Valerie Mahaffey made a reputation for herself within the leisure trade with an expansive TV and movie profession going again to the late ’70s, and her most up-to-date credit score was in 2025. Sadly, the actress recognized for exhibits like Northern Publicity, Younger Sheldon, and Determined Housewives has now handed away on the age of 71.
The actress, who gained a Primetime Emmy in 1992 as Excellent Supporting Actress in a Drama Collection for her work within the basic ’90s present Northern Publicity, died on Could 30 in Los Angeles after a battle with most cancers. The information was introduced through her publicist, Jillian Roscoe (through THR). She is survived by her husband, Joseph Kell, and her daughter. In a press release to the outlet, Kell stated:
I’ve misplaced the love of my life, and America has misplaced one in every of its most lovable actresses.
Not many actors can declare to have a profession as prolific – or, as her husband stated, “endearing” – as Valerie Mahaffey. Whereas her first credit score is for the TV film Inform Me My Identify, her second credit score ever was an everyday gig as Ashley Bennett on the NBC cleaning soap opera The Docs beginning in 1979, for which she earned her first main award nomination within the type of a Daytime Emmy nom for Excellent Supporting Actress in a Drama. (Her win within the primetime awards would come years later.)
She would go on to seem as a visitor star in exhibits which have change into classics in their very own proper, together with Quantum Leap, Cheers, and Seinfeld earlier than her common function in NBC’s short-lived sitcom The Powers That Be. Presumably her most memorable function of the period was additionally the one which gained her that Primetime Emmy: Eve in 5 episodes of Northern Publicity over three seasons. Like Diane Delano, who died simply final 12 months, she made an enormous impression on Northern Publicity with no common function on the CBS dramedy.
A few of her most notable characters debuted within the twenty first century, together with in 9 episodes of ABC’s Determined Housewives throughout two seasons between 2006-2012. On Fox’s Glee, she performed Rose Pillsbury – a.ok.a. the mom of Emma Pillsbury, performed by future Disenchanted actress Jayma Mays. Becoming a member of the Massive Sky solid in 2020 introduced her to ABC, adopted by recurring on Netflix’s Lifeless to Me.
Valerie Mahaffey’s ultimate TV credit score was for a couple of episodes of Echo 3, obtainable now with an Apple TV+ subscription. Her ultimate credit score general was The eighth Day, a movie that launched in 2025.
The actress had a profession to be fairly happy with, and certainly a legacy that may proceed. In any case, she was a part of TV exhibits that stay fan-favorites even years after wrapping. Our ideas right here at CinemaBlend are with the household, buddies, and family members of Valerie Mahaffey on this troublesome time.