Valerie Perrine, Superman actress, continues fight with health issues

Valerie Perrine, the beloved actress who played Eve Teschmacher in the first two Superman movies, is proving to be an inspiration far outside the superhero genre. Perrine was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2015 but remains in good spirits, challenging herself to continue the fight.

In a wonderful profile of Valerie Perrine in The Hollywood Reporter that is both uplifting and, at times, sad, they note that the actress has found hope not just in herself but those that have stuck through the hardest times to support her. One key figure is Stacey Souther, who is nearly 30 years her junior and she has known for nearly a decade. Souther even directed a recent documentary about Perrine titled Valerie. On his continued friendship, he said, “I’m sure people are like, ‘Why does he do it?’ It’s weird to hear the question to me because I’m like, ‘Why wouldn’t you do it?’” He added, “There’s no motive for me to get anything. I just do it because I care about her, and I love her. That’s the only way I know how to put it.” A close friend stated, “Valerie had a lot of friends in Hollywood…And then a lot of those friends, once she got sick, they didn’t come around as frequently. Stacey remained there where everybody else kind of jumped ship.”

Although it appears Valerie Perrine’s nearest friendships have dwindled over the years, with the former actress (who started out as a showgirl) living a life of relative quiet, fans still have a number of performances they still cherish today. Her most widely recognized is the aforementioned Eve Teschmacher, a complex role that saw her turning on lover Lex Luthor in order to save Superman after her bald beau planned to go forward with his plan to blow up Hackensack, New Jersey…thus becoming the first person ever to stand up for Hackensack. But she earned the most acclaim of her career for 1974’s Lenny, playing comedian Lenny Bruce’s (Dustin Hoffman) wife, Honey. For that turn, she earned nominations at the Academy Awards and Golden Globes, with a win at the Cannes Film Festival and awards from the National Board of Review and BAFTAs (Most Promising Newcomer).

Unfortunately, Parkinson’s, a back surgery, and suffering from aphasia–garnered much-needed attention after Bruce Willis’ diagnosis–have damaged Valerie Perrine.

Send your best to the gifted Valerie Perrine below.