Help Us Give Valerie Perrine the Farewell She Deserves

In loving memory of Valerie Ritchie Perrine — September 3, 1943 – March 23, 2026

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Actress. Icon. Fighter.

She Made You Believe a Man Could Fly — Now We Need You to Believe in Her

If you've ever watched Superman and found yourself rooting for the lovable, warm-hearted Miss Eve Teschmacher — torn between loyalty to Lex Luthor and her secret love for the Man of Steel — then you already know what Valerie Perrine meant to the screen. What you may not know is what she endured off of it.

Valerie Perrine passed away peacefully at her home on March 23, 2026, surrounded by love, exactly as she had wished. She was 82 years old. After more than fifteen years waging a quiet, courageous battle against both Parkinson's disease and debilitating central tremors, this luminous, vivacious woman finally rested. Her passing leaves a void in Hollywood history — and in the hearts of millions of fans around the world.

This fundraiser is created with the full support and blessing of her brother, Ken Perrine, who himself continues to battle this devastating disease.

A Career That Lit Up Hollywood

Valerie's journey to the screen was as unlikely and dazzling as any script she ever brought to life. A celebrated Vegas showgirl, she never set out to be an actress — Hollywood found her.

And when it did, she dazzled everyone.

There was the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress, the BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer, and a historic Academy Award nomination for Best Actress... and praise from the legendary Bob Fosse himself, who called her "the best actress I've ever worked with".

And then, of course, there was Superman (1978) & Superman II (1980) where Valerie's unforgettable turn as the irresistible, hilarious, and deeply human Miss Eve Teschmacher opposite Gene Hackman's Lex Luthor became one of the most beloved performances in superhero film history.

She was a serious actress who happened to possess the beauty of a goddess — and Hollywood rarely knew quite what to do with that combination. But audiences always did. They loved her without reservation.

The Battle Behind the Smile

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. She laughed it off in public. But behind closed doors, the reality was devastating.

The tremors were accompanied by the relentless progression of Parkinson's disease. The career that had defined her life was no longer possible.

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. She never complained. She kept smiling.

"Few lived the Hollywood dream as fully," The Hollywood Reporter wrote of her. "But the money's gone."

Her Last Wish

Valerie's final wish was simple and deeply meaningful: to be laid to rest at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills, in the city that shaped her destiny.

It is a wish as dignified and deserving as the woman herself. And it is a wish we are asking you to help us honor.

The costs of burial at Forest Lawn, funeral arrangements, and the final care needed to carry out her wishes represent a financial burden that her brother Ken, fighting his own battle with this same cruel disease, cannot bear alone. Ken says “ I am devastated by the loss of my amazing sister Valerie this morning. She lived an extraordinary life most us can only dream of. She will be missed by that knew her and her loving fans. She fought till the end and never gave up. Thank you all for the kind support over the years. I appreciate all the love you have given her. Please donate and share so we can make her final wish come true.”

Every dollar raised will go directly toward:

Burial and interment at Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills

Funeral and memorial service arrangements

Final care and administrative costs

To the Superman Family and Beyond

You watched her help save Superman. You laughed with her. You cheered for her. Now it's our turn.

Valerie Perrine gave everything she had to her craft, her fans, and her life — with grace, humor, and an indomitable spirit that Parkinson's itself could never fully extinguish. Let's make sure her final chapter is written with the same dignity and love that she gave to all of us.

Please donate. Please share. Please help us bring Miss Teschmacher home.

Up, up, and away. Rest easy now, Valerie ❤️