Valerie Perrine Cause of Death Emerges After Quiet Health Battle
Valerie Perrine, who received an Oscar nomination for best actress for her performance in Bob Fosse’s 1974 Lenny Bruce biopic Lenny, died Monday in Beverly Hills.
She was 81 years old. Perrine appeared prominently in Richard Donner’s Superman films as Lex Luthor’s girlfriend Miss Teschmacher.
Cause of Death for Valerie Perrine Revealed After 'Quiet' Battle
Perrine's quiet battle with Parkinson's was revealed by her friend Stacey Souther, who confirmed the actress' death in a statement on Facebook.
"It is with deep sadness that I share the heartbreaking news that Valerie has passed away. 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," the statement read.
Perrine's Parkinson's diagnosis was revealed in 2015, but Souther suggests the actress battled the disease for more than 15 years. As a result, her finances took a hit as her longtime friend created a GoFundMe to compensate for the funeral Perrine "truly deserves."
"Please consider donating, sharing, and helping spread the word for her funeral GoFundMe. 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," the statement continued.
Perrine Lost Roles as Her Parkinson's Took Over
The Go Fund Me page for Perrine detailed her battled with Parkinson's, which emerged in 2011 and cost her to lose roles.
"Around 2011, Valerie began experiencing the first signs of essential tremors; involuntary shaking that slowly began to steal the very instrument she'd built her life around: her body, her presence, her ability to perform," the page revealed.
Financial security became a primary concern – and the reason a GoFundMe page was necessary for a renowned actress.
"As roles dried up, so did the financial security that should have come with a lifetime of extraordinary work. Valerie spent what she had on medical care, determined to fight. She fought for fifteen years," the page read.
As of Monday afternoon, the page received $3,877 of its $35,000 goal.
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