Valerie Mahaffey, who starred in Desperate Housewives and Young Sheldon, has died at 71.
The US star also had a role in The Doctors, for which she was nominated for a daytime Emmy Award, and appeared in Glee, Grey’s Anatomy, Hannah Montana, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
Announcing her death, Mahaffey’s publicist confirmed she died in Los Angeles on Friday.
She had previously been diagnosed with cancer.
Her husband, Joseph Kell, 65, with whom she shares a child, also paid tribute, having ‘lost’ the love of his life.
Speaking to Variety, he said: ‘I have lost the love of my life, and America has lost one of its most endearing actresses.
‘She will be missed.’
Her friends also described the late actress as ‘naturally kind-hearted’ and someone who ‘exuded a warm and infectious energy’.
Mahaffey’s career was kick-started in New York when she appeared on Broadway six times from 1976 to 1984 in productions Dracula and Play Memory.
It was also during this time she achieved fame thanks to NBC soap opera The Doctors, in which she played Ashley Bennett from 1979 to 1981.
In 1992, Mahaffey won the outstanding supporting actress in a drama series Emmy for her part in CBS drama Northern Exposure.
She was the only cast member from the show to win an Emmy Award.
Her later on-screen appearances included Wings and Big Sky, while she also had guest roles in Quantum Leap, L.A. Law, The West Wing, Frasier, and Without Trace.
Film-wise, she starred in 1995’s Senior Trip, 2016’s Sully, and French Exit, which, released in 2020, earned her an Independent Spirit Award nomination.
Her most recent acting credit was 2022’s Echo 3. She also starred in Netflix series Dead to Me and The Witch Files.
Throughout her career, the star worked with some of the biggest names in the industry, from Michelle Pfeiffer to Tom Hanks.
Taking to social media following her death, fans expressed their sadness as they penned heartfelt tributes.
‘RIP to a wonderful character actress. No matter the episode count or number of lines she would have, Valerie Mahaffey made an impression. Loved her as Frasier’s secretary & on Big Sky’, wrote @EmilinaB on X.
‘Very sad to hear about the passing of Valerie Mahaffey, a brilliant comedian and a gem of a human being’, echoed @jamiedumont.
‘Valerie Mahaffey was always JUST right no matter what she was working in. Always so memorable, talented. I can’t believe she was even 71 as that means she really was a part of my life watching things as long as I’ve been around. Grateful for her good work always’, reminisced @JorCru.
‘Oh man, Valerie Mahaffey was always one of the most underrated and fantastic character actresses around. She was in EVERYTHING! And no one did soft spoken, passive aggressive viciousness better! So Sad to hear she’s passed and only 71. RIP’, @DannyManus added.
@IScottDavenport posted: ‘Valerie Mahaffey was one of those actors who made every role she was in better. When her name came up on the screen, my heart jumped with delight.’
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