Valerie Perrine obit

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