Hollywood has lost a star who never surrendered her spirit.

Valerie Perrine, the fearless actress behind unforgettable roles in Lenny and Superman, has reportedly died at 82, leaving admirers mourning far more than her screen presence. Behind the glamour was a punishing battle with Parkinson’s disease and a woman whose humor endured when life demanded her most extraordinary cour…

Her friend and filmmaker Stacey Souther said Perrine passed away peacefully, remembering her compassion and vitality. Born in Galveston, Texas, she took an unconventional route into acting, first performing as a Las Vegas showgirl.

Her breakthrough came opposite Dustin Hoffman in the 1974 drama Lenny. Playing Honey Harlow earned her an Academy Award nomination and acting honors at Cannes and the BAFTAs, establishing a talent that reached well beyond Hollywood’s expectations of her glamorous image.

As Eve Teschmacher in Superman and its sequel, Perrine brought warmth and comic sparkle to a very different audience.

Later, the documentary Valerie offered an intimate portrait of her experience with Parkinson’s, revealing both its physical toll and her persistent wit. Across those contrasting chapters, she remained more than any single role or label.

Her legacy rests in the vulnerability she brought to performances and the resilience that those closest to her witnessed away from cameras.