, April Grace, Harriet Sansom Harris, Elizabeth Mitchell, and Peter
Riegert in The Beast (2001)
The Beast
7.0
TV Series
Mrs. Silberger
2001
1 episode
Kathleen Quinlan, Julie Warner, Tony Danza, Christopher
McDonald, and Dixie Carter in Family Law (1999)
Family Law
6.7
TV Series
Helen Watson
2001
1 episode
Laura San Giacomo, George Segal, Wendie Malick, David Spade,
and Enrico Colantoni in Just Shoot Me! (1997)
Just Shoot Me!
6.9
TV Series
Carol
2001
1 episode
Directing Eddie
8.9
Short
Gloria Vassick
2001
Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt in What Women Want (2000)
What Women Want
6.5
Margo
2000
My Girlfriend's Boyfriend (1999)
My Girlfriend's Boyfriend
4.8
Rita
1999
Picture This
5.7
1999
Shame, Shame, Shame (1999)
Shame, Shame, Shame
3.5
Maura's Mother
1999
As the World Turns (1956)
As the World Turns
6.3
TV Series
Delores Pierce
1998–1999
8 episodes
Chris Browning and Jacqueline Lovell in A Place Called Truth
(1998)
A Place Called Truth
3.4
Estelle
1998
Chuck Norris in Walker, Texas Ranger (1993)
Walker, Texas Ranger
5.7
TV Series
Marge Wyman
1998
1 episode
Selma Blair and Michael Rooker in Brown's Requiem (1998)
Brown's Requiem
5.7
Marguerita Hansen
1998
It All Came True (1998)
It All Came True
5.7
Monica Gilroy (uncredited)
1998
Neve Campbell, Salma Hayek, Mike Myers, and Ryan Phillippe
in 54 (1998)
54
5.9
Elaine's Patron
1998
Lara Flynn Boyle, Dylan McDermott, Steve Harris, and Kelli
Williams in The Practice (1997)
The Practice
7.7
TV Series
Jane Elaine
1997
1 episode
Don Johnson and Cheech Marin in Nash Bridges (1996)
Nash Bridges
6.8
TV Series
Mrs. Nassiter
1996
3 episodes
Anthony Edwards, Julianna Margulies, Ming-Na Wen, Noah Wyle,
Laura Innes, Alex Kingston, Eriq La Salle, Kellie Martin, Paul McCrane, Michael
Michele, Erik Palladino, Maura Tierney, and Goran Visnjic in ER (1994)
ER
7.9
TV Series
Cookie Lewis
1995
2 episodes
The Break (1995)
The Break
5.5
Delores Smith
1995
Michelle Forbes, Yaphet Kotto, Max Perlich, Kyle Secor,
Richard Belzer, Andre Braugher, Reed Diamond, Clark Johnson, and Melissa Leo in
Homicide: Life on the Street (1993)
Homicide: Life on the Street
8.7
TV Series
Brigitta
1995
1 episode
Erika Eleniak and William McNamara in Girl in the Cadillac
(1995)
Girl in the Cadillac
5.0
Tilly Baker
1995
Gene Barry and Peter Barton in Burke's Law (1994)
Burke's Law
6.6
TV Series
Suzanne Dubonet
1994
1 episode
The Secrets of Lake Success (1993)
The Secrets of Lake Success
6.1
TV Mini Series
Honey Potts Atkins
1993
3 episodes
Wesley Snipes in Boiling Point (1993)
Boiling Point
5.0
Mona
1993
Todd Alexander, Blaze Berdahl, Mayteana Morales, Tram-Anh
Tran, and Sheldon Turnipseed in Ghostwriter (1991)
Ghostwriter
7.8
TV Series
April Flowers
1993
1 episode
Northern Exposure (1990)
Northern Exposure
8.4
TV Series
Jackie Vincoeur
1992
1 episode
La montagna dei diamanti (1991)
La montagna dei diamanti
6.9
TV Mini Series
Isabelle
1991
Riflessi in un cielo scuro (1991)
Riflessi in un cielo scuro
4.1
Caterina
1991
Dermot Mulroney, Lili Taylor, and Sam Shepard in Bright
Angel (1990)
Bright Angel
5.5
Aileen
1990
Elizabeth Taylor and Mark Harmon in Sweet Bird of Youth
(1989)
Sweet Bird of Youth
5.5
TV Movie
Miss Lucy
1989
Tomas Milian and Valerie Perrine in Una casa a Roma (1989)
Una casa a Roma
TV Movie
Julie
1989
Quattro storie di donne
7.0
TV Mini Series
Rose
1989
1 episode
Mask of Murder (1988)
Mask of Murder
4.5
Marianne McLaine
1988
Beverly D'Angelo, Ally Sheedy, Michael Ontkean, Valerie
Perrine, and Dick Shawn in Maid to Order (1987)
Maid to Order
5.6
Georgette Starkey
1987
CBS Summer Playhouse (1987)
CBS Summer Playhouse
6.6
TV Series
Molly
1987
1 episode
Harvey Korman and Valerie Perrine in Leo & Liz in
Beverly Hills (1986)
Leo & Liz in Beverly Hills
6.3
TV Series
Liz Green
1986
6 episodes
George Burns Half-Hour Comedy Hour (1985)
George Burns Half-Hour Comedy Hour
8.0
TV Series
Liz
1985
1 episode
Faerie Tale Theatre (1982)
Faerie Tale Theatre
8.3
TV Series
Tina
1985
1 episode
Michael Caine, Valerie Perrine, and Leonard Rossiter in
Water (1985)
Water
6.0
Pamela
1985
When Your Lover Leaves (1983)
When Your Lover Leaves
5.5
TV Movie
Ronda Thompson
1983
Malibu (1983)
Malibu
5.7
TV Movie
Dee Staufer
1983
Jack Nicholson in The Border (1982)
The Border
6.4
Marcy
1982
Nancy Cartwright and Ruth Silveira in Marian Rose White
(1982)
Marian Rose White
6.8
TV Movie
Stella White
1982
Adrienne Barbeau, Farrah Fawcett, Roger Moore, Burt
Reynolds, Dom DeLuise, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr. in The Cannonball Run
(1981)
The Cannonball Run
6.2
Female Cop Pulling Over Lamborghini Babes (uncredited)
1981
Gene Hackman, Terence Stamp, Christopher Reeve, Jackie
Cooper, Sarah Douglas, Margot Kidder, Jack O'Halloran, and Valerie Perrine in
Superman II (1980)
Superman II
6.8
Eve Teschmacher
1980
Steve Guttenberg, Alex Briley, David Hodo, Glenn Hughes,
Caitlyn Jenner, Randy Jones, Valerie Perrine, Felipe Rose, Ray Simpson, and The
Village People in Can't Stop the Music (1980)
Can't Stop the Music
4.3
Samantha Simpson
1980
The Agency (1980)
The Agency
4.8
Brenda Wilcox
1980
The Electric Horseman (1979)
The Electric Horseman
6.5
Charlotta
1979
The Magician of Lublin (1979)
The Magician of Lublin
5.8
Zeftel
1979
Gene Hackman, Terence Stamp, Ned Beatty, Christopher Reeve,
Jackie Cooper, Sarah Douglas, Jeff East, Margot Kidder, Jack O'Halloran,
Valerie Perrine, and Susannah York in Superman (1978)
Superman
7.4
Eve Teschmacher
1978
Ziegfeld: The Man and His Women (1978)
Ziegfeld: The Man and His Women
8.0
TV Movie
Lillian Lorraine
1978
Mr. Billion (1977)
Mr. Billion
5.4
Rosie Jones
1977
Rod Steiger and Valerie Perrine in W.C. Fields and Me (1976)
W.C. Fields and Me
6.1
Carlotta Monti
1976
Dustin Hoffman in Lenny (1974)
Lenny
7.5
Honey Bruce
1974
Love Story (1973)
Love Story
6.1
TV Series
Marlene
1973
1 episode
Jeff Bridges and Valerie Perrine in The Last American Hero
(1973)
The Last American Hero
6.4
Marge
1973
Steambath (1973)
Steambath
7.7
TV Movie
Meredith
1973
Valerie Perrine in Lady Luck (1973)
Lady Luck
TV Movie
Lady Luck
1973
The Couple Takes a Wife (1972)
The Couple Takes a Wife
6.5
TV Movie
Jennifer Allen
1972
Sharon Gans, Perry King, Valerie Perrine, and Michael Sacks
in Slaughterhouse-Five (1972)
Slaughterhouse-Five
6.8
Montana Wildhack
1972
Thanks
Apocrifi sul caso Crowley (1994)
Apocrifi sul caso Crowley
Short
thanks
1994
Self
Valerie Perrine in Valerie (2019)
Valerie
7.7
Short
Self
2019
Allan Carr in The Fabulous Allan Carr (2017)
The Fabulous Allan Carr
7.5
Self
2017
The 11th Annual LA Femme International Film Festival
TV Special
Self
2015
Behind the Scenes with 'the Amateurs'
Video
Self - 'V'
2008
Bravo Profiles (1998)
Bravo Profiles
7.0
TV Series
Self
2002
1 episode
Vicki Lawrence in Vicki! (1992)
Vicki!
5.8
TV Series
Self - Guest
1993
1 episode
David Letterman in Late Night with David Letterman (1982)
Late Night with David Letterman
7.5
TV Series
Self - Guest
1983–1987
3 episodes
War of the Stars
TV Series
Self - (1987)
1987–1988
Film '72 (1971)
Film '72
7.0
TV Series
Self
1984
1 episode
The Rodney Dangerfield Show: It's Not Easy Bein' Me (1982)
The Rodney Dangerfield Show: It's Not Easy Bein' Me
7.1
TV Special
SelfSelf - Various
1982
The 8th Annual People's Choice Awards
TV Special
Self - Presenter
1982
Merv Griffin in The Merv Griffin Show (1962)
The Merv Griffin Show
6.6
TV Series
Self - Guest
1980–1982
2 episodes
Hour Magazine (1980)
Hour Magazine
7.4
TV Series
Self
1981
1 episode
Christopher Reeve in The Making of Superman: The Movie
(1980)
The Making of Superman: The Movie
7.0
TV Movie
Self
1980
Circus of the Stars #5
6.1
TV Special
Self - Ringmaster
1980
The Toni Tennille Show (1980)
The Toni Tennille Show
6.8
TV Series
Self - Guest
1980
1 episode
The John Davidson Show (1980)
The John Davidson Show
4.7
TV Series
Self - Guest
1980
1 episode
Omnibus (1980)
Omnibus
6.6
TV Series
Self
1980
1 episode
Don Lane in The Don Lane Show (1975)
The Don Lane Show
7.0
TV Series
Self - Guest
1980
1 episode
Magic Night
3.5
TV Movie
Self
1980
Mike Douglas in The Mike Douglas Show (1961)
The Mike Douglas Show
7.0
TV Series
Self - Guest
1975–1980
5 episodes
The 6th People's Choice Awards (1980)
The 6th People's Choice Awards
6.5
TV Special
Self - Presenter
1980
The 58th Annual Photoplay Awards
TV Special
Self
1979
Circus of the Stars #3
6.9
TV Special
Self - Performer
1979
Frank Oz, Jim Henson, Dave Goelz, Richard Hunt, and Jerry
Nelson in The Muppets Go Hollywood (1979)
The Muppets Go Hollywood
6.8
TV Special
Self (uncredited)
1979
The 51st Annual Academy Awards (1979)
The 51st Annual Academy Awards
6.8
TV Special
Self - Presenter
1979
Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie in Today (1952)
Today
4.6
TV Series
Self - Guest
1978
1 episode
Jim Nabors in The Jim Nabors Show (1978)
The Jim Nabors Show
4.9
TV Series
Self - Guest
1978
1 episode
Lucille Ball in Circus of the Stars #2 (1977)
Circus of the Stars #2
7.1
TV Special
Self - Performer
1977
Celebrity Challenge of the Sexes 2 (1977)
Celebrity Challenge of the Sexes 2
1.6
TV Special
Self - Team Captain
1977
Dinah Shore in Dinah! (1974)
Dinah!
7.0
TV Series
Self - Guest
1975–1977
3 episodes
Your Choice for the Film Awards
TV Series
Self - Co-Host
1977
1 episode
Circus of the Stars (1977)
Circus of the Stars
6.7
TV Special
Self - Performer
1977
The 33rd Annual Golden Globe Awards
TV Special
Self - Presenter
1976
Johnny Carson in The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
(1962)
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
8.5
TV Series
Self - Guest
1972–1976
7 episodes
The First Annual Rock Music Awards
TV Special
Self
1975
Sammy and Company (1975)
Sammy and Company
7.2
TV Series
Self
1975
1 episode
Pour le cinéma (1968)
Pour le cinéma
TV Series
Self
1975
1 episode
Apropos Film
6.4
TV Series
Self
1975
1 episode
47th Annual Academy Awards (1975)
47th Annual Academy Awards
6.8
TV Special
Self - Nominee
1975
Gunnar Oldin in Filmkrönikan (1956)
Filmkrönikan
3.5
TV Series
Self
1973
1 episode
The Making of Slaughterhouse-Five (1972)
The Making of Slaughterhouse-Five
Self
1972
Archive Footage
John Travolta and Robert Stigwood in Mr. Saturday Night
(2021)
Mr. Saturday Night
6.6
Self (archive footage, uncredited)
2021
Bob Fosse: It's Showtime! (2019)
Bob Fosse: It's Showtime!
6.0
Self (archive footage, uncredited)
2019
George Harrison in An Accidental Studio (2019)
An Accidental Studio
7.1
Self (archive footage)
2019
Michael Jackson in Michael Jackson's Journey from Motown to
Off the Wall (2016)
Michael Jackson's Journey from Motown to Off the Wall
7.4
Self (archive footage, uncredited)
2016
And the Oscar Goes to... (2014)
And the Oscar Goes to...
7.1
TV Movie
Self (archive footage)
2014
Terence Stamp, Christopher Reeve, Sarah Douglas, and Jack
O'Halloran in Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut (2006)
Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut
7.5
Eve Teschmacher (archive footage)
2006
Taking Flight: The Development of 'Superman' (2001)
Taking Flight: The Development of 'Superman'
7.2
Video
SelfSelf - Eve Teschmacher (archive footage, uncredited)
2001
.webp)
