Valerie Mahaffey, Emmy Winner for ‘Northern Exposure,’ Dies at 71

Valerie Mahaffey, an actress who received the Emmy for her efficiency on “Northern Exposure” and who was a stand-out in high-profile collection like “Desperate Housewives” and “Devious Maids,” has died after a battle with most cancers.

She was 71.

THR experiences her husband, Joseph Kell, stated in a press release, “I’ve misplaced the love of my life, and America has misplaced considered one of its most lovable actresses.”‘

Born June 16, 1953, in Indonesia, she lived there till the age of 11 forward of a transfer to Texas.

After an early begin on Broadway and intensive, Obie Award-nominated theater work within the ’70s, she was forged as Ashley Bennett on the daytime cleaning soap “The Doctors” (1979-1980), incomes a Daytime Emmy nomination.

She was extraordinarily prolific on tv. Her work included the Carol Burnett-led miniseries “Fresno” (1986), appearances on “Newhart” (1987) and “Cheers” (1991), and a memorable half as a pretentious date for George Costanza on a 1991 episode of “Seinfeld.” It wasn’t simply the chopsticks she wore in her hair that bothered George, it wasn’t simply the earrings, it was “so much more!” — particularly her pronunciation of the world “papier-mâché.”

From 1992-1993, she was a principal forged member of the short-lived collection “The Powers That Be,” a David Crane and Marta Kauffman manufacturing, with Norman Lear serving as govt producer.

Her work as Eve on 5 episodes of “Northern Exposure” (1991-1994) led to her Emmy win, and he or she had efficient visitor appearances on every part from “Wings” (1993-1996) to “Ally McBeal” (2000).

She had an particularly juicy half on “Desperate Housewives” (2006-2012) as manipulative Alma Hodge, ex-wife of Orson Hodge (Kyle MacLachlan), and was equally enjoyable as bonkers Olivia Rice on “Devious Maids” (2013-2015), as a instructor on “Young Sheldon” (2017-2020), and because the over-the-top mother-in-law of Christina Applegate’s character on “Dead to Me” (2019-2022).

Amongst her characteristic work, Mahaffey was seen in “Jungle 2 Jungle” (1997), “Seabiscuit” (2003), and “Sully” (2016).

Most just lately, she was on the Apple TV+ present “Echo 3” (2022), was nominated for a Movie Impartial Spirit Award for her work within the movie “French Exit” (2020), and had accomplished work on the characteristic “GRQ the Movie.”

Alongside together with her husband, she is survived by their daughter.