Valerie Mahaffey
Biography
Valerie Mahaffey was an American actress and producer born in Sumatra, Indonesia on June 16, 1953. She passed away on May 30, 2025 at the age of 71. She began her acting career starring in the NBC daytime soap opera The Doctors from 1979 to 1981, earning a nomination for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. In 1992, she won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her role in the CBS drama series Northern Exposure. Over her career, she appeared in numerous movies and television shows, including Wings, Desperate Housewives, Devious Maids, Big Sky, Senior Trip, and Sully.
Career overview
Valerie Mahaffey was an American actress and producer born in Sumatra, Indonesia, on June 16, 1953. Her career in television began when she starred in the NBC daytime soap opera The Doctors from 1979 to 1981, earning a nomination for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.
In 1992, she won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her role in the CBS drama series Northern Exposure. Over the course of her television career, she gained further recognition for her portrayals of extroverted and friendly but ultimately insane women on the shows Wings, Desperate Housewives, Devious Maids, and Big Sky. Her acting credits also included appearances in various movies, such as Senior Trip in 1995 and Sully: Zázrak na řece Hudson.
Throughout her career, Mahaffey amassed numerous known credits in both film and television. Her work spanned multiple decades and networks, establishing her presence across American television programming and cinema until her death on May 30, 2025, at the age of 71.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- The 8th Day (2025) as Landon Mooney
- French Exit (2021) as Mme Reynard
- Big Sky (2020) as Helen Pergman
- Dead to Me (2019) as Lorna Harding
- The Witch Files (2018) as Claire's Mom
- Young Sheldon (2017) as Victoria MacElroy
- Sully (2016) as Diane Higgins
- No Pay, Nudity (2016) as Lisa Zweibal
- The Man in the High Castle (2015) as Susan
- Impastor (2015) as Susie Kerry
- Devious Maids (2013) as Olivia Rice
- Monday Mornings (2013) as Fran Horowitz
- Kirstie (2013) as Victoria
- If I Were You (2013) as Lydia
- The Mindy Project (2012) as Juliet
- Crazy Eyes (2012) as Zach's Mother
- Workaholics (2011) as Celeste
- Franklin & Bash (2011) as Julie
- Hart of Dixie (2011) as Mae Ellen Waterloo
- The Exes (2011) as Anne
- Jack and Jill (2011) as Bitsy Simmons
- Raising Hope (2010) as Margine
- Better With You (2010) as Ariel
- Summer Eleven (2010)
- Glee (2009) as Rose Pillsbury
- United States of Tara (2009) as Dr. Ocean
- A Previous Engagement (2009) as Grace
- Private Practice (2007) as Marilyn Sullivan
- Raines (2007) as Arlene
- Hannah Montana (2006) as Ms. Jameson
- Crumbs (2006) as Carolyn Pierce
- My First Wedding (2006) as Grace
- Grey's Anatomy (2005) as Donna Kaufman
- Out of Practice (2005)
- Desperate Housewives (2004) as Alma Hodge
- Boston Legal (2004) as Mary Winston
- Seabiscuit (2003) as Annie Howard
- Without a Trace (2002) as Bonnie Toland
- Good Morning, Miami (2002) as Sara
- Par 6 (2002) as Pecan Hegelman
- Night Visions (2001) as Sally Osgoode (segment "Neighborhood Watch")
- That's My Bush! (2001) as Janet Rove
- No Ordinary Baby (2001) as Virginia Hytner
- CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000) as Dora Pomerantz
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999) as Brooke Thornburg
- The West Wing (1999) as Tawny Cryer
- Judging Amy (1999) as Ms. Morlock
- Buddy Faro (1998)
- Ally McBeal (1997) as Dr. Sally Muggins
- George & Leo (1997)
- Jungle 2 Jungle (1997) as Jan Kempster
- Dinner at Fred's (1997) as Susan
- Caroline in the City (1995) as Alicia Crawford-Lane
- Women of the House (1995) as Jennifer Malone
- National Lampoon's Senior Trip (1995) as Miss Tracy Milford
- ER (1994) as Joi Abbott
- Witch Hunt (1994) as Trudy
- Frasier (1993) as Peggy
- They (1993) as Chris Samuels
- The Powers That Be (1992) as Caitlyn Van Horne
- Till Death Us Do Part (1992) as Gail Bugliosi
- Baby Talk (1991)
- Northern Exposure (1990) as Eve
- Wings (1990) as Sandy Cooper
- Dream On (1990) as Helen Harley
- Seinfeld (1989) as Patrice
- Quantum Leap (1989) as Mary Greely
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Musical Murder (1989) as D.A. Barbara August
- Perry Mason: The Case of the All-Star Assassin (1989) as D.A. Barbara August
- Murphy's Law (1988)
- Her Secret Life (1987) as Becky
- L.A. Law (1986) as Andrea Rossoff
- Fresno (1986) as Tiffany Kensington
- Women of Valor (1986) as Lt. Katherine R. Grace
- The Rise and Rise of Daniel Rocket (1986) as Alice
- Mr. Bill's Real Life Adventures (1986) as Mrs. Bill
- Cheers (1982) as Valerie Hill
- American Playhouse (1982) as Alice
- American Playhouse (1982) as Mrs. Stockman
- Newhart (1982)
- Tales of the Unexpected (1979) as Jane
- Tell Me My Name (1977) as Alexandra / Sarah
- GRQ the Movie as Aunt Emily