Valerie Perrine, Oscar-Nominated 'Lenny' Star and 'Superman' Icon, Dies at 82

Valerie Perrine, the Oscar-nominated actress who played Honey Bruce in Bob Fosse's 1974 biopic "Lenny" and later became widely recognized as Eve Teschmacher in the first two "Superman" films, died on Monday, March 23, 2026, at her home in Beverly Hills. She was 82. Her death was announced by filmmaker and close friend Stacey Souther in a post on Perrine's official Facebook page. Souther, who had taken on a caregiving role for Perrine in her final years, wrote that the actress had battled Parkinson's disease for more than 15 years with remarkable composure. Perrine was diagnosed with the condition in 2015, though according to one source, the first signs of the illness appeared as early as 2011. The disease ultimately ended her acting career and, in her final years, depleted her finances entirely.

GoFundMe launched to fulfill her final burial wish Alongside the announcement of her death, Souther shared a GoFundMe fundraiser to help cover the cost of Perrine's burial at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Los Angeles. Souther wrote that Perrine's final wish was to be laid to rest there, but that more than 15 years of fighting Parkinson's had left her finances exhausted. „Her final wish is to be laid to rest at Forest Lawn Cemetery, but after more than 15 years of fighting Parkinson's, her finances are exhausted. Let's come together to make her last wish a reality - she truly deserves it.” — Stacey Souther via The Guardian Souther also described Perrine's approach to her illness in the announcement. „She faced Parkinson's disease with incredible courage and compassion, never once complaining. She was a true inspiration who lived life to the fullest — and what a magnificent life it was. The world feels less beautiful without her in it. I love you, Valerie. I'll see you on the other side.” — Stacey Souther via The Independent Souther had previously directed a documentary about Perrine's life and career, titled "Valerie," which premiered in 2019 according to The Guardian and in 2022 according to The Independent, and which chronicled both her career and her experience with the disease.

From Las Vegas showgirl to Cannes Best Actress winner Valerie Ritchie Perrine was born on September 3, 1943, in Galveston, Texas, the daughter of a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army and a dancer. Because of her father's military postings, the family moved frequently, from Japan to Paris and beyond. She briefly studied psychology at the University of Arizona before leaving to work as a dancer in Las Vegas, where she performed for five years, eventually becoming a lead dancer in the Lido de Paris show at the Stardust Hotel. Her path to Hollywood came through a chance encounter at a dinner party, where a talent agent spotted her and cast her in the 1972 film adaptation of Kurt Vonnegut's "Slaughterhouse-Five." She followed that with a role opposite Jeff Bridges in "The Last American Hero" in 1973. That same year, she became the first woman to intentionally appear nude on American television, in a PBS theatrical adaptation called "Steambath." The decisive turning point in her career came in 1974 with "Lenny," Bob Fosse's biopic of comedian Lenny Bruce, in which she played Honey Bruce alongside Dustin Hoffman — a performance that earned her the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival, a BAFTA for Best Newcomer, and nominations for both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for Best Actress.

Superman role made her a household name worldwide Despite the critical acclaim she received for "Lenny," Perrine became best known to global audiences through her role as Miss Eve Teschmacher, the companion of Gene Hackman's Lex Luthor, in "Superman" (1978) and its 1980 sequel "Superman II." According to one source, she was the last surviving member of the main cast of both films. Her career in the years that followed included roles in "The Electric Horseman" (1979) alongside Robert Redford and Jane Fonda, and a part opposite Jack Nicholson in "Border Patrol" (1982). She also appeared in the 2002 comedy "What Women Want" with Mel Gibson and had television credits including appearances in "ER." Her final film role came in 2014 in "Silver Skies." The Parkinson's diagnosis in 2015 brought her public career to a close, and a Hollywood Reporter profile in 2023 detailed how Souther had taken on a caregiving role for both Perrine and her brother Ken, who also has Parkinson's disease.

Valerie Perrine — key moments: — ; — ; — ; — ; — ; —

Valerie Perrine's career spanned a pivotal era in Hollywood history, from the early 1970s New Hollywood movement through the blockbuster era inaugurated by films like "Superman." Bob Fosse's "Lenny," in which she gave her most acclaimed performance, was itself nominated for six Academy Awards in 1975. The Cannes Film Festival Best Actress award she received for that role placed her among the most recognized performers of her generation. The "Superman" franchise, which began in 1978 under director Richard Donner, became one of the defining superhero film series of the twentieth century. Forest Lawn Cemetery in Los Angeles, where Perrine wished to be buried, is the resting place of numerous figures from Hollywood's history.