Emmy-winning actress Valerie Mahaffey, best known for her role on the TV series “Northern Exposure,” has died. She was 71.
Mahaffey’s publicist Jillian Roscoe confirmed to USA TODAY the actress died Friday, May 30, after a battle with cancer.
Her five-decade career included performances on the Broadway stage, countless television appearances and roles in films such as “Seabiscuit,” “Sully,” “Jungle 2 Jungle” and “No Pay, Nudity.”
Mahaffey earned a supporting actress Daytime Emmy nomination in 1980 for her role in the NBC soap opera “The Doctors.” In 1992, she would win a Primetime Emmy for best supporting actress in a drama series for her role as Eve in “Northern Exposure.”
Actress Valerie Mahaffey attends the premiere of Sony Pictures Classics’ “The Seagull” at The Writers Guild Theater on May 1, 2018, in Beverly Hills, California.
Most recently, Mahaffey appeared in the Apple TV+ thriller “Echo 3,” “The 8th Day” and the film “French Exit,” for which she earned an Independent Spirit Award supporting actress nomination.
Born and raised in Indonesia until the age of 11, Mahaffey also lived in Nigeria, Texas and England. She is survived by her husband Joseph Kell and her daughter Alice.
“I have lost the love of my life, and America has lost one of its most endearing actresses,” her husband said in a statement. “She will be missed.”
